Al Martino

Biography

Jasper Cini (October 7, 1927 – October 13, 2009), known professionally as Al Martino, was an American Jazz and traditional pop and standards singer. He had his greatest success as a singer between the early 1950s and mid-1970s, being described as "one of the great Italian American pop crooners", and became known as an actor, particularly for his role as singer Johnny Fontane in The Godfather.

Early life

Jasper Cini was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Gasparino (also anglicised as "Jasper"; 1905–1958) and Carmela M. Cini (née Grilli; 1905–1998), one of five siblings. His father and maternal grandfather were immigrants from Nereto in the Italian region of Abruzzo. He aspired to become a singer, emulating artists such as Al Jolson and Perry Como, and seeing the success of a family friend, Alfredo Cocozza, who had changed his name to Mario Lanza.

Career

After serving with the U.S. Navy in World War II, during which he took part and was wounded in the Iwo Jima invasion, Cini began his singing career. Encouraged by Lanza, he adopted the stage name Al Martino, based on the name of his good friend Lorraine Losavio's husband Alfred Martin Cianfrani, and began singing in local nightclubs; coincidentally Martin of Tours is also the patron saint of Martino's ancestral hometown of Nereto in Italy. In 1948, he moved to New York City, and in 1951 his first release was issued by the Jubilee label, "Heaven Help Me (I'm in Love)", coupled with "Hurry Home to Me". The following year, he won first place on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts television program with a performance of Como's hit "If".

As a result, he won a recording contract with the Philadelphia-based independent record label BBS, where he recorded "Here in My Heart×Here in My Heart1953 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracksA1Here in My HeartB1Painted, Tainted RoseB2Mary in the Morning". Lanza's label, RCA Victor, had asked Lanza to record the song, but Martino called Lanza and pleaded with him to let Martino's version have a clear chance. The song spent three weeks at No. 1 on the US pop chart in June 1952, earning Martino a gold disc, and later in the year, it was number one in the first UK Singles Chart, published by the New Musical Express on November 14, 1952, putting him into the Guinness Book of World Records. "Here in My Heart" remained in the top position for nine weeks in the UK.
The record's success led to a deal with Capitol Records, and he released three more singles: "Take My Heart", "Rachel", and "When You're Mine" through 1953, all of which hit the U.S. top 40. However, his success also attracted the attention of the Mafia, which bought out Martino's management contract and ordered him to pay $75,000 as a safeguard for their investment. After making a down-payment to appease them, he moved to Britain. His popularity allowed him to continue to perform and record successfully in the UK, headlining at the London Palladium and having six further British chart hits in the period up to 1955, including "Now" and "Wanted". However, his work received no exposure back in the US.
In 1958, after the intervention of a family friend, Martino was allowed to return to the U.S. and resume his recording career, but he faced difficulties in re-establishing himself, especially with the arrival of rock and roll. In 1959, Martino signed with 20th Century Fox Records; his deal scored him two albums, and four singles released, none of which was a major hit. The success of his 1962 album The Exciting Voice of Al Martino×The Exciting Voice of Al Martino25 March 2013 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Granada3:322Because Your Mine3:293Non Ti Scordar di Me3:074Love2:305Mattinata2:436Lovliest Night of the Year2:227Here in My Heart3:048Nessun Dorma2:369Make Me Believe2:4610No More2:5611Vule3:4512Exodus2:52 secured him a new contract with Capitol, and was followed by a mostly Italian-language album, The Italian Voice of Al Martino×The Italian Voice of Al Martino1963 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracksA1La strada del bosco2:01A2Maria Mari' (Ah! Marie)2:09A3Fenesta che lucive (The Window)3:00A4Torna2:21A5Don’t Leave Me Now (Stanotte, come ogni notte)2:35A6Senza nisciuno2:48B1Chitarra romana2:25B2Rondine al nido3:12B3Cuore di mamma2:16B4Vurria (I Would Like)2:04B5Al di là2:38B6Torna a Surriento (Come Back to Sorrento)2:26, which featured his version of the then internationally popular song "Al di là". He also made several high-profile television appearances, helping to re-establish his visibility.
In 1963, he had his biggest U.S. chart success with "I Love You Because×I Love You Because1963 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracksA1I Love You Because2:40A2Bouquet of Roses2:17A3I Really Don't Want to Know2:43A4Lonely Drifter2:00A5It's a Sin2:23A6Losing You2:52B1Still2:49B2If I Never Get to Heaven2:27B3You Win Again3:02B4Merry-Go-Round2:21B5Just Call Me Lonesome2:13B6Take These Chains From My Heart2:28", a cover of Leon Payne's 1950 country music hit. Arranged by Belford Hendricks, Martino's version went to number three on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, and number one on the Easy Listening chart. The album of the same name went top 10 in the Billboard 200. Martino had four other U.S. top 10 hits in 1963 and 1964 — "Painted, Tainted Rose×Painted, Tainted Rose2015 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Painted, Tainted Rose2:452You Always Hurt the One You Love2:563Till Then2:414Ramona2:295Harbour Lights2:246More2:367That’s the Way It’s Got to Be2:148I Don’t See Me in Your Eyes Anymore2:429Have I Told You Lately2:3810There Must Be a Way2:3811To Each His Own3:2112I Love You Truly2:38" (1963), "I Love You More and More Every Day×I Love You More and More Every Day1964 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracksA1I Love You More and More Every DayA2Careless HandsA3All My DreamsA4They'll Never Take Her Love From MeA5Many Tears AgoB1Tears and RosesB2No One Will Ever KnowB3I'll Always Be In Love With YouB4Am I Losing You ?B5I'm Living My Heaven With You", "Tears and Roses", and "Silver Bells" (all 1964). He also sang the title song for the 1964 film, Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte. One of his biggest hits was "Spanish Eyes×Spanish Eyes1966 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracksA1Spanish Eyes2:45A2My Foolish Heart2:31A3By the River of the Roses2:37A4Make the World Go Away2:22A5Hello Memory2:28A6Till Then, My Love2:27B1The White Rose of Athens2:52B2Forgive Me2:30B3The End of the World3:09B4One Has My Name... The Other Has My Heart2:21B5I'll Hold You in My Heart (Till I Can Hold You in My Arms)2:55B6Think I'll Go Somewhere and Cry Myself to Sleep2:45", achieving several gold and platinum discs for sales. Recorded in 1965, the song reached number five on the UK Singles chart when reissued in 1973. The song, with a tune by Bert Kaempfert originally titled "Moon Over Naples", is among the 50 most-played songs worldwide.
Martino's run of chart success faded after the mid-1960s, although many of his records continued to reach the U.S. Hot 100. Another later hit was a disco version of "Volare×Volare1975 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAVoltare2:54BYou Belong To Me2:23" (also known as "Nel blu, Dipinto di Blu"). In 1976, it reached number one on the Italian and Flemish charts, and was in the top 10 in Spain, the Netherlands, and France, as well as in many other European countries. In 1993, Martino recorded a new studio album with German producer Dieter Bohlen (former member of pop duo Modern Talking, producer of international artists such as Chris Norman of Smokie, Bonnie Tyler, Dionne Warwick, Engelbert or Errol Brown of Hot Chocolate). The single "Spanish Ballerina" (written in Bohlen's europop sound) reached number 93 in the German single charts.

Acting

Apart from singing, Martino played the role of Johnny Fontane in the 1972 film The Godfather, as well as singing the film's theme, "Speak Softly Love×Speak Softly Love1972 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksASpeak Softly Love (Love Theme From the Film ''The Godfather'')2:52BI Have but One Heart2:52". Martino had been told about the character by a friend who had read the eponymous novel and felt Martino represented the character of Johnny Fontane. Martino contacted producer Albert S. Ruddy, who initially gave him the part. Martino was stripped of the part, however, after Francis Ford Coppola came on board as director and awarded the role to singer Vic Damone. Martino, in turn, went to Russell Bufalino, his godfather and a crime boss, who then orchestrated the publication of various news articles that claimed Coppola had been unaware of Ruddy having given Martino the part.
Damone eventually dropped the role because he did not want to provoke the Bufalino crime family (in addition, Damone felt he was being paid too little for the role). Ultimately, the part of Johnny Fontane was given to Martino. He played the same role in The Godfather Part III and The Godfather Trilogy: 1901–1980 (the television miniseries that combines The Godfather and The Godfather Part II into one film).
Martino later returned to acting, playing aging crooner Sal Stevens in the short film Cutout, which appeared in film festivals around the world in 2006.

Personal life

Martino was married first to Jenny Furini; then to Gwendolyn Wenzel; and, finally, to Judi Stilwell, to whom he was married at the time of his death. He had three children, including television producer Alison Martino.

Death

Martino died from a heart attack on October 13, 2009, at his home in Springfield Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, six days after his 82nd birthday. He was buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.

Awards and honors

2009 – inducted into the Hit Parade Hall of Fame.
Guinness Book of Records for first No. 1 record in the U.K.

Studio albums

Album list: Chart positions:

1959: Al Martino (20th Century Fox)
1960: Swing Along With Al Martino (20th Century Fox)
1962: The Exciting Voice of Al Martino (U.S. No. 109) Capitol Records
1962: The Italian Voice of Al Martino (U.S. No. 57)
1963: When Your Love Has Gone (20th Century Fox)
1963: I Love You Because (U.S. No. 7)
1963: Painted, Tainted Rose (U.S. No. 9)
1963: Love Notes
1963: Sings Great Italian Love Songs
1964: A Merry Christmas (U.S. Christmas No. 8)
1964: I Love You More and More Every Day/Tears and Roses (U.S. No. 31)
1964: Living a Lie (U.S. No. 13)
1965: My Cherie (U.S. No. 19)
1965: Somebody Else is Taking My Place (U.S. No. 42)
1965: We Could (U.S. No. 41)
1966: Spanish Eyes (U.S. No. 8)
1966: Think I'll Go Somewhere and Cry Myself to Sleep (U.S. No. 116)
1966: This is Love (U.S. No. 57)
1967: Daddy's Little Girl (U.S. No. 23)
1967: This Love for You (U.S. No. 99)
1967: Mary in the Morning (U.S. No. 63)
1968: Love is Blue (U.S. No. 56)
1968: This is Al Martino (U.S. No. 129)
1968: Wake Up to Me Gentle
1969: Jean (U.S. No. 196)
1969: Sausalito (U.S. No. 189)
1970: Can't Help Falling in Love (U.S. No. 184)
1970: My Heart Sings (U.S. No. 172)
1972: Love Theme from 'The Godfather' (U.S. No. 138)
1972: Summer of '42 (U.S. No. 204)
1973: Country Style
1974: I Won't Last a Day Without You
1975: To the Door of the Sun (U.S. No. 129)
1976: In Concert: Recorded With the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (live) RockyRock
1976: Sing My Love Songs
1978: The Next Hundred Years
1978: Al Martino Sings (20th Century Fox)
1978: Al Martino
1982: All of Me (MovieTone)
1990: Quando, Quando, Quando (Dynamic)
1991: Al Martino: In Concert (Prestige)
1993: The Voice to Your Heart; produced by Dieter Bohlen in Germany (Dino Music)
2000: Style (Varèse Sarabande)
2006: Come Share the Wine (Sin-Drome)
2011: Thank You

Compilations

196?: Romantic World of Al Martino (Capitol)
1965: That Old Feeling (MovieTone)
1966: Don't Go to Strangers (Pickwick)
1968: Al Martino (Guest Star)
1968: The Best of Al Martino (U.S. No. 108)
1970: Here in My Heart/Yesterday
1971: I Wish You Love/Losing You
1971: Al Martino (3 LP Set)
1978: Time After Time (Springboard)
1990: Greatest Hits (Curb)
1992: Capitol Collectors Series
1996: 20 Great Love songs (Disky)
1998: Touch of Class (Disky)
1999: The Legendary Al Martino (Metro)
1999: The Al Martino Collection: I Love You Because (Razor & Tie)
1999: I Love You Because/My Cherie
2000: Hits of Al Martino
2004: Essential Al Martino (Fuel 2000)
2005: Ultimate Al Martino
2006: We Could/Think I'll Go Somewhere And Cry Myself to Sleep
2006: Very Best of Al Martino
2007: An Introduction to Al Martino (Varèse Sarabande)
2012: Makin' Whoopee (Sepia)
2013: Take My Heart (Jasmine)
2018: The Singles Collection: 1952-1962 (Acrobat)

Singles

A "Spanish Eyes×Spanish Eyes1966 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracksA1Spanish Eyes2:45A2My Foolish Heart2:31A3By the River of the Roses2:37A4Make the World Go Away2:22A5Hello Memory2:28A6Till Then, My Love2:27B1The White Rose of Athens2:52B2Forgive Me2:30B3The End of the World3:09B4One Has My Name... The Other Has My Heart2:21B5I'll Hold You in My Heart (Till I Can Hold You in My Arms)2:55B6Think I'll Go Somewhere and Cry Myself to Sleep2:45" reached No. 5 in the UK on re-issue in 1973.
B "I Started Loving You Again" also peaked at No. 69 on Hot Country Songs.