Retro Redux: Al Martino Will Be Remembered

When I read that Al Martino had died recently, a number of thoughts went through my mind. Like a lot of people, I thought about his appearances in the Godfather movies — not a lot of screen time, but memorable nonetheless. He played a mob-connected singer named Johnny Fontane, a character rumored to have been based on Frank Sinatra. (Ironically enough, Martino reportedly had his own gangster problem — but as a victim. More later about that.)

A couple of years back, I wrote something I called The Quintessential Italian Crooner. As the title suggests, it was a discussion of Italian-American singers and their place in the hierarchy of croonerhood. Unfortunately I placed Al Martino in the second tier of singers, along with Jerry Vale and Vic Damone. To my surprise, I received an email from his daughter, who very nicely but firmly advised that he deserved a little more respect. For one thing he was still actively touring and performing for appreciative audiences, unlike most of his contemporaries. She was right — Al Martino deserved tons more respect than I'd given him.

Born in Philadelphia in 1927 as Alfred Cini, a second generation Italian whose immigrant parents operated a masonry business, he grew up more interested in music than he was in bricks. He was especially inspired by his neighborhood friend, Mario Lanza (Alfredo Cocozza), who had hit it big as an opera singer. Adopting the name Al Martino from his grandfather, he began to work toward a singing career of his own.

With a little help from Lanza and a boost from Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts program, Martino was able to secure a recording contract. In 1952 it led to his break-out debut hit, "Here Is My Heart," a song that Lanza had also planned to record but turned down so that his friend Al would have it all to himself. The record hit the top in both the U.S. and the U.K. and led to a bigger recording contract with several more hits soon coming along.

Article Author: Big Geez

Big Geez is a retiree who takes time off from trimming his ear hair to write about music -- occasionally writing reviews, but most often using his regular music feature, Retro Redux, to share his opinions about how something resonates with his memories and those of his generation. …

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