My music taste was, as many other children, based on that of my parents. Growing up in an Italian household, we listened to the voices of Luciano Pavarotti, Frank Sinatra, and Louis Prima (among others) every Sunday while we cleaned the apartment. However, one of my favorite musicians from my mother tongue was Dean Martin. Whenever Volare came up in the rotation, I would stop my furious dusting and swoon with the melodies of Martin's soothing lyrics of flying high in the blue sky, away from my cramped apartment and the smell of Pledge and bleach in the air. While Dean Martin has become a staple in many Italian family playlists, it is in his nook in the American and international television, movie, and vocal scene that propelled him to stardom.
(Dean Martin, aka "The King of Cool," in 1960)
Born in Steubenville, Ohio, in 1917 to Italian parents and with the name Dino Alfonso Crocetti, Martin was bullied for his broken English (as Italian was his first and only language until he was 5) and eventually dropped out of high school in the 10th grade because he thought he was smarter than his teachers. Martin worked a variety of odd jobs, including at a steel mill, as a blackjack dealer in a speakeasy, and a welterweight boxer (he wasn't nearly as accomplished as Rocky Balboa, however). Eventually, Martin moved to New York City and met Jerry Lewis, and these two got their first break in the 500 Club in Atlantic City. It was in their bawdy and vaudeville-reminisce comedy that delighted audiences and began Martin's career as an entertainer. After splitting from Lewis nearly 10 years later, Martin began his solo career, which is where your parents or grandparents may recognize his name from.
(Martin, left, and Frank Sinatra performing in their signature "suit and bow-tie" look that garnered a long run in the casinos of Las Vegas and immortal notoriety)
It is in the next portion of Martin's career where we see his little-c creativity shine brightest. Though his first solo film was a commercial and critical failure, it is in his co-star role with Marlon Brando and Montgomery Clift in "The Young Lions" that earned him critical recognition and success. Using this role as a springboard into Hollywood and Las Vegas, Martin would go on to land several more featured roles, including "Dude" in Rio Bravo and alongside Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr. (among others) in the original rendition of Ocean's 11. However, it was not in Martin's acting where we especially see his creativity. That lies in his singing style. While initially mimicking Perry Como and Bing Crosby, Martin morphed and merged his voice and style into a unique entity, eventually able to hold his own in duets with giants like Sinatra and Crosby himself while on stage. Martin's voice was so loved by the American public that his song "Everybody Loves Somebody" dethroned The Beatles' hold on the #1 spot on Billboard 100 in 1964. It is in his masterful tempo and throwback "crooning" style of singing and purposeful incorporation of his Italian roots and country music (of all things!) that displays Martin's creativity most. He knew what would appeal to a widespread audience and tailored his craft to reach as many people as possible.
To this day I listen to Dean Martin while cooking and cleaning, wondering when I'll start to hover and take off into the great blue beyond!
Resources:
Garner Chapter 2
Mamma Elish and Nonna Ferrari
I distinctly remember seeing Dean Martin in "Ocean's 11" when I was young and my parents would put on their favorite classic movies. I also recently stumbled upon him again when my mom happened to find reruns of The Dean Martin Show. While I did not know much about his music career, his influence definitely shaped a generation. It was interesting to hear that he struggled as a child because of his heritage and because his English was not deemed "good enough." I feel as though this contributed to his success. He became self sufficient, confident, and proud of his identity and capabilities. I also find it interesting that he dropped out of school because "he thought he was smarter than his teachers." I am noticing that this is a trend with many creatives, and it makes me wonder if the true constraint is the structure of education. Look at Jobs, he dropped out of college and became a successful creator. Einstein was interested in education when he transferred to a school where students' minds were allowed to wonder and question, rather than sit and obey. This just happened to stumble into my mind.
ReplyDeleteI had a very similar experience growing up with an Italian background, even down to the habit of listening to music while cleaning, especially listening to artists like Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, and sure enough, Dean Martin when visiting my grandparents.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate how, despite being bullied as a result of Italian being his first language, he continued to pay homage to his background, and brought the language into popular American culture with songs you mentioned, like "Volare", "Buona Sera", "Mambo Italiano", and of course, "That's Amore".
I also think it is important for creatives to find a balance between staying true to themselves and having an openness to outside opinions and experiences. Dean Martin accomplishes this between referencing Bing Crosby but still shaping his own singing style. He also demonstrated his willingness to a wide array of experiences, diving into blackjack, steal mills, and boxing all before making his mark in a singing career.
Although I am not from an Italian background, I too grew up listening to artists including Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr. I still listen to these soothing tunes when I want to relax. As a musician myself, I find true appreciation in these classics and the magnificent musicality the "easy-listening" genre. I remember watching Ocean's 11 with my dad when I was little and was in awe of how many big names were in the movie. I find it inspiring that Martin came from an honest background and eventually worked his way to become the huge star he was. Like Firdaus pointed out, I too noticed that many huge creatives started from humble backgrounds and that a large constraint on their careers was formal education. Once they were able to branch out, they were finally able to truly reach their creative passions.
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