Al Martino
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Al Martino (born October 7, 1927 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as Alfred Cini) is an Italian-American singer and actor. After service with the U.S. Marines in WWII, includng being a part of the Iwo Jima invasion where he was wounded, he commenced his singing career.
His single "Here In My Heart" was number one in the first UK Singles Chart, published by the New Musical Express in 1952, putting him into the Guinness Book of World Records. The song also stayed there for nine weeks.
One of the most successful Martino hits was "Spanish Eyes", achieving several gold and platinum discs for sales. Recorded in 1965, the song reached number 5 on the UK Singles Chart when re-issued in 1973. Even today, this classic by the late composer, Bert Kaempfert (his original title for the song was "Moon Over Naples") is among the 50 most-played songs worldwide. Another smash hit was the mega-seller, "Volare" (also known as "Nel blu, dipinto di blu"). In 1976, it reached number one on the Italian and Belgium charts, and was in the Top Ten in Spain, The Netherlands and France, as well as in many other European countries. In the U.S., Martino had eleven top 40 hits in the Billboard pop singles chart in the 1960s and 1970s, with 1963's "I Love You Because" and 1964's "I Love You More and More Every Day" both reaching the Top Ten.
Apart from singing, Martino has acted in a number of movies, notably, he played the role of Johnny Fontane in the 1972 film The Godfather, as well as singing the film's title score, "The Love Theme From The Godfather". He played the same role in The Godfather Part III (1990) and The Godfather Trilogy: 1901-1980 (video, 1992). He recently returned to acting, playing aging crooner Sal Stevens in the short film Cutout, appearing in film festivals around the world in 2006.
[edit] Discography
Albums
- 1959: Al Martino
- 1960: Swing Along With Al Martino
- 1962: The Exciting Voice of Al Martino (US #109)
- 1962: The Italian Voice of Al Martino (US #57)
- 1963: I Love You Because (US #7)
- 1963: Painted, Tainted Rose (US #9)
- 1963: Love Notes
- 1964: A Merry Christmas
- 1964: I Love You More and More Every Day/Tears and Roses (US #31)
- 1964: Living a Lie (US #13)
- 1965: My Cherie (US #19)
- 1965: Somebody Else Is Taking My Place (US #42)
- 1965: We Could (US #41)
- 1966: Spanish Eyes (US #8)
- 1966: Think I'll Go Somewhere and Cry Myself to Sleep (US #116)
- 1966: This Is Love (US #57)
- 1967: Daddy's Little Girl (US #23)
- 1967: This Love for You (US #99)
- 1967: Mary in the Morning (US #63)
- 1968: Love Is Blue (US #56)
- 1968: This Is Al Martino (US #129)
- 1969: Jean (US #196)
- 1969: Sausalito (US #189)
- 1970: Can't Help Falling in Love (US #184)
- 1970: My Heart Sings (US #172)
- 1972: Love Theme from 'The Godfather' (US #138)
- 1975: To the Door of the Sun (US #129)
- 1976: In Concert: Recorded With the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (live)
- 1978: Al Martino Sings
- 1978: Al Martino
- 1982: All of Me
Compilations
- 1968: The Best of Al Martino (US #108)
Singles
| Year | Title | Album | US | AC | UK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1952 | "Here in My Heart" | 1 | 1 | ||
| 1952 | "Take My Heart" | 9 | |||
| 1953 | "Now" | 3 | |||
| 1953 | "Rachel" | 10 | |||
| 1954 | "Wanted" | 4 | |||
| 1954 | "The Story of Tina" | 10 | |||
| 1955 | "The Man from Laramie" | 19 | |||
| 1960 | "Summertime" | 49 | |||
| 1963 | "I Love You Because" | I Love You Because | 3 | 1 | 48 |
| 1963 | "Painted, Tainted Rose" | Painted, Tainted Rose | 15 | 3 | |
| 1963 | "Living a Lie" | Love Notes | 22 | ||
| 1964 | "Silver Bells" | A Merry Christmas | 6 | ||
| 1964 | "I Love You More and More Every Day" | I Love You More and More Every Day/Tears and Roses | 9 | 3 | |
| 1964 | "Tears and Roses" | I Love You More and More Every Day/Tears and Roses | 20 | 7 | |
| 1964 | "Always Together" | We Could | 33 | 4 | |
| 1964 | "We Could" | We Could | 41 | 6 | |
| 1965 | "Forgive Me" | Spanish Eyes | 61 | 7 | |
| 1966 | "Spanish Eyes" | Spanish Eyes | 1 | 15 | |
| 1966 | "Just Yesterday" | 77 | |||
| 1966 | "Think I'll Go Somewhere and Cry Myself to Sleep" | Spanish Eyes | 30 | 2 | |
| 1966 | "Wiedersehn" | Think I'll Go Somewhere and Cry Myself to Sleep | 57 | ||
| 1967 | "Daddy's Little Girl" | Daddy's Little Girl | 57 | 2 | |
| 1967 | "Mary in the Morning" | Mary in the Morning | 27 | 1 | |
| 1967 | "More Than the Eye Can See" | 54 | 1 | ||
| 1968 | "Love Is Blue" | Love Is Blue | 57 | 3 | |
| 1969 | "Sausalito" | Sausalito | 99 | ||
| 1970 | "Can't Help Falling in Love" | Can't Help Falling in Love | 51 | 5 | |
| 1972 | "Speak Softly Love" | Love Theme from 'The Godfather' | 80 | ||
| 1975 | "To the Door of the Sun (Alle Porte del Sole)" | To the Door of the Sun | 17 | 7 | |
| 1975 | "Volare" | To the Door of the Sun | 33 | ||
| 1978 | "The Next Hundred Years" | Al Martino | 49 | 6 |
[edit] References
- Guinness Book of British Hit Singles - 16th Edition - ISBN 0-85112-190-X
- The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits - ISBN 0-85112-250-7
- The Book of Golden Discs - 2nd Edition - ISBN 0-214-20512-6
