21 Facts About Al Martino

Jasper Cini, known professionally as Al Martino, was an American traditional pop and standards singer.

Al Martino 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.

Al Martino 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.

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.

Al Martino's 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".

In 1958, after the intervention of a family friend, Al Martino was allowed to return to the US and resume his recording career, but he faced difficulties in re-establishing himself, especially with the arrival of rock and roll.

In 1959, Al 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 secured him a new contract with Capitol, and was followed by a mostly Italian-language album, The Italian Voice of Al Martino, which featured his version of the then internationally popular song "Al di la".

Al Martino made several high-profile television appearances, helping to re-establish his visibility.

Al Martino sang the title song for the 1964 film, Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte.

Al Martino's run of chart success faded after the mid-1960s, although many of his records continued to reach the US Hot 100.

In 1993, Al Martino recorded a new studio album with German producer Dieter Bohlen.

Apart from singing, Al Martino played the role of Johnny Fontane in the 1972 film The Godfather, as well as singing the film's theme, "Speak Softly Love".

Al Martino had been told about the character by a friend who had read the eponymous novel and felt Al Martino represented the character of Johnny Fontane.

Al Martino was stripped of the part after Francis Ford Coppola came on board as director and awarded the role to singer Vic Damone.

Al 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 Al Martino the part.

Al 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.

Al 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.

Al Martino had three children, including television producer Alison Martino.

Al Martino died from a heart attack on October 13,2009, at his home in Springfield, Pennsylvania, six days after his 82nd birthday.

Al Martino was buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.