AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Dean Martin

Artist:Dean Martin
Song:Everybody Loves Somebody
Album:Dino: The Essential Dean Martin





It might surprise people to know that Everybody Loves Somebody was the biggest hit in Dean Martin's long career. It came at an interesting time because he hadn't had a hit in several years. He did plenty of other things but Martin was a singer first and I'm sure he was very happy he knocked The Beatles from the top of the charts in 1964. But it's likely that if he had never teamed up with Jerry Lewis, Martin would never have been a star. He was born Dino Crocetti June 7, 1917 in Steubenville, OH. He dropped out of school in 10th grade and attempted a boxing career. When that went nowhere, he changed his name to Dino Martini and embarked on a singing career. He worked with several bands in the 40s but really wasn't all that successful. His style of crooning was considered to be too similar to Bing Crosby. The turning point in Martin's career was when he met Jerry Lewis in a New York nightclub in 1945. They worked on their act and debuted in Atlantic City's 500 Club July 24, 1946. When their first set did not go over, they threw out the scripted gags and improvised. That was their success. Lewis being silly and Martin's reactions to him. They would become the hottest act in entertainment in nightclubs, TV and films. Meanwhile Martin had started his recording career with Capitol Records. His biggest hit That's Amore reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1953 and would become his signature song. With Rock 'N' Roll becoming popular, Martin's recording career was inconsistent. He hated the new music and refused to change his style. He became close friends with Frank Sinatra and was part of The Rat Pack. When Sinatra left Capitol and started Reprise Records, Martin went with him. But Martin wanted a hit. He hadn't had one in a long time. He finally hit paydirt when Everybody Loves Somebody topped the charts in Aug. 1964 and even knocked The Beatles A Hard Day's Night from the top of the charts. Everybody Loves Somebody was written by Irving Taylor and Ken Lane and was originally recorded by Frank Sinatra in 1947 and also recorded by Ella Fitzgerald and Peggy Lee. Lane usually worked as a music arranger for films but at the time, he was working with Martin on his recordings. It was Lane's idea to record the song and he became pianist and arranger on Martin's TV variety series. At the time, Martin's son Dean Paul Martin was an aspiring rock musician and dad hated the music so much that he vowed that he would knock The Beatles from the top of the charts. Dean Martin's recording career faded but his other activities kept him in the public eye until his death on Dec. 25, 1995 at age 78. This comp is a perfect intro to his music. Here's Dean Martin performing Everybody Loves Somebody at a 1964 Rat Pack show.