Dean martin biography book
Martini Man: The Life of Dean Martin
May 6, 2024
"Who was the real Dean Martin? A skirt-chasing, heavy drinking, wholly insensitive, minimally talented philanderer and mob pal who dropped friends and wives as casually as he'd discard a candy bar wrapper? Or an underrated, highly amiable, top-flight singer and actor who was loyal to his pals and remained friends with wives even after divorce, and who much preferred an evening at home watching [TV] than a night out drinking with the boys?" -- from the intro
Spoiler alert: the reading audience will find out that actor/singer Dean Martin was perhaps equal parts of both of the above descriptions in author Schoell's Martini Man. Raised in an Ohio industrial town just after WWI, the speakeasy blackjack dealer and amateur boxer found (somewhat unlikely) fame by becoming a crooner in the style of Bing Crosby and then as one-half of a nightclub comedy duo with Jerry Lewis in the mid-1940's. Although it seemed like Martin's career would go bust after the dissolution of the partnership - the twosome's early 50's film career is discussed in much detail, but was not the most interesting part of this book - he, almost unexpectedly, roared back into the public consciousness and then had a good twenty-five year stretch of continued success in the movies (Rio Bravo, Ocean's 11, Airport, etc.), music (countless breezy pop singles, such as Memories Are Made of This and Ain't That a Kick in the Head?), and a long-running NBC-TV variety series that regularly showcased his light comedy style and carefree attitude. But this being a show biz bio there was also the dark side - his shady business dealings early in his recording career, two ex-wives and distant relationships with the children, the passing of both of his parents and only sibling all within the same ten-month period (!), and then the accidental death of his son in a military jet crash. This was a thorough and detailed biography, but not necessarily always much fun to read . . . which is sort of odd, in a way, since Martin had a dependable charisma and personality (at least what he is best remembered for) as being the life of the party, but yet was really a private and reserved person.
Spoiler alert: the reading audience will find out that actor/singer Dean Martin was perhaps equal parts of both of the above descriptions in author Schoell's Martini Man. Raised in an Ohio industrial town just after WWI, the speakeasy blackjack dealer and amateur boxer found (somewhat unlikely) fame by becoming a crooner in the style of Bing Crosby and then as one-half of a nightclub comedy duo with Jerry Lewis in the mid-1940's. Although it seemed like Martin's career would go bust after the dissolution of the partnership - the twosome's early 50's film career is discussed in much detail, but was not the most interesting part of this book - he, almost unexpectedly, roared back into the public consciousness and then had a good twenty-five year stretch of continued success in the movies (Rio Bravo, Ocean's 11, Airport, etc.), music (countless breezy pop singles, such as Memories Are Made of This and Ain't That a Kick in the Head?), and a long-running NBC-TV variety series that regularly showcased his light comedy style and carefree attitude. But this being a show biz bio there was also the dark side - his shady business dealings early in his recording career, two ex-wives and distant relationships with the children, the passing of both of his parents and only sibling all within the same ten-month period (!), and then the accidental death of his son in a military jet crash. This was a thorough and detailed biography, but not necessarily always much fun to read . . . which is sort of odd, in a way, since Martin had a dependable charisma and personality (at least what he is best remembered for) as being the life of the party, but yet was really a private and reserved person.
Best biography books sports What are the best, most read sportsbooks and sports biographies of athletes? In this overview you will find our recommendations with good sports books with wonderful inspiration from, for example, cycling, martial arts and football.