REVIEW POTPOURRI: Al Martino, Tribute to Jonathan Winters
Al Martino
by Peter Cates
Al Martino
Frank Sinatra
Al Martino (1927-2009) became Capitol records answer to Columbia’s Jerry Vale and RCA’s Sergio Franchi, not to mention the ascendancy during the early ‘30s of Russ Columbo and the ‘40s with Frank Sinatra and Perry Como. I would include here the nowadays very underrated Tony Martin.
Martino scored a major hit in 1953 with Here in my Heart and, when he heard that RCA was planning to get his friend Mario Lanza (1921-1959) to record it, he called the older singer and pleaded with him to hold off, which Lanza did.
Martino also had some connection with the Mafia, which bought out his contract with Capitol and then demanded he give them $75,000 to “protect their investment.”
Vic Damone
Martino was initially offered the role of singer Johnny Fontane in The Godfather by producer Albert Ruddy. When Francis Ford Coppola signed on as director, he offered the role to singer Vic Damone.
Martino again sought assistance from the Mob; Damone heard about it and quietly withdrew from the film (He balked at any unwanted attention from the Mob and also decided that he was being paid too little.).
A 1967 LP, Mary in the Morning (Capitol ST 2780), contains not only the title song which was a megahit for Ed Ames the same year but also beautifully recorded by Glen Campbell; and featured covers of ten other songs – Love Me Tender, Love Letters in the Sand, My Love Is Stronger than My Pride, Unchained Melody, Red Is Red, Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You, Release Me, I Dream of You, Now and Making Memories.
Jerry Vale
He sang with the kind of voice that wasn’t as effusively cloying as Jerry Vale or Jim Nabors and, within its own quieter realm, a very pleasant one – in small doses.
Much of the content can be accessed on Youtube.
Tribute to Jonathan Winters
Jonathan Winters
An immensely fascinating documentary from 2000 and produced by PBS pays tribute to the life of comedian Jonathan Winters (1925-2013) and features interviews with Winters, his wife Eileen, daughter Lucinda and son Jan, singer Andy Williams and – no relation – comedian Robin Williams. It too can be seen on Youtube along with huge numbers of other Winters appearances.
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“Mary In The Morning” was a mega hit for my father, not for Ed Ames. Dad’s version reached number one on the Easy Listening charts and stayed there for two weeks in July of 1967.
I apologize for this inaccuracy. And thank you so much for your reply.