Culture

Godfather Actor And Singer Al Martino Dies At 82

by Yuliya Talmazan | October 14, 2009 at 11:16 am

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Al Martino, an American singer and actor of Italian descent, has died at the age of 82. He is famous for his role of Johnny Fontane in the epic film Godfather by Coppola where he played a singer whose character is based on the life of crooner Frank Sinatra. Ironically, it was alleged that Al Martino himself had connections with the mafia.

Al Martino died in his home in Springfield, Pennsylvania. The cause of death is unknown.

Martino was born Alfred Cini in Philadelphia on Oct. 7, 1927, the son of Italian immigrants who ran a masonry business.

He began his working life as a bricklayer, but his aspiration was to be a singer and one of his closest friends was Alfredo Cocozza, six years his senior, who became the singer Mario Lanza.

He also came from the same south Philadelphia neighbourhood as Frankie Avalon, Bobby Rydell and Chubby Checker.

Martino served in the U.S. Marines in the Second World War and was wounded at Iwo Jima. He began his show business career singing in clubs in Philadelphia after the war. In 1948, he moved to New York, where he won a television talent show and a recording contract.

Martino's first hit in the U.S. was 1952's Here in My Heart, but his stardom came at a price. Two thugs turned up at the house of Martino's manager demanding to buy the young singer's contract and take a slice of his future earnings.

Martino said his manager sold out and he was roughed up when he objected to co-operating with the mob. He had three more hits in short succession, Take My Heart, Rachel and When You're Mine.

Then he left for Britain, where he lived and worked for the next six years. In 1958, Martino was able to return to the United States under the protection of a new mob boss, Angelo Bruno.

Throughout the 1960s, Martino continued to record and had hits such as Forgive Me, Daddy's Little Girl and I Love You Because.

The theme to The Godfather was a big boost to his career and he continued to work nightclubs until the 1990s. His last album, Style, was released in 2000.