Al Martino

Iconic Italian-American crooner, celebrated for standards and his role in The Godfather.

Chronology: 1927-10-07 – 2009-10-13

Origins & Early Life

Jasper Cini (October 7, 1927 – October 13, 2009), known professionally as Al Martino, was an American Jazz and traditional pop and standards singer. He 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. == Early life == Jasper Cini was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Gasparino (also anglicised as "Jasper"; 1905–1958) and Carmela M. Cini (née Grilli; 1905–1998), one of five siblings.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

His father and maternal grandfather were immigrants from Nereto in the Italian region of Abruzzo. He 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. == Career == After serving with the U.S. Navy in World War II, during which he took part and was wounded in the Iwo Jima invasion, Cini began his singing career. Encouraged by Lanza, he adopted the stage name Al Martino, based on the name of his good friend Lorraine Losavio's husband Alfred Martin Cianfrani, and began singing in local...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Source: Wikipedia