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'Godfather' singer Al Martino dies in Pa. at 82
AP on Yahoo ^ | 10/13/09 | AP

Posted on 10/13/2009 8:53:32 PM PDT by NormsRevenge

SPRINGFIELD, Pa. – The singer who played the Frank Sinatra-type role of Johnny Fontane in "The Godfather" has died at his childhood home in suburban Philadelphia.

Publicist Sandy Friedman says Al Martino died Tuesday afternoon in Springfield, in Delaware County. He was 82.

Starting in 1952, Martino was known for hit songs including "Here in My Heart," "Spanish Eyes," "Can't Help Falling in Love" and "Volare."

Besides acting in the Marlon Brando classic "The Godfather," he sang the 1972 film's title score, "The Love Theme From The Godfather." His Fontane character is a singer and occasional actor.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: almartino; dies; godfather; music; singer
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To: NormsRevenge

Oh, that makes me sad! Condolences and prayers for his family.

Thank you for posting the link to him singing Volare. I played that song so often, back in the day, that I could sing all the words - even if I didn’t know what I was singing! lol.

He was a favorite of mine.


21 posted on 10/13/2009 9:11:26 PM PDT by LucyJo
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To: dfwgator

I usually go with one of the top links on the first page. ;-)


22 posted on 10/13/2009 9:11:44 PM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... Godspeed .. Monthly Donor Onboard)
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To: NormsRevenge
"Besides acting in the Marlon Brando classic "The Godfather,"

Marlon Brando classic? Lets give credit where credit is due. It's a Francis Ford Coppola classic all the way. Without all the actors that Coppola was able to bring together to make this classic it might have amounted to nothing.

23 posted on 10/13/2009 9:16:16 PM PDT by BBell
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To: NormsRevenge

Not to mention all the crap Francis Ford Coppola had to put up with to make this movie.


24 posted on 10/13/2009 9:17:24 PM PDT by BBell
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To: BBell

I agree, it was a Coppola baby.. with only a few minor scenes filmed in Los Angeles, the rest in the NY area.


25 posted on 10/13/2009 9:20:47 PM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... Godspeed .. Monthly Donor Onboard)
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To: NormsRevenge

Interesting. Thanks. I haven’t seen the movie in years. Was the vocal version used in the film?


26 posted on 10/13/2009 9:22:22 PM PDT by irishjuggler
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To: NormsRevenge

Well my mom is singing tonight up in heaven. She played his records everyday, and at 8 years old I know all the words to every single song he ever sang. Still do. Harbor Lights, Ramona, Painted Tainted Rose, You always Hurt the One You Love. So many great memories. So many great songs.

And boy did my mom have a voice.

RIP you wonderful man. Hope your singing a few duets with my mother tonight.


27 posted on 10/13/2009 9:25:31 PM PDT by Peleliu1944 (Susan Estrich - a face for radio and a voice for pantomime.)
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To: irishjuggler

when film first came out I don’t think so, but I’m not sure .


28 posted on 10/13/2009 9:34:54 PM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... Godspeed .. Monthly Donor Onboard)
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To: irishjuggler

or I could be wrong completely.. lol.

they had all kinds of cuts and versions out over the years..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Godfather#Chronological_versions


29 posted on 10/13/2009 9:37:22 PM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... Godspeed .. Monthly Donor Onboard)
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To: NormsRevenge

The Johnny Fontaine role in the Godfather was modelled after Frank Sinatra ...

Michael: You know, my father helped Johnny in his career.

Kay Adams: Really? How?

Michael: ...Let’s listen to this song.

Kay Adams: [after listening to Johnny for a while] Please, Michael. Tell me.

Michael: ...Well when Johnny was first starting out, he was signed to this contract with a big-band leader. And as his career got better and better he wanted to get out of it. Now, Johnny is my father’s godson. My father went to see the bandleader, with a contract for $10,000 to let Johnny go, but the bandleader said no. So the next day, my father went to see the bandleader again, only this time with Luca Brasi. Within an hour, the bandleader signed the release, for a certified check of $1000.

Kay Adams: How did he do that?

Michael: My father made him an offer he couldn’t refuse.

Kay Adams: What was it?

Michael: Luca Brasi held a gun to his head, and my father assured the bandleader, that either his signature or his brains would be on the contract.

Kay Adams: ...

Michael: ...That’s a true story.

Frank Sinatra had connections to Willie Moretti, a New Jersey mobster also called Willie Moore. Sinatra performed for Moretti in his casinos in Vegas, The Riviera amongst them. In 1943, Sinatra’s was trying to get out of an unfair contract he had signed with band leader Tommy Dorsey, but failed. It was his godfather Moretti who made Dorsey an offer he couldn’t refuse ...


30 posted on 10/13/2009 9:45:55 PM PDT by Lmo56
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To: NormsRevenge

He looked so Italian....perfect casting for The Godfather. Great voice. May he rest in peace.


31 posted on 10/13/2009 9:47:49 PM PDT by Swede Girl
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To: NormsRevenge

I like his recording of “Mary in the Morning,” from 1967.


32 posted on 10/13/2009 9:50:52 PM PDT by Fiji Hill
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To: Fiji Hill

Mary in the Morning was great, another I like from 2001 is this (performed here in 2007 - still going strong):

Come Share the Wine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvyW906123Y&feature=related


33 posted on 10/13/2009 10:06:25 PM PDT by Sparky1776
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To: scott7278

One of his Most Beautiful Singles: “I Love You Because”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ck796TNJ2jo


34 posted on 10/13/2009 10:08:42 PM PDT by plinyelder
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To: FrankR

You should look into high-speed EVDO cards, and if you are really far into the boonies, you can still get Satellite. I can’t imagine life on dial-up.


35 posted on 10/13/2009 11:06:46 PM PDT by Defiant (The absence of bias appears to be bias to those who are biased.)
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To: NormsRevenge

My mother died this week in 74 (I was 12 at the time). My Dad (who is still alive) used to have me play “Spanish Eyes” for her on the piano, because she loved that song


36 posted on 10/14/2009 12:20:06 AM PDT by raccoonradio
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To: NormsRevenge

for later


37 posted on 10/14/2009 2:54:17 AM PDT by TalBlack
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To: NormsRevenge

Al did a Christmas album (back in the late 60’s?) that was so good I could never enjoy anyone else’s work since. I always wished I had a voice like his.


38 posted on 10/14/2009 6:20:11 AM PDT by Paine in the Neck (Nepolean fries the idea powder)
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