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 ...
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.
I usually go with one of the top links on the first page. ;-)
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.
Not to mention all the crap Francis Ford Coppola had to put up with to make this movie.
I agree, it was a Coppola baby.. with only a few minor scenes filmed in Los Angeles, the rest in the NY area.
Interesting. Thanks. I haven’t seen the movie in years. Was the vocal version used in the film?
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.
when film first came out I don’t think so, but I’m not sure .
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
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 ...
He looked so Italian....perfect casting for The Godfather. Great voice. May he rest in peace.
I like his recording of “Mary in the Morning,” from 1967.
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
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.
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
for later
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.
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