Dean Martin Recollections

FULLY REVISED AND UPDATED FOR 2023 "I sang some songs, acted here and there, but no way would I call myself exceptional. I just hope I did my best for my audiences." A somewhat self-deprecating comment from Dean Martin on his own career. It was this laid-back approach to his work, however, that belied an incredibly hard-working, dedicated and professional entertainer. From humble beginnings as the son of an Italian immigrant, Dean properly started his professional career in 1943, peaking with his award-winning, ratings-busting weekly variety show for NBC in the 1960s. As well as counting Frank Sinatra amongst his closest friends and a tempestuous 10-year partnership with Jerry Lewis, Dean recorded countless hit singles, sold millions of records and starred in a string of hit movies. Bernard H Thorpe first got to know Dean in the fall of 1960. Together they formed what would become The Dean Martin Association, the first and only official, independent organization dedicated to Dean in th