Tony Martin

Trivia

• Classic pop singer and occasional actor (Hit the Deck (1955), Here Come the Girls (1953), Casbah (1948)) whose career peaked in the 1950s.
• His biggest hit was "There's No Tomorrow" (RCA Victor, 1950), which was adapted from the traditional Neapolitan ballad "O Solo Mio" (Elvis Presley later had one of the biggest hits of his career by adapting the same song as "It's Now or Never"). Happily married for sixty years to actress/dancer Cyd Charisse.
• Very early in his career, he was a sax player, under his real name of Al Morris, in an orchestra headed by Tom Gerun.
• Among the other orchestra members were unknowns (at the time) Woody Herman and singer Ginny Simms.
• His first hit record was "Now it Can Be Told" (1938), a song by Irving Berlin from the film Alexander's Ragtime Band (1938).
• It was sung on-screen by his then-wife Alice Faye.
• There was a misunderstanding that led to his discharge from the Navy during WWII. He finished up the war in the Army, winning a Bronze Star as a noncombatant in the Far East.
• He was awarded 4 Stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6331 Hollywood Boulevard, for Motion Pictures at 6436 Hollywood Boulevard; for Radio at 1760 Vine Street; and for Television at 1725 Vine Street in Hollywood, California.
• Tony was at a Friar's Club Roast for Lucille Ball/Desi Arnaz in November, 1958, when Harry Parke, having just completed his comedy routine and returning to his seat, collapsed into Milton Berle's lap. Berle, hoping to divert the audience from Harry's distress, urged Tony to sing something. His unfortunate song choice was "There's No Tomorrow."