Dean Martin at his "Coolest"

With his smooth voice and charming exterior, Dean Martin became known for his effortless performances and quick wit, which led to 50 years in the spotlight and a reputation for being, well, cool. So, on what marks the King of Cool's 100th birthday, we remember the performances that highlighted what made Martin so special, and broke them down into three steps that you can try too! 

First, Skip the Rehearsal

Watching Dean Martin perform could leave anyone thinking "How does he make it look so easy?" or "It just seems so effortless." And effortless it must have been. Martin hated rehearsing. It was built into his contract on The Dean Martin Show that he be present for nothing other than the taping. He joked in live performances that he could barely remember the music and the words, but knowing that he didn't attend rehearsals, he may have only been half joking.

And Remember to Stay True to You!

Dean Martin never distanced himself from his Italian roots. True to himself, Martin played up to his heritage in TV sketches, films, and concert performances. Because of that, he is known by many for performing some of the signature “Italian” popular tunes. In the 2010 book, The Story of Italian American Songs, author Mark Rotella cites Martin's performance of "That's Amore" in the 1953 film The Caddy as an important turning point in Americans' introduction to Italian culture. Rotella notes that previous "Italian" songs like "Mambo Italiano" were stereotypical and not written with Italian performers in mind, but "That's Amore" was different. Rather than imitating the sound of the language or pointing at the differences between Americans and Italians, the lyrics simply celebrated the Italian phrase and the pleasures of Italian life. Martin allegedly didn't care for the song, but he managed to add his signature sound to the tune! 

Finally, Find the Coolest Clique in Town

And let’s not forgot all of Martin's cool friends! Dean Martin was no stranger to the nightclub scene. It was as a club performer that he attracted the attention of MGM executives who thought he’d be a great leading man. He frequently shared the stage with popular stars of the time on The Dean Martin Show. He had segments with guests such as Louis Armstrong, Goldie Hawn, and Peggy Lee, and on top of all the duet partners he had on his show, he was a founding member of the Rat Pack alongside Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr. 

Martin may have been too cool for school (or rehearsal in this case), but he also gave us a lot to smile about. Whether cracking one-liners or serenading audiences in song, Martin kept the crowd feeling as good as he did, and for that, we raise our glasses to him. Happy birthday Dean Martin!