Editing Dean Martin (section)

==Early life==
[[File:Dean Martin Mural in Steubenville.jpg|thumb|Mural of Dean Martin in Steubenville, Ohio]]
Martin was born Dino Paul Crocetti on June 7, 1917, in [[Steubenville, Ohio]], to Italian father Gaetano Alfonso Crocetti (1894–1967) and [[Italian-American]] mother Angela Crocetti ({{nee|Barra}}; 1897–1966). Gaetano, who was a barber, was originally from [[Montesilvano|Montesilvano, Pescara]], and Angela was born December 18, 1897, in [[Fernwood, Ohio]]. Angela's father, Domenico Barra, emigrated from [[Monasterolo del Castello|Monasterolo, Bergamo]]. Martin had an older brother Guglielmo "William" Antonio Crocetti (1916–1968).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Schoell |first=William |url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/864140445 |title=Martini man: the life of Dean Martin |date=2003 |publisher=Cooper Square |isbn=978-1-4617-4170-1 |edition= |location=New York |pages=5 |oclc=864140445}}</ref>{{sfn|Tosches|1992|p=14}} At 15, Martin billed himself as "Kid Crochet". His prizefighting earned him a broken nose (later straightened), a scarred lip, many broken knuckles (a result of not being able to afford tape used to wrap boxers' hands), and a bruised body. Of his 12 bouts, Martin said that he "won all but 11."{{sfn|Tosches|1992|p=57}} For a time, he shared a New York City apartment with [[Sonny King (singer)|Sonny King]], who was also starting in show business and had little money. The two reportedly charged people to watch them bare-knuckle box each other in their apartment, fighting until one was knocked out. Martin knocked out King in the first round of an amateur boxing match.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boxing-scoop.com/show_boxer.php?boxer_ID=11280 |title=Dean Martin Amateur Boxing Record|publisher=Boxing-Scoop.com|date=June 7, 1917|access-date=April 15, 2012}}</ref> Martin gave up boxing to work as a [[roulette]] stickman and croupier in an illegal casino behind a tobacco shop, where he had started as a stock boy. At the same time, he sang with local bands, calling himself "Dino Martini" (after the Metropolitan Opera tenor [[Nino Martini]]). Martin got his break working for the [[Ernie McKay Orchestra]]. He sang in a crooning style influenced by Harry Mills of [[The Mills Brothers]] and [[Perry Como]].<ref name="bio">{{cite web |title=Dean Martin Bio |url=https://www.deanmartin.com/bio/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190622043336/https://www.deanmartin.com/bio/ |archive-date=June 22, 2019 |access-date=June 21, 2019 |website=The Official Dean Martin site}}</ref> By late 1940, Martin had begun singing for Cleveland bandleader [[Sammy Watkins (musician)|Sammy Watkins]],<ref>Pullen, Glenn C. (November 3, 1940). "Coral Room, Chez Marti Turn Tropical." ''Cleveland Plain Dealer''.</ref> who suggested he change his name to Dean Martin. He stayed with Watkins until at least May 1943.<ref>"Vogue Room Varieties--Meet the Boys in the Band" (advertisement). ''Cleveland Plain Dealer''. May 9, 1943.</ref> By fall 1943, Martin had begun performing in New York.<ref>"Dean Martin--11th Successful Week" (Riobamba nightclub advertisement). ''Billboard''. December 11, 1943, 19.</ref> He was drafted into the [[United States Army|U.S. Army]] during [[World War II]] but was discharged after 14 months due to a hernia.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-12-26-mn-18024-story.html#:~:text=Married%20with%20a%20growing%20family,Club%20in%20Atlantic%20City%2C%20N.J. |title=Dean Martin, Screen Star and Singer, Dies at 78 |last=Oliver |first=Myrna |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=December 26, 1995 |access-date=July 20, 2021 }}</ref>

In October 1941, Martin married Elizabeth "Betty" Anne McDonald in [[Cleveland]], and the couple had an apartment in [[Cleveland Heights]] for a while.{{sfn|Martin|Holden|2010|p=11}} They eventually had four children before divorcing in 1949.{{sfn|Martin|Holden|2010|p=25}}