Biography
Tony MARTIN
Star of CBS’
Tony Martin after two years of record-breaking personal appearances
at home and abroad, returns to CBS to star on Sunday “Carnation Contented Hour.”
Martin, one of the nation’s most popular vocalists, has devoted
his time concluding his last CBS series in 1948 to playing leading theaters,
hotels and benefits in the United States and the Palladium in 1948, returned
there this year and is now under contract to appear in the British music hall
once yearly.
Martin has appeared
at the Rosy in New York, the Chicago Theater. Seattle’s Metropolitan Theatre,
the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas, the Beverly Club in New Orleans, Miami’s Beachcomber
and numerous other prominent entertainment spots. The dark-haired, dark-eyed baritone
recently concluded an engagement at the Cocoanut Grove in Los Angeles, where he
broke attendance records of the past 20 years. During his tours, Martin also
has entertained at various military hospitals throughout the country.
Having just signed a contract for two films yearly at RKO
Studios. Martin begins work in “Two tickets to Broadway” in October.
His past movies include “Till the Clouds Roll By,” “Show
Boat,” “Music in My Heart,” “Ziegfeld Girl” and “The Big Store.”
Before his last CBS series, the “Tony Martin Show,” in 1947
and 1948. Martin starred on CBS “Listen to a Love Song” in 1946, his first
radio program following four years of Army service. While in the Army, he spent
in the China-Burma-India Theatre.
A native of Oakland. Calif., Martin began making a name for himself
at 12 years of age as a saxophonist and clarinetist in a fourman band of high school
students. Termed the Clarion Four, the combo played professional engagements in
a vaudeville theatres. At 14, he joined the Five Red Peppers, a hot jazz group,
and, two years later, began singing and playing sax with a band at San Francisco’s
Palace Hotel.
While a sophomore at St. Marv’s College and still at the
Palace, Martin made his coast radio debut March 28, 1932, on the “Lucky Strike
Hour.” which then featured Walter Winchell and dance band remotes throughout
the country. His college studies ended at 18, when a faculty member of St. Marv’s
heard him playing jazz on the school organ and suggested he devote his full time
to a musical career.
Martin headed east, stopped to see the World Fair in Chicago
and got a job playing with the Chez Paree band. In 1946, he returned to the
Chez Paree as a singing star and broke all club records. Deciding to try his
luck in films, Martin changed his name from Alvin Morris Jr. to Tony Martin and
left for Hollywood.
He made several studio contacts but nothing happened until
Darryl Zannek heard him during an engagement at Hollywood’s Trocadero and
signed him for 20th Century-Fox. Martin also landed the singing spot
on CBS’ “Burns and Allen Show” the same year, 1936. Fox featured him in the
films “Sing Baby Sing,” “Pigskin Parade,” “Sally, Irene and Mary” and others.
In 1939, Martin was starred as master of ceremonies and
soloist on CBS’ “Tune-Up Time,” with Andre Kostelanetz, a 45-piece orchestra
and Kay Thompson and her Rhythm Singers. This was big last radio series until
he returned to CBS after his Army discharge in 1946 on “Listen to Love Song.”
The good-looking, six foot-tall baritone married actress Cyd
Charisse May 15, 1948. Their first child, Tony Martin Jr., was born August 28,
1950.
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