Tony Martin

Biography

Alvin Morris, better known as Tony Martin, was an iconic American actor and singer whose career spanned an impressive seven decades. He achieved significant fame from the late 1930s to the mid-1950s with memorable hits like "Walk Hand in Hand," "Stranger in Paradise," and "I Get Ideas." Martin was married to the talented actress and dancer Cyd Charisse for an incredible 60 years, from 1948 until her passing in 2008.

His musical journey began in grammar school, where he honed his skills as a vocalist and instrumentalist. By high school, he had formed his first band, "The Red Peppers." After attending college, he ventured to Hollywood, adopting the stage name Tony Martin as he pursued a career in film.

In the early 1940s, Martin made his mark on radio as the host and singer of CBS's Tune-Up Time alongside Andre Kostelanetz, and he also appeared on NBC's The Tony Martin Show. His film debut included minor roles, eventually leading to significant contracts with 20th Century-Fox and MGM, where he starred in numerous musicals.

During World War II, Martin served in the U.S. Navy but was discharged for "unfitness" after testifying at a court martial. Post-war, he signed with Mercury Records, where his 1946 hit "To Each His Own" earned a gold disc. Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, he starred in several musicals and, in 1958, became the highest-paid performer in Las Vegas. Additionally, he made a surprising foray into Motown in the mid-1960s. Martin was also a stockholder in the Parvin-Dohrmann Corporation, which owned the Flamingo Las Vegas.