That's Amore: A Son Remembers Dean Martin

by Ricci Martin and Christopher Smith

Book Overview

Ricci Martin takes readers on a tour through his childhood, from the star-studded parties to the exploration of three marriages, eight kids, one family, to the treasured one-on-one time he shared with his father.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1589791401
• ISBN13: 9781589791404
• Release Date: September 2004
• Publisher: Taylor Trade Publishing
• Length: 244 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.3" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

It's Fantastic

If you love Dean Martin this is definetly the book for you!! I actually put the book down and stopped reading it to make it last longer. It was wonderful! Ricci takes you to their home and places you right there to watch their life unfold. I laughed at the good times and cried with the sad times. Makes me want to turn back the clock of time. This book is well written. The love of a son for his father & family is apparent. Now that I have read it, I will definetly read it again. This is a must read!!!!

Wonderful tribute to Dean Martin

This book is a wonderful tribute to a wonderful Dad. Dean Martin is remembered by his son Ricci. Forget all the negative stuff you have ever read about Dean Martin. This is the true Dean. Dean was a man who loved to golf and loved his family. It is refreshing for a son to write a tribute to his Father. Enjoy it.

Very entertaining read, like spending time with the family

Ever since I can remember, I have been a fan of Dean Martin, and after reading this book I no longer wonder why. Ricci tells us what I always suspected, that Dean was real, he was a loving person, a good Dad and his son reports he didn't put himself above anyone else. I like that in a person. I remember seeing the lovely Olympic Ice Skater Dorothy Hamill interviewed on TV, shortly after Dean's death several years ago and she said he was one of the kindest people she ever met. Dorothy had been married at one time to Dean's son, Dino, of the 1960's Rock'N Roll Band, Dino, Desi & Billy. There are some wonderful photos in the book, heart-warming memories from his son and an insight to life must have felt like having a super star for a father, although I got the impression Dean was very much a regular guy once he arrived home after work. The book has some great (funny!)stories about Ricci and his brother, Dean Paul (Dino). How I wish I could have seen Dean in Vegas with his buddies on stage. This book could have been a few hundred pages longer! Good job, Ricci, thanks for sharing memories of your father and your family with us. Funny I could write this review without mentioning Dean's wonderful singing voice, and who in the world didn't love to listen to Dean!

From The President Of The Official Dean Martin Fan Center

This is a must have book! Whether you are a big fan or have just happened to be around in the last half century... you'll certainly enjoy what this book has to offer. Only a handful few people are known worldwide by just their first name ... "Dino" was (and still is) one of those. The tabloids (both on the newsstands and on TV) and even other "so-called" biographies have had their field day. Most of what has been written has been pure speculation, and sensationalized beyond belief... UNTIL NOW. This is the VERY FIRST TIME that someone who actually knew Dean (with the one exception of Lee Hale's wonderful book) has written an accurate accounting about the man everyone 'thinks' they know. To top it off, this is an accounting from Dean Martin's OWN son, Ricci Martin. How much closer can you get?We get a look into what life was like growing up in Beverly Hills at 601 Mountain (the most stopped at house by all the tour buses), to what it was like being the son of one of the greatest entertainers of all time. We also get a peek at life with a houseful of brothers and sisters, to the tragic shock of losing one of them so suddenly, and how it affected the whole family.Dean Martin was the only personality in show business to have conquered all five major fields, and Ricci gives us his views on each of these (Radio, TV, Stage, Motion Pictures, and Records). Ricci not only discusses his feelings about his father, and the breakup with Jerry Lewis, but also his views on the Rat Pack years, and his top-rated television series (which Ricci worked as a photographer, taking pictures that he saw from a son's point of view). Ricci was there though it all, whether it was in Las Vegas while his Dad was performing to standing room only crowds, or the quiet times he enjoyed one-on-one with his Dad.Much has been written or said about Dean Martin. The fact of the matter is that Dean only gave about a dozen interviews his whole life. Forget about all those other books that try to tell the story about Dean from people who didn't even get to shake his hand... this one is REAL. Ricci , who is very talented man in his own right, often performs himself and produces many other artists at his famous `River Ranch' recording complex. Now he can add author to his credits. Along with his writing partner, Christopher Smith, this book is written in a easy flowing style with many memories that we can all relate to in some way. You'll not only laugh at the wonderful stories about growing up, but it might take you back to a time that was much easier and simpler. Also, a ton of photographs (some never before seen) adorn the pages of his wonderful book, which help to accentuate the memories.As a side note... Ricci actually started this as a secret project for his mom. He found that she had so many photographs laying around in boxes and in drawers, and wanted to preserve them for her, as well as his own daughters and other family members. From there, it kept growing , and we now are fort