Actor and singer Al Martino has died at this childhood home in Pennsylvania somewhat suddenly. As yet there's been no announcement regarding the cause of death.
Martino, born Alfred Cini, enjoyed a long career as a pop crooner, even after the arrival of rock n roll caused a temporary lapse in his chart success. Although his career was mainly musical, he is perhaps best known for an acting role, his turn as Johnny Fontane in 'The Godfather'. He also provided the theme to the movie, 'I Have But One Heart (O Marenariello)'.
His other big claim to fame, in the UK at least, was that he was the first artist to ever top the singles chart. When the NME first published a chart in 1952, based on a phone survey of record shops, Martino's 'Here In My Heart' was the most sold single of the week. It stayed top for nine weeks, an achievement even now only beaten on a handful of occasions.
Paying tribute, Philadelphia TV personality Jerry Blavat, who dined with Martino and his wife on Monday night, said he was shocked by the singer's passing, because he seemed in good health when they last met. He told the Philadelphia Daily News: "He was the last of the show business legends. There's nobody else. The last of the performers. A magnificent voice".