FEINSTEIN'S PRESENTS LEGENDARY HOLLWOOD ACTOR TONY MARTIN
FEINSTEIN'S at the Regency Hotel (540 Park Avenue, NYC - 212-339-4095
-
http://www.feinsteinsattheregency.com/
) will continue their Fall 2007 season with Hollywood legend TONY
MARTIN for two shows only, Sunday, October 21st and Monday, October
22nd at 8:30 pm. Martin, now 95 years old, will tell stories of his
days in Hollywood performing alongside such iconic names such as Fred
Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Rita Hayworth, Judy Garland, Lana Turner and
his wife Cyd Charisse. He will perform songs from his career like
"Begin the Beguine," "Let's Face the Music and Dance," "You Stepped
Out of A Dream" and "A Foggy Day."
Tony Martin å who has gained worldwide popularity
and recognition as a multi-talented, multi-faceted singer, actor,
entertainer and recording artist å is one of the only entertainers
to have four "stars" on Hollywood's legendary "Walk of Fame" for
his heralded work in motion pictures, television, radio and recordings.
As an actor, Martin also appeared in more than 20 classic Hollywood
films, including "Show Boat," "Til the Clouds Roll By," "Here Come
the Girls," "Easy to Love," and "Hit the Deck." He is respected
as a singer and recording artist.
Some of Martin's top sellers include such hits as
"Begin the Beguine," "To Each His Own," "I Get Ideas" and "There's
No Tomorrow." He became a household television name to millions
of viewers in as the star of his own hit variety series, "The Tony
Martin Show," in the 1950's. He also led his own radio orchestra
on a two-and-a-half hour popular radio show every Saturday night.
He diversified his radio popularity by playing Grade Allen's boyfriend
on "The Burns and Allen Show."
He was born in Oakland, California on Christmas Day
as Alvin Morris. He started singing at his mother's sewing club
as a young boy, and began mastering a number of musical instruments,
including saxophone and clarinet. He eventually formed his own dance
band and began playing various gigs professionally. They say timing
is everything. And it certainly held true that serendipitous night
when a Hollywood agent heard Tony Martin singing on a late night
musical show and offered him a chance to try his luck in Hollywood.
Martin had the look, the voice, and the charisma to make it in "Tinseltown"
and quickly landed a movie contract with RKO Studios. He subsequently
found himself with contracts at 20th Century Fox and MGM Studios.
His first picture was "Ali Baba Goes to Town" with Eddie Cantor
and Gypsy Rose Lee.
Martin's early years brought new life to the rising
star, as well as a new name. Tony came from the name of a gambler
in a story in Liberty Magazine (the People Magazine of the day),
and "Martin" came from the name of the bandleader, Freddie Martin.
He was married briefly to singer/actress Alice Faye, and went on
to serve in the armed forces during World War II. After serving
two years in China, Burma and India and being honored with the Bronze
Star and Presidential Citation, Martin served on the committee for
John F. Kennedy's "People to People" Sports Program. Martin promoted
health and fitness, and to this day, he walks five miles a day,
plays golf and can give most a run for their money on the 4-wall
handball courts. He is also an avid sports fan.
Two of the singer's major hits included "Begin the
Beguine," which was originally intended for Bing Crosby who was
on tour and unavailable, and "There's No Tomorrow," which Perry
Como opted not to record. It was this kind of fortune that took
Martin to the heights of stardom as a headline performer around
the world.
Martin currently continues to perform on tour and
remains married to love of his life, the elegant Cyd Charisse, whom
he married in 1948. Martin also stays very involved in charitable
causes, including "The Society of Singers" (SOS), in which he serves
as Vice President of the Board of Directors.
This show has a $40 cover charge and a two drink minimum.