The Voice of a Generation and a 'Godfather' Icon

Italian American crooner Al Martino, who had string of international pop-chart hits in the 1950s and 1960s including "Spanish Eyes" and "Here in My Heart" and later put his creamy baritone to good use as the fading pop star supposedly based on Frank Sinatra in the 1972 film "The Godfather," died Oct. 13 in the Philadelphia suburb of Springfield. He was 82. No cause of death was reported.

Along with Jerry Vale, Perry Como and Vic Damone, Mr. Martino was among a cadre of Italian American pop singers who followed Sinatra and Dean Martin to prominence in the early 1950s.

Mr. Martino's breakthrough song "Here in My Heart," released in 1952, rocketed to the top of the U.S. and U.K. pop charts and stayed there for weeks. After his contract was bought by a mafia-connected management team, Mr. Martino took his royalties and fled to England. He stayed there for six years and headlined the prestigious London Palladium stage. He performed for Queen Elizabeth II and chatted with former Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who reportedly told him "Here in My Heart" was one of his favorites.

After returning to the United States in the early 1960s, Mr. Martino rekindled his career with the hit songs "I Love You Because" and "Painted, Tainted Rose" (1963), "Spanish Eyes" (1966) and "Mary in the Morning" (1967).

As Johnny Fontane in "The Godfather," Mr. Martino played a pop star seeking to regain his fame through a riveting part in a war movie, just as Sinatra had with his Oscar-winning portrayal in "From Here to Eternity" (1953).

As a favor to his godson, Don Vito Corleone (played by Marlon Brando) persuaded the producer to give Johnny the role -- it was "an offer he can't refuse," made emphatic when the producer wakes one morning accompanied by a bloody horse's head.

Mr. Martino later released the love theme for the film, "Speak Softly Love" (1972). Three years later, he put out a disco version of Domenico Modugno's "Volare". He recorded a music video in the Italian Alps in which he wore gigantic sunglasses and a skintight jacket, belting the tune from the roof of a snowcat all-terrain vehicle.

Mr. Martino was born Jasper Cini on Oct. 7, 1927, in South Philadelphia, where his father was a bricklayer. He took up the name "Alfred," lied his way into the Navy at 15 and was shipped off to Iwo Jima, where he was a signalman during World War II.

After his discharge, he returned to the United States and joined his father on construction sites during the day. At night, he worked at local clubs molding his "Al Martino" personality; Martino was his grandfather's first name. He moved to New York seeking to build his career and roomed with other budding stars Eddie Fisher and Guy Mitchell.

Mr. Martino got his big break in the late 1940s after a winning appearance on Arthur Godfrey's "Talent Scouts." A few years later, Mr. Martino approached his friend, Alfredo Cocozza, the opera star who performed under the name Mario Lanza, about recording "Here in My Heart."

Lanza had been about to release his own version of the song but, out of respect for Mr. Martino's blossoming career, allowed the young singer to take the tune. Mr. Martino's version of the song soared to the No. 1 spot on the charts.

Mr. Martino's marriages to Jennie Surini and Gwendolyn Martino ended in divorce.

Survivors include his wife of 40 years, Judith Martino of Beverly Hills, Calif.; a son from his first marriage; a daughter from his second marriage; a daughter from his third marriage; two sisters; a brother; two grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Mr. Martino continued to record and perform until his death. He was scheduled to release a new album featuring re-recordings of his earlier songs along with new material and had planned to visit the London Palladium in 2010 for the theater's 100th anniversary.

Jerry Blavat, a Philadelphia-area radio personality, called Mr. Martino's songs timeless and classic. But Mr. Martino said that after his success earlier in life, he never felt quite the same glow from the spotlights.

"I can't sell records in stores anymore," he said. "Everything is online, and I don't have the access to younger audiences. But 20 or 30 years from now, how are kids going to feel romance?"