First chart-topper Al Martino dies

Published: Wed, 14 Oct 2009 11:12:12

Al Martino, the first singer to claim a number one single in the UK, has died at the age of 82. He died at his childhood home in the Philadelphia suburb of Springfield, his publicist Sandy Friedman confirmed, though no cause of death has yet been announced. Martino topped the UK charts in 1952 with his song Here In My Heart for nine weeks, become the first artist to score a number one after the New Musical Express introduced a chart in November of that year.

The song's nine-week run at the top of the charts has only been surpassed by four songs in UK chart history, including Bryan Adam's 1991 hit Everything I Do (I Do It For You), which held the top spot for 16 weeks. Martino also recorded the title theme to The Godfather in 1972 and appeared in the film as singer Johnny Fontane. The crooner and actor character, thought to be based on Frank Sinatra, is mafia boss Don Corleone's godson in the classic mob movie.

Jerry Blavat, a radio and television personality in Philadelphia, had dined with Martino and his wife on Monday night and said the singer had appeared in good health. "He was the last of the show business legends," he told the Philadelphia Daily News . "There's nobody else. The last of the performers. A magnificent voice."

Martino's last album, Style, was released in 2000 and he also made a return to acting in 2006, appearing as an ageing singer in the short film Cutout.

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