Dean Martin (born Dino Paul Crocetti; June 7, 1917 December 25, 1995) was an American singer, film actor and comedian of Italian descent. He was one of the best known musical artists of the 1950s and 1960s. Martin's hit singles included "Memories Are Made Of This", "That's Amore", "Everybody Loves Somebody", "Mambo Italiano", "Sway", "Volare" and "Ain't That A Kick In The Head?" One of the organizers of "The Rat Pack", he was a major star in four areas of show business: concert stage, recordings, motion pictures, and television. Dean Martin has since became a pop culture figure for his womanising ways, his trademark charm, and his alleged drinking and alcoholism. He was much respected wherever he went, and became a sort of unofficial ambassador to the Italian-American community. "Nel blu dipinto di blu" ("In the blue painted blue"), popularly known as "Volare" (Italian for the infinitive form of the verb "to fly"), is Domenico Modugno's signature song. It is the only song ever by an Italian artist to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
Domenico Modugno's recording of this song was the first Grammy winner for Record of the Year (1958). It is.