ABSTRACT
American popular vocalist, born Alvin Morris in Oakland, California. He sang with various orchestras, including Ray Noble’s, and appeared in motion pictures from 1936. He was prominent on radio in the 1940s,then on television,and was a well-known nightclub performer in the 1970s. He often appeared with his wife, singer/dancer Cyd Charisse. Martin recorded for Decca in the mid-to late 1930s, briefly for Mercury from 1946-1947, and then through the 1950s for RCA Victor. Among his notable discs were “Begin the Beguine”/“September Song” (Decca #2375; 1939), “All the Things You Are” (Decca #2932; 1939), and “I Get Ideas” (Victor #20-4141; 1950). His 1936-1968 Decca recordings are anthologized on Collectors Classics (#7465), and RCA issued a greatest hits collection in 2000 featuring 14 1950s-era recordings (#69397).
