- Mob-related problems forced him to leave the U.S. for England for a time in the 1950s. He returned to the U.S. in 1958. His character in The Godfather (1972), a mob-backed crooner, was supposedly based on Frank Sinatra, yet contained parallels to his own life--he was dogged throughout his life by allegations that his career was due to his connections to mob bosses, and in fact admitted in an interview that he got the part in "The Godfather" due partly to pressure brought about by his "godfather", New York Mafia don Russell Buffalino.
- The son of Italian immigrants, he was a childhood friend of famed opera singer Mario Lanza.
- Served in the U.S. Navy during WWII and was wounded during the invasion of Iwo Jima in the Pacific.
- Was the very first artist to have a number one single in the UK. "Here In My Heart" was at the top of the very first chart compiled on 14 November 1952; it stayed there for a total of nine weeks
- His biggest hits as a singer, primarily on the Capitol label in the USA, were "Here in My Heart", "I Love You More and More Every Day", "Spanish Eyes" and "Mary in the Morning".
- Began performing in post-war nightclubs in Philadelphia before moving to New York in 1948 and winning a contest on Arthur Godfrey's radio talent show.
- Was working on a new album at the time of his death.
- Father of Alison Martino.
- Al also has a daughter Dana, who has a husband Robert and their son Brian.
- He was a popular crooner.
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