MUMBAI: Crooner Al Martino expired on Tuesday at the age of 82. A crooner who had several hits to his credit in more than 20 years, Martino essayed the role of Johnny Fontane in all the Godfather films.

Born Alfred Cini on 7 October, 1927 in South Philadelphia, Martino was pushed into singing by his childhood friend Mario Lanza. He began his singing career in the late 1940s.

His single Here in My Heart hit no. 1 in the U.K. in 1952 and stayed on top for a record nine weeks. That year, Martino performed for Queen Elizabeth at the London Palladium.

Martino had a run of chart singles through 1953, but his career stalled with the advent of rock ‘n‘ roll. He caught fire again in 1963 with the Top 5 hit I Love You Because; it was the first of six consecutive top 40 singles in less than two years, including I Love You More and More Every Day in 1964.

Martino sang I Have but One Heart (O Marenariello) in the first part of Godfather in the wedding

scene.

A longtime resident of Beverly Hills, Martino is survived by his wife, Judi; a daughter, Allison; a son, Alfred; a brother, Frank; two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.