Deana Martin: Memories Are Made of This

Just look at the singer’s name. It tells you precisely what to expect: a heartfelt tribute to her dad, Dino, backed by the kind of studio band that used to back him on his TV show or at Vegas lounges. Like her father, Deana is very smooth, extremely confident and fills her songs with plenty of personality, but don’t expect any jazz from the 15 tracks-at least, not vocally. Some of the arrangements-all done by Charles Calello-call for a jazz feel from the band, and they often push her, but Deana plays it safe, seldom straying from the melody (as in “The Lady Is a Tramp”). She has a clear, thin voice, very pleasant, and with a surprising range-considering she hits high A-flat on “What If I Loved You.” Album highlight: “Time After Time,” in which she harmonizes and sings an obbligato with her father’s former partner, Jerry Lewis.

Her resume would never fit in this space, but suffice it to say she’s had tons of exposure on TV (like her own talk show), movies and the stage; she hosts a daily syndicated radio show, she’s written a book, and she started a fitness company which led to a workout video. Now that she has recorded her first album, she’ll have to update her resume.

Originally Published December 1, 2006