A Few Minutes With Singer Deana Martin

A touch of Hollywood royalty will once again grace the grounds of the Mount Carmel Society this weekend, as Deana Martin returns to perform at the 86th annual Enfield Italian Festival.

The daughter of the legendary Dean Martin headlined last year's event, and this year presents an amazing variety show that includes her band, talented singers and a side-splitting comedian. The show will be presented both Friday and Saturday nights, beginning at 8 p.m.

Ms. Martin met up with Enfield Patch at a local restaurant Wednesday afternoon to chat about her career and her upcoming performance.

Q:  What is your earliest recollection of show business?

A:  We would see people on TV and go to movies, and I realized my dad was Dean Martin, who was a big singer and all that. I remember going to see Rio Bravo at the Westwood Theater in Westwood, California, and there was a big marquee and everybody was in line. The marquee saidRio Bravo starring John Wayne, Dean Martin and Ricky Nelson, and I thought, "Wow, that's my dad who all these people are coming to see!" It was a wonderful feeling hearing the people around me saying, "Wow, we got to see Dean Martin and John Wayne tonight in this show," and that was very exciting for me. Rio Bravo was a brilliant movie, one of my favorites.

Q:  When did you begin performing?

A:  I was in school, and was brought up taking ballet lessons and tap lessons and acrobatics. I was always musical, active and a bit of a ham, so I was always in school plays and recitals. Although I had already recorded a few albums, my first professional job was on The Dean Martin Show. Frank Sinatra was on at that time, and it was unbelievable to be able to sing with my dad and Frank Sinatra. It was mind-boggling, and seeing everything going on behind the scenes, and the cameras, and all the movie stars and actors and writers - it was very exciting.

Q:  Fast-forwarding all the way to 2010, you performed here at the Enfield Italian Festival last year for the first time. How was that experience, and what led to you coming back again this year with an even bigger show?

A:  It was so much fun, and the people here in Connecticut were so great. The Mount Carmel Society, Carl Sferrazza and his wife Donnalee and their kids - everybody was so nice and so accommodating. Everything was first-rate, they fed me and my band so well, and the audience loved the show. When I was asked to come back this year, I said of course, that would be fabulous, let's make it even bigger and better. They pay attention to every minute detail, and the response was so wonderful, of course I wanted to come back and have another great time. Now we're performing two nights, and I've brought some wonderful guest stars with me.

Q:  This year, it's the Deana Martin Variety Show. Tell us what people can expect to see this weekend.

A:  We'll have some video and fabulous musicians, and it will be a variety show. I have Bob Anderson, who is probably the world's greatest singing impressionist. Dean and Frank and Sammy used to go watch him in Las Vegas after their shows, so Bob and I will sing some songs together. Then I have Pete Barbutti, who is an unbelievable comic. He's one of the funniest men I know, a nice clean funny man, and an excellent musician also. He does some funny things playing instruments - he'll play a broom, he plays the piano with his nose. It's crazy, but it's a lot of fun. Then we have Steve Maglio, who is a singing interpreter. He does a lot of Frank Sinatra, and he has some wonderful arrangements. It will be a fast-paced, fabulous show, and we're looking forward to it. It will be a fun, wonderful family night.

Q:  Are there any new recordings in the works for you?

A:  Absolutely, in fact I just got back from Capitol Records, where I just completed my new Christmas CD. There are some wonderful surprises on that, with an 88-piece orchestra. I do a beautiful duet with Andy Williams on "White Christmas" on it, and there's a special thing that I can't even tell yet. We went all the way with this, and it will be out at the end of August.

Q:  What are you most looking forward to this weekend?

A:  Seeing all the people, because their response is so amazing, and when I talk to them after and I'm signing books or CDs, and they tell me stories about my dad and what he meant to them - that's the best part.

The Enfield Italian Festival runs this Friday and Saturday from 5-11 p.m., and Sunday from 5-10 p.m. The Mount Carmel grounds are located at 93 Park Ave., Enfield.