Q&A: Singer Deana Martin to perform at Valley Dale Ballroom in Columbus

Singer-actor Dean Martin was responsible for one classic Christmas record (1966’s “The Dean Martin Christmas Album”), several much-loved Christmas TV specials and, as one of the signature members of the Rat Pack, his ability to communicate an inimitable sense of joie de vivre.

Many of us would probably welcome the chance to spend the holiday in the company of Martin, who was born in Steubenville in 1917, achieved comic immortality as one-half of a duo with Jerry Lewis and later became a serious actor of renown.

Martin died in 1995 at age 78, so the next best thing may be to spend the Christmas season with his daughter, Deana Martin.

Deana will perpetuate her father’s legacy of making merry music with a holiday show this weekend. On Saturday at the Valley Dale Ballroom, the singer will perform “Deana Martin in Concert.” Tickets are available for the show alone or for the show plus a buffet dinner.

Ahead of her appearance in central Ohio, Deana Martin, 75, spoke with The Dispatch about her father, her memories of Christmas in Southern California and what she will be singing this weekend.

Question: Do you think your father’s Ohio upbringing had an impact on him?

Deana Martin: For sure, because of the way he was brought up in that little neighborhood. My grandmother was so amazing. She was a seamstress, and a great cook, so she made sure that all of the kids on the block (had) clothes that fit them right. My grandfather was a barber. Everybody knew each other. . . . My dad was taught well: manners, and “please” and “thank you.” He always told me, “Deana, treat people the way you want to be treated, and you’ll be fine.”

Q: How was Christmas celebrated in your household?

Martin: Oh my gosh, it was unbelievable. A couple of weeks before Christmas, we would all get so excited. We’d go down into the basement and we’d get out all of the lights — you know, those old lights with red and yellow and blue (lights), with long, long cords. Imagine, seven kids: If everybody got five presents, can you imagine that? . . . .

(My dad) would get the tall ladder, and he would put the lights all around the tree, and then he would say, “OK, kids, now go stand back there in the door and now look at the tree and squint” — so that we could see if there are parts (of the tree) that didn’t have lights. I’m just imagining all seven kids standing there. He just laughed at us.

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Q: Growing up in Southern California, though, you didn’t have to contend with winter weather.

Martin: For our Christmas caroling, that was always great. People would come to our house, they’d ring the doorbell, we’d open the door, they’d be singing a Christmas carol and then they would take us with them. Maybe we would walk over to Lucille Ball’s house. She’d open the door, we’d all sing Christmas carols and she’d offer everybody a hot toddy — of course, the little kids didn’t have one. But Les Brown and Rosemary Clooney and Jo Stafford — they were in our little group, and we’d go from house to house, and by the time it was over, we were called the Hymn and Hangover Carolers. ... Dad was very into Christmas, and my grandmother was very into Christmas. We would have nice, big meals. She would make pasta fagioli and gnocchi, which she taught me how to make. (One year), I was trying to figure out what can I get Dad for Christmas, after so long. I thought, “Another V-neck cashmere sweater or another silver frame with me in it?” And then it came to me: make the pasta fagioli. I had never made it. But I remembered it. I went to the store, got all of the ingredients, came home, made the pasta fagioli, put it in a Ball mason jar with a red ribbon, went over to my dad’s house. When I handed him that bottle of pasta fagioli, the look in his eyes! He said, “Is this what I think it is?”

Question: What will you be performing in Columbus?

Martin: I’ll be singing (many) of the songs from my “White Christmas” album. I’ll be doing the duet with Andy Williams (on video). I’ll be doing the duet with my dad, “True Love.” (Songs) like “Silver Bells,” “White Christmas,” “The Christmas Song” and “Please Come Home for Christmas.” . . . Of course, I’ll be telling some humorous jokes and memories and stories of me growing up.

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Question: And you have an 18-piece band, right?

Martin: An 18-piece orchestra. My music director, Rick Krive, is conducting, and I’ve got Eddie Maina, who’s a part of my crew, on sax. It’s going to be just a special, special, fun night. Of course, I go out into the audience. I ask for volunteers to come up for “Memories are Made of This,” because they’re my backup singers. I call them Deana’s Divas.

Question: Did you take a lot of lessons from your father’s way with an audience?Martin: I watched him. He was kind to everyone. One of my favorite lines is when he would walk out. He would look at the audience, then he’d look at his conductor, who would be Ken Lane on the piano, . . . and he’d say, “How long have I been on?” Right there, you knew it was going to be just fantastic.

Question: When you look at the old Martin and Lewis routines, what was it about your father and Jerry Lewis that worked so well together?

Martin: As Jerry would say to me — “Uncle Jerry” — “We have magic in a bottle.” And they did. But my dad was so funny and calm. . . . My dad had timing. Finally, after 10 years, my dad had had it up to here. Jerry was a little crazy. But they just had this spark, because my dad was so cool and Jerry was funny playing the fool — off-the-wall, crazy.

Question: Do you have a favorite of your father’s movies?

Martin: I love “Some Came Running.” That was spectacular. I still love “Rio Bravo.” I have the shot glass that he used in “Rio Bravo.” He was great in that. Of course, “The Young Lions.” But there are so many.

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At a glance

“Deana Martin in Concert,” also featuring Rick Brunetto’s 18-piece orchestra, will be performed at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Valley Dale Ballroom, 1590 Sunbury Road. Doors open at 6 p.m. and a buffet dinner is served at 6:30. General admission dinner and show costs $89. The show only costs $59. For more information, visit www.valleydaleballroom.com.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Q&A: Deana Martin to share childhood memories during Columbus show