Dino, Desi & Billy

Dino, Desi and Billy had one of the best introductions to the entertainment world that any neophyte trio could hope for. Two of the three members came from highly successful show business backgrounds.

Dino Martin – the son of crooner/actor Dean Martin – was born Dean Paul Martin on 17 November 1951 in Santa Monica, California. Desi was the son of Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball.

Billy Hinsche’s father, on the other hand, became rich selling real estate to the other two lads’ fathers.

The three boys joined forces while at the Good Shepherd Catholic School in Beverly Hills. Frank Sinatra heard the three rehearsing during a visit to Dean Martin’s home and signed them to his label, Reprise.

Producer Lee Hazelwood worked with the trio and some of the best background musicians in Hollywood to record their debut album.

They had a hit with the single I’m A Fool and toured with The Beach Boys, Paul Revere & the Raiders, Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs and on many tours of their own.

Over the next four years, they recorded four albums for Reprise and had six songs that charted on the Billboard Hot 100. They also appeared in the Matt Helm (Dean Martin) spy spoof flick Murderer’s Row performing Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart’s composition of If You’re Thinkin’ What I’m Thinkin’ – another of their chart hits.

Dino Martin died on 21 March 1987 when his National Guard F-4 Phantom fighter jet crashed in the San Bernardino Mountains during a snowstorm.

Dino Martin
Vocals, bass
Desi Arnaz Jr
Vocals, drums
Billy Hinsche
Vocals, guitar