Romantic Ballad Singer Tony Martin Dies At Age 98

Tony Martin, known for his romantic songs, his charm and good looks and his six-decade marriage to Cyd Charisse, died Friday at the age of 98 in his West Hollywood, Calif., home.

A longtime manager and a close friend of Tony Martin, Stan Schneider, told Reuters, "He passed away peacefully of natural causes."

Tony Martin, known for hits like "Stranger in Paradise," "Theres No Tomorrow" and "Walk Hand in Hand," had a career that spanned almost 80 years.

Born in San Francisco on Christmas 1913 as Alvin Morris to Jewish immigrants from Poland, Martin attended a Christian Brothers school called St. Mary's and was in the class of 1934. He left school two years before graduating as he was flunking every class and his friends advised him to "stick to music" according to a report in the New York Times.

His musical career began during his school days in the 1920s where he formed his first band. After school, he headed to Hollywood, where his voice and his charm got him singing and acting assignments. Slowly he transitioned into musicals like "Here Come the Girls" and later into movies. In his eight-decade career, Tony Martin performed in nightclubs, radio, television, musicals and movies.

Martin's first marriage ended in a divorce but his second marriage with dancer and actress Cyd Charisse lasted for 60 years until her death at age 86 in 2008. Martin and Charisse had a son, Tony Martin Jr. who passed away in 2011. His only survivors include Nico Charisse, Cyd Charisse's son from her first marriage, and two step-grandchilren.

Reuters reported that his burial will take place near Los Angeles near the resting place of his wife Cyd Charisse.