I just attended my work’s Christmas party and can confirm I have been bitten by the holiday bug! This song came into my head which is fitting for a Friday evening post.

Dean Martin, born Dino Paul Crocetti on June 7, 1917, in Steubenville, Ohio, was a legendary American entertainer who left an indelible mark on the world of music, film, and television. Nicknamed “The King of Cool,” Martin rose to fame as part of the comedy duo Martin and Lewis before establishing himself as a successful solo artist. His smooth baritone voice and charismatic personality made him one of the most popular entertainers of the mid-20th century.

While Dean Martin is often associated with the song “Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” he did not actually write or originate the tune. The song was composed by Frank Loesser in 1944, initially as a private parlor act for him and his wife, Lynn Garland. Loesser wrote the song to perform at their housewarming party in New York City, using it as a clever way to signal to guests that it was time to leave. The couple’s rendition of the song became so popular that they were invited to perform it at numerous parties, making them “instant parlor room stars”.

In 1948, Loesser sold the rights to the song to MGM, much to his wife’s disappointment. The following year, “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” gained widespread public attention when it was featured in the 1949 romantic comedy film “Neptune’s Daughter”. The song’s popularity soared, and it won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1950.

Dean Martin recorded his version of “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” later, which became one of the many popular renditions of the song. His smooth, charismatic delivery helped cement the song’s place in the American musical canon, particularly as a winter and holiday standard, despite its lyrics not explicitly mentioning any specific holiday.