Biography claims Martin had mob links

Late crooner Dean Martin was involved with the mafia and often performed for America's most notorious mob bosses, according to a new biography which exposes files collated by the FBI.

In his book Dean Martin: King of the Road, author Michael Freedland claims the That's Amore singer - who had denied links to the mafia until his death in 1998 - accepted the help of gangsters who owned saloons in Chicago during the early days of his career.

Martin subsequently repaid them by performing on their demand when he became a major star and member of the legendary Rat Pack, which contained singers like Frank Sinatra who were also believed to have had mob connections.

Freeland says: "Unlike other people, he knew to say 'thank you' afterwards. If Sam Giancana, the real godfather of Chicago, decided he wanted to put on a show - and this is borne out by FBI files that I saw - he would say: 'Get Dean Martin, I need him for 10 days.' And he would go.

"But he could have got himself into very serious trouble."