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The Press - CourierFRIENDLY TWOSOMEJen Lane believes in timing, which had a Show,” colorcast over Channel 4 on Thurs-Dt to do in hi* becoming Dino’s accompanist days,n nightclubs and on “The Dean MartinEntertainmentPAGE TENWednesday, Dec. 31, 1969Timing ImportantFor Dino's Pianistf»HOLLYWOOD - Ken Lane met Dean Martin in IMS. He did not see him again till 1956, when he was asked to become Dean’s accompanist.“I kind of let things happen, said Ken. 'The timing has to be right. I firmly believe that timing is most important.”Ken has continued as Dean s accompanist to this day, appearing with him in nightclubs and on “The Dean Martin Show, colorcast over Channel 4 Thursdays.“I was bom in Brooklyn, said Ken. ‘My parents were both musical. My first memories are of them winding up the victrola. They liked serious music. My father played the fiddle, my mother played the piano. Father was an attorney. My mother is stillftIliving, in North Hollywood, started studying the piano when I was eight.After high school, Ken workeda radio show, asked Ken to come to work as choir directorfollowing his discharge in 1944“This led to ‘Ken tane and the Hit Paraders’, with Frank as star, said Ken “I had thechoir.”He also worked with Dinah Shore, Victor Young, and Jo Stafford. He met Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis as vocal arranger at Paramount StudiosSinatra’s Accompanist“I never got to know Dean real well, but I knew who he was,” said Ken. “I was still working with Frank when the Para mount job folded. After I did the Hit Parade for three years, it went TV, but not with us 1 stayed as Frank’s ac companist until 1952. Then I be came Eddie Fisher's accom panist. We did ’Coke Time’ twice a week for five years and two months.”The show went off in Febuarvfor four months as a bookkeeperin a meat-packing house. One of his father’s clients then sent him to see George Marlowe who was opening his own publishing firm on the strength of “Home,” a song which had become a big hit.of 1957. Ken was betweenassignments.” Dean and Jerry had just gone their separateways.“A mutual friend called me and said Dean was looking foran accompanist.” said Ken He set up and eveninglt;1Song Demonstrator (appointment. Dean re My main job was taking membered me from Parasongs around to people like Bing mount We talked. * asked, Crnohu ana k'o** ’• „0;,i ‘Don’t you want to hear meA -Crosby and Kate Smith.” said , „ „ lal Ken. “I’d demonstrate the songsiP^a' He said, If you wannahoping they would sing them H* was then as «»'•on radio.” 1 played a few bars and heHe also did some singing. said. ‘That’s fine.’ We’ve hadInvnH nincrinn M hn coin “i a handshake deal ever since.”
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