Dino, Desi & Billy
| Company type | Vocal trio |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1964 |
| Defunct | 1969 |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Music recordings, live performances |
Dino, Desi & Billy was a vocal trio from the United States active between 1964 and 1969, composed of Dean "Dino" Martin (offspring of entertainer Dean Martin), Desi Arnaz Jr. (son of Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball), and their acquaintance Billy Hinsche. The ensemble reunited for performances from 1998 until 2010.
History
The trio—Dean "Dino" Martin, Desi Arnaz Jr., and Billy Hinsche—first connected during their elementary school years. Utilizing their familial ties, they secured an initial audition with Frank Sinatra, who founded Reprise Records, the label that represented Dean Martin. Although Arnaz was proficient as a drummer, the band mainly relied on session players alongside producers such as Lee Hazlewood and Jimmy Bowen, as well as songwriters like Boyce and Hart.
Among their prominent singles were "I'm a Fool" (1965; peaked at No. 17 on the Billboard Hot 100) and "Not the Lovin' Kind" (1965; reached No. 25 in the U.S.), both launched before the members reached age 15. In 1965, they served as the opening act for the Beach Boys—a relationship that later led to Hinsche joining the Beach Boys' touring lineup in 1974—and also supported groups including Paul Revere & the Raiders and the Mamas & the Papas.
Although they continued issuing records for five years following 1965, no additional top 40 hits were achieved. Their albums predominantly consisted of renditions of popular Top 40 tracks with minimal original compositions. The group appeared in the motion picture Murderers' Row, performing "If You're Thinkin' What I'm Thinkin'." Between 1966 and 1970, their singles saw only modest success; switching to Columbia Records in 1969 failed to enhance their chart performance. That same year, they contributed three tracks to the soundtrack of the surf film Follow Me, receiving top billing despite most music being composed by Stu Phillips. The band dissolved later in 1969 as Desi Arnaz Jr. joined his mother's television program and Hinsche pursued higher education.
From a critical standpoint, they were often viewed as lacking artistic depth and were described by reviewers such as AllMusic's Richie Unterberger as musically uninspired. Nonetheless, they maintained respect within professional circles; Brian Wilson co-authored their final single "Lady Love," which was released after their breakup in 1970. Hinsche's familial connections with the Beach Boys were further strengthened when his sister married Carl Wilson.
Dean Paul Martin ventured into tennis, acting, and military service before his death in 1987 while piloting an F-4 Phantom jet. In 1996, Sundazed Music issued The Rebel Kind: The Best of Dino, Desi & Billy, a collection featuring their singles and original songs.
Between 1998 and 2010, the ensemble performed under the name "Ricci, Desi & Billy," with Ricci Martin—Dean Paul's younger sibling—taking his place. During this period, they released two live albums that combined new material with their classic hits.
Billy Hinsche passed away from lung cancer on November 20, 2021—the same day his mother Celia Hinsche also died.
See also
Gary Lewis & the Playboys, a contemporary band fronted by Gary Lewis, son of comedian Jerry Lewis, Dean Martin's longtime partner. Influenced by the British Invasion, their rendition of "This Diamond Ring" reached number one in February 1965.
Singles
- "Since You Broke My Heart" / "We Know" — Reprise 0324 — November 1964
- "I'm A Fool" / "So Many Ways" — Reprise 0367 – May 1965 (No. 17 U.S., No. 23 CAN)
- "I'm A Fool" / "So Many Ways" / "Since You Broke My Heart" / "We Know" — Reprise 60072 EP (France) – May 1965
- "Not The Lovin' Kind" / "Chimes of Freedom" — Reprise 0401 – September 1965 (No. 25 U.S., No. 15 Canada)
- "Please Don't Fight It" / "The Rebel Kind" — Reprise 0426 – November 1965 (No. 25 Canada)
- "Superman" / "I Can't Get Her Off My Mind" — Reprise 0444 – February 1966 (No. 94 U.S., No.15 Canada)
- "Tie Me Down" / "It's Just The Way You Are" — Reprise 0462 – April 1966
- "Look Out Girls (Here We Come)" / "She's So Far Out She's In" — Reprise 0469 – July 1966
- "I Hope She's There Tonight" / "Josephine" — Reprise 0529 – November 1966
- "If You're Thinkin' What I'm Thinkin'" / "Pretty Flamingo" — Reprise 0544 – January 1967 (No.128 U.S., No.2 CAN)
- "Two in the Afternoon" / "Good Luck, Best Wishes to You" — Reprise 0579 – April 1967 (No.99 U.S., No.5 CAN)
- "Kitty Doyle" / "Without Hurtin' Some" — Reprise 0619 – August 1967 (No.108 U.S.)
- "My What a Shame" / "The Inside Outside Caspar Milquetoast Eskimo Flash" — Reprise 0653 – January 1968
- "Tell Someone You Love Them" / "General Outline" — Reprise 0698 – June 1968 (No.92 U.S., No.67 Canada)
- "Thru Spray Colored Glasses" / "Someday" — Uni 55127 – April 1969
- "Hawley" / "Let's Talk it Over" — Columbia 4-44975 – August 1969
- "Lady Love" / "A Certain Sound" — Reprise 0965 – November 1970
Albums
- I'm a Fool — Released by Reprise R (Mono)/RS (Stereo) 6176 — Reached No. 51 on U.S. charts, September 1965
- Our Time's Coming — Issued under Reprise R/RS 6194 — Peaked at No. 119 in the U.S., February 1966
- Memories Are Made of This — Distributed by Reprise R/RS 6198 – 1966
- Souvenir — Available through Reprise R/RS 6224 – 1966
- Follow Me Original Soundtrack — Released via Uni 73056 – 1969 – Includes three tracks by Dino, Desi & Billy: "Thru Spray Colored Glasses" (co-written by Stu Phillips and David Gates), "Like The Wind And Sea" (Phillips and Ronnie Franklin), and "Just Lookin' For Someone" (Phillips and Gates)
- The Rebel Kind: The Best of Dino, Desi & Billy — Issued by Sundazed, 1996