The Godfather, Al Martino, Johnny Fontane, Frank Sinatra, Mario Puzo, Francis Ford Coppola, Russell Bufalino, and Once Again, How Life Imitates Art. Or Vice Versa.

From the EInsiders.com obituary of Al Martino:

Anthony Bruno wrote in “Fact and Fiction in ‘The Godfather’”:

“In "The Godfather Papers and Other Confessions," Mario Puzo describes a couple of unpleasant encounters he had with singer Frank Sinatra, who was allegedly furious with Puzo for creating the character Johnny Fontane. Like Sinatra, Fontane is a crooner adored by the bobbysoxers of the 1940s. Fontane seeks his Godfather's help in landing a role in an upcoming movie, an opportunity that Fontane feels will salvage his career. Most viewers assume that Puzo was referring to Sinatra's efforts to land the part of Maggio in "From Here to Eternity" at a time when his career was in the doldrums. Puzo remained coy when it came to the topic of Sinatra and never actually came right out and said that Johnny Fontane wasn't based on Old Blue Eyes, but it's a connection that's hard to deny, given the similarities between the real singer and fictional one."

Fictional indeed! According to Martino, he received the part in “The Godfather” despite Coppola’s rejection by using his own “connections.”

"Didn't the Don send Tom Hagen to convince Jack Woltz that Johnny Fontane must be in the movie? Isn't it similar to what I did? Woltz didn't want Johnny, and Coppola didn't want me.” Martino said. “There was no horse's head, but I had ammunition... I had to step on some toes to get people to realize that I was in the effing movie. I went to my godfather, [Mafia boss] Russ Bufalino."

Martino went on to appear as Johnny Fontane in “The Godfather Parts II and III.”