He stood in the basement of a wine cellar on Rivington Street, near The Bowery, and shot the cop who was searching the premises after the killer and his friends had tried to rob the place. By Guy Sterling/The Star-Ledger "You Belong to Me" was a Top 10 hit for The Duprees in the. Historically, the Genovese Family has always been the most powerful Cosa Nostra family in The Garden State and the first New York-based family to expand its rackets there, over eighty years ago. One in fact, underwent a sex change operation while in prison in 2014. Among the pack were Frank Chico Gangi and Frank Frankie Boy Tuminaro. "); Charlie Luciano's given name was Salvatore Lucania. How many nights did Little Davy spend wrestling with his own devils? Bill Feathers, the well-known Mafia historian, has this to say about Petillos close friend Gagliodotto: Sources include both the Valachi [1963] report and the FBI dead by 1975 lists. His latest project is planning an East Coast Music Hall of Fame. In 1970, Dennis Berardi and Gary Kramer asked Phil Petillo Master Luthier-Engineer to design and build 4 prototypes of a new neck made out of aluminum and wood. var p = Tracker.prototype; Ground Floor }; wfscr.type = 'text/javascript'; })(); They would often work 24 hours a day simply to avoid being a normal nine to five commuter who paid his dues to Uncle Sam, although Little Davy did have a legitimate job for tax purposes. All in good time. A life-long Bruce Lee enthusiast, the David A. Boody I.S. img.wp-smiley, document.cookie = disableStr + '=true; expires=Thu, 31 Dec 2099 23:59:59 UTC; path=/'; Persico was involved in bookmaking, loansharking, burglaries, and hijackings. __gaTracker('set', 'forceSSL', true); We couldnt even find a mugshot of Lombardi, so this video of Big Ang explaining the appeal of wise guys will have to do. They recorded several demos between 1960 and 1962, although Vann was temporarily replaced by Michael Kelly (b. Vann was replaced by the returning Michael Kelly in 1964 and the following year the Duprees signed a two-year recording contract with Columbia Records. Isabella Ahern, Arnone's daughter and executrix of his estate, along with her brother and sister, insist they do not. Sign in or become a Bklyner member to join the conversation. Petillo was a close friend of Carbone and would often visit him at one of the judges property holdings, The Carousel Arcade, in Seaside Heights. A Gambino capo working for a Genovese capo, or even more bizarre, soldier. "They should call themselves 'The New Duprees,' 'The Sound of the Duprees' or 'A Tribute to the Duprees. For more information governing use of our site, please review our Terms of Service. Email us: [email protected] The group currently consists of Tommy Petillo (with the group since 2002), Jimmy Spinelli, Phil Granito, and Tony Testa. The romantic moods and deep meanings resonate in the lyrics by the smooth lead vocals of Tommy Petillo in the true essence of what has always been the heart, soul and voice of the Duprees. Then again with a great performance by Mike Kelly on \"The Sky's The Limit\".By the late 1970s the group was finding it hard to get a record contract and music companies went off in many other directions as the British invasion, Motown and Disco became mainstream.In 1978 lead vocalist Mike Kelly left the Duprees and was replaced by Tommy Petillo on lead vocals and the group continued to perform throughout the tri state area. Perhaps to Canada, or Switzerland or somewhere, equally far away. This was a celebration organized by another Mafioso, Joe Colombo, in his own personal vendetta against the bureau for persecuting his biological family. Tommy Petillo is the group' Petillo and Springsteen were friends and actually from the same neighborhood when Petillo sold him a Fender Esquire[7] which Springsteen continues to use. Doo Wop - A WQED Specialand a little more Night of the Legends Featuring the Duprees! Neither do we. He served as a military policeman in Okinawa, a Japanese territory. By April 1974, they were renting a house in New Jersey. He called himself Charles Snow in the tenancy agreement which he signed on February 1st, 1969. removeEvent(evts[i], logHuman); Xailin Eye Drops Clicks, You just wouldnt have thought he was a gangster. Not everyone was as effusive in their praise for the little gangster. A long-time Genovese soldier.. Men like Frank Costello, Willie Moretti, Vito Genovese, Joe Adonis,Anthony Carfano andMeyer Lansky were much more significant, although Petillos importance in supervising the thirty or so men who managed the prostitution syndicate of an estimated 2000 whores, generating in excess of $10 million annually, should not be undervalued. According to FBI files, Petillo, also did it as a closet queen! They met at a social club on Mulberry Street, in New Yorks little Italy, towards the end of 1979, and laid out the killing plan. var evts = 'contextmenu dblclick drag dragend dragenter dragleave dragover dragstart drop keydown keypress keyup mousedown mousemove mouseout mouseover mouseup mousewheel scroll'.split(' '); Views: 13 516 City of Linden: Concert Series: "The Duprees" 2015. In those final days in Andalusia, perhaps he finally came to find peace with himself. Some was verifiable, much of it was questionable, but it was all recorded and filed away for reference, as the agencies slowly built up their mob knowledge over the years. Walt Gollender, an expert on the early days of The Duprees, who managed lead singer Canzano as a solo act for a couple of years in the'70s after he changed his name to Joey Vann, had nothing but praise for the Bloomfield performance. For more of Thom L. Jones' articles on the Mafia, check out hisMob Corner at Gangsters Inc. Get the latest on organized crime and the Mafia at Gangsters Inc.'s news section. One of the most pop-sounding of the Italian-American groups that were in abundance during the late 50s and early 60s, the Duprees specialized in recording updated versions of old pop hits in a smooth style with a slight rock n roll feel. Petillo allegedly handled the contract personally. In 2013, a jury acquitted Cacace for Dols murder. You may not use our site or service, or the information provided, to make decisions about employment, admission, consumer credit, insurance, tenant screening or any other purpose that would require FCRA compliance. He was probably inspecting the property again on another overseas trip, because in August 1972, he admitted himself into a private hospital near Pattano, about a one hour drive to the east. All rights reserved (About Us). In 1985, Springsteen once waited six hours in Petillo's basement for him to finish furnishing his guitar for a concert. The rumor at the club was that he had been holding back on making payments to Davy and that was the end of him. return; But it just as easily could be the title of a battle over the doo wop group's name that's pending in federal court in New Jersey. is tommy petillo of the duprees still alive principles of flight powerpoint nicholas hammond wife Author paper writer: 02/01/21 The Duprees are a doo-wop group which had a series of hits during the early 1960s. Pomaro, taking a lead maybe, from Vincent Gigante who would one day become the boss of the Genovese, and spent half his life in and out of mental institutions to avoid the police, booked himself into the psychiatric ward of Riverview Hospital in Red Bank, New Jersey, for a week. Youre the next generation.. }; After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War era. The central question in the litigation is whether the four-member singing group appearing nowadays as The Duprees -- Tony Testa, Phil Granito, Tommy Petillo and Jimmy Spinelli -- has the legal right to do so. A Patent Pending People Search Process. Little Davy had nine years left. Petillo went down withCharlie Luciano on the infamous prostitution sting in New York, June 1936, that sent them both to prison for so many years they would never be young again. About Tommy Petillo Graduate of Nutley High Shcool; United States Army Military Police; President of American Walcraft Painting & Decorating; lead singer of the band Parkway; last lead singer to perform with the original Duprees; President of "Spotlight Production Concerts; Producer/Host cable tv-The Jersey Music and Video Spotlight; There is way too much hate today, Petillo, 67, told NorthJersey.com, explaining the book title. Pitera was well known for his use of karate and other martial arts when fighting, a skill he had learned at a young age and which earned him nicknames like Tommy Karate, and The Karate Guy Tommy Petillo Biography A line-up of the group led by Petillo but featuring no original members released a number of studio and live albums in the new millennium. if (window.removeEventListener) { David Petillo collapsed and died on December 28th, 1983, in Malaga. How Sicily's Antimafia movement fights Cosa Nostra. /* Disable tracking if the opt-out cookie exists. Joe ColumboFamily: ColumboStatus: Dead. Its members--Michael Arnone, Joe Santollo, John Salvato and Tom Bialoglow--were students at William L. Dickinson High School. Davy and his wife left the New York area, (after they had flown to Italy but been deported back to America the same day, January 22nd, 1973,) and may have moved to Long Island. It was granted. On his return to the fold, he recalled what Duprees original member Joe Santollo once told him: Its your time to shine. Hes been serving out his 139-year federal prison sentence since 1987. He recorded 45 tapes which became the basis for a major indictment handed down by a State Grand Jury in April 1983 against Petillo and his men, which included armed robbery, home invasion, drug dealing and extortion in addition to pornography and prostitution charges. Facebook gives people the power to. IXnCOtLPeEwxbEt7xJyYbBq2KTDd574T7sC15yyDDHY [8] A guitar made by Petillo was featured on Springsteen's album Born to Run. Petillo joined Salvato's Duprees. If you enjoy the tonal qualities of doo-wop favorites mixed with a splash of comedy, Johnny Petillo should be on your list. By continuing to use our site, you consent to the placement of cookies on your browser and agree to the terms of our Privacy Policy. 2. The Sicilian-born boss of all Cosa Nostra bosses and head of the Gambino crime family is believed to be the inspiration behind the book The Godfather, by Mario Puzo, which was eventually adapted for the legendary film trilogy of the same name, directed by Francis Ford Coppola. Truro Gay sex was apparently prevalent among adolescent boys in the street gangs of Italian neighborhoods from which the Mafia often recruited. The common denominator seemed to be sex and perversion, with drugs as the appetizer, although always with an edge. said Anthony Nesto, director of recreation in Bloomfield, which featured a concert by The Duprees on Tuesday night. Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement updated 7/1/2022). The Duprees is an American musical group of doo-wop style, which had a series of hit records in the early 1960s. Even after the developing company Millenium Cell closed in 2008, Petillo continued with the product. Petillo and his wife disappeared from Brick to establish an alibi. '", According to Hawkins, the Arnone estate attorney, there was talk of settlement in the case but negotiations later broke off. Cooper was entwined with Edward Vassallo in a complex relationship involving money, real estate, pornography, and mayhem. Frank Sinatra was among many celebrities who appeared in a benefit for the League held at Madison Square Garden later that year. The Duprees biggest hit was their 1962 remake of the old Jo Stafford hit, You Belong To Me (number 7 pop). A resume to be proud of for any full-blooded 73-year-old American male in his twilight years. Its almost Kafkaesque in its implication, that two men born a few miles apart, in the same city, would one day come together as friends and partners in a criminal enterprise that was beyond the comprehension of the average American, and would both begin their careers in the most bizarre way and continue to be linked until one killed the other. He died in jail in 2008. But he said purists like himself would prefer group members not bill themselves as "The Duprees," giving the impression they are originals. Just where the killing happened is unknown for sure. Two Types Of Waterways, Mike Kelly died in 2012 of cancer. He looked like a pint-sized Boris Karlof but no one dared to kid himHe was a mad hatter. Tommy Petillo Wife . "I feel I'm as entitled to the name as him," said Salvato, who lives in New Jersey and remains in the entertainment industry. What is. In one of his most cold-blooded killings, during the Orena-Persico war, he shot Vincent Fusaro a man he suspected of loyalty to the wrong side in the head as he stood on a ladder to hang Christmas decorations on the door of his Bay 11th Street home. People were deathly scared of him. (1). He later admitted in court, that he had faked insanity in the past to collect medical benefits, and to use as a defense in criminal charges against him. If you enjoyed this article you might also enjoy reading: Copyright Thom L. Jones & Gangsters Inc. You need to be a member of Gangsters Inc. - www.gangstersinc.org to add comments! An associate at this period in Petillos life described him as a man who wears heavy, horn-rimmed glasses, carries a pot-belly, walks slowly and talks out of the side of his mouth. Shades of Edward G. Robinson! Required fields are marked *, You can also give us a call on: } After that, he was made an underboss for the Gambinos. Structural Info Facts Filmography Known for movies Peggy Sue Got Married (1986) as Soundtrack Mafia III (2016) as Soundtrack A notorious den of whores, pimps, loan sharks and drug dealers, Little Davy must have felt he was home away from home. https://eastcoastmusichalloffame.org/about/board-of-directors/auto-draft Tommy Petillo Website . Tommy Petillo has been with The Duprees since 2002. You make the call. Saro was a good match for Petillo: same height, just a few years younger, and had started his hitman career for the mob when he was just fourteen. The Duprees, with Phil Granito joining in 1987 and Jimmy Spinelli joining the group in 1991 and Tommy Petillo returning as lead singer in 2002 continue today. var __gaTracker = function() { If that is how it did happen, I assume Petillo had help as he was a little guy; a lot bigger than Chalutz, (right) but no Tarzan. That ride was also bumpy. However, he over-stepped the line when he killed two of his partners, one, a relation of a veteran Mafioso, Angelo Tuminaro. Despite doo-wop not being the norm, except on a few oldies radio stations, he and six other guys formed a vocal harmony group called Parkway, which became a nightclub staple in the 1970s. }; Valachi, who had an encyclopaedic knowledge of the New York Mafia, may well have gotten his lines crossed on this one. After returning to Brooklyn, he was recruited by the mob. (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o), He was one of the original guitarists for the Duprees during the early years. The mob could see the huge profits to be made in this business and knew that the laws relating to porn were complex and often difficult to enforce. Savings Account Bonus, Your email address will not be published. 10. A month or so after Edward Vassallo helped his uncle kill Gagliodotto, he shot and killed a 23-year-old man, called John Scully, in an after-hours bar, in Queens, late in the evening of October 20th. In Nutley High School, the boys who moved from Newark took a while to fit into middle- and upper-class Nutley, as he recalled the town. He probably used these trips as vacation time. Petillo, Testa, Phil Granito and Jimmy Spinelli perform at least 60 shows a year in concert halls as well as at outdoor summer concerts throughout the region. On one occasion, when he was interviewed by an agent of the FBI, in his rented apartment on Park Avenue, Manhattan, he leaned forward on his chair, grasped the Fed by the hands, and with tears streaming down his face, begged him to get his wife to stop harassing him. The Bonnano family hit man was particularly ruthless and clinical in his killing technique, often torturing and dismembering his victims. if ( __gaTrackerIsOptedOut() ) { r.src=t+h._hjSettings.hjid+j+h._hjSettings.hjsv; tommy petillo 618 views 3 months ago Jimmy Gallagher & The Original Passions * Gloria * acappella 1959passions 644K views 10 years ago The Original_DUPREES_1961 to 1979 _Medley of songs and. On one classic occasion, they shot their victim as he rode in a car as part of a funeral procession. Mini Bio (1) The classic "doo-wop" group The Duprees formed in the early 1960s in Jersey City, NJ. One of the most pop-sounding of the Italian-American groups that were in abundance during the late 50s and early 60s, the Duprees specialized in recording updated versions of old pop hits in a smooth style with a slight rock n roll feel. Author- "We Need More Love Songs".Doo Wop the Duprees and Me. var addEvent = function(evt, handler) { __gaTracker('send','pageview'); Two Types Of Waterways, As mad as a box of frogs comes to mind. One of the great ironies of his life is that this hospital was located in the town of Vallo della Lucania. (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){ Its as bewildering as why he is nicknamed in Hebrew for a pioneer, or immigrant to Israel. (Some sources spell this as Chalootz or Chaloots and even Schalutz). You Belong to Me & quot ; was a Top 10 hit for the Duprees formed in the of. If You enjoy the tonal qualities of doo-wop style, which had series! 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