Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Tommy James: Me, The Mob, And The Music
Friends of Ours ^ | 02/28/10 | Friends of Ours

Posted on 02/28/2010 4:47:17 PM PST by AtlasStalled

1960s pop star Tommy James is out with his autobiography which details the not-so-hidden hand of the Genovese crime family in the music industry. In Me, the Mob, and the Music, James writes of his experience with Morris Levy, the head of Roulette Records, with whom he was forced to sign through mob influence as reported by Chris Jordan for Courier News:

James tells of an awkward working relationship with Levy, for whom James felt affection and fear. Levy, as James points out, was an associate of Genovese Family types like "Fat Tony'' Salerno and Vincent "The Chin'' Gigante, whose stable of artists included Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers and Joey Dee and the Starliters. James is the first big-name artist to openly tell the story of the mob's influence on the recording industry in the 1960s. "There was a lot of intimidation,'' James said. "People are reluctant to name names and tell it like it was.''

The story is headed to the big screen, and "is being developed by Barry Rosen's Triangle Entertainment" as reported by Chris Jordan for moviefone. Morris Levy died in 1990 of liver cancer at the age of 62 following his 1988 extortion conviction for which he was sentenced to ten years in prison as reported by the New York Times.

(Excerpt) Read more at bitterqueen.typepad.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Music/Entertainment; Society
KEYWORDS: tommyjames

1 posted on 02/28/2010 4:47:17 PM PST by AtlasStalled
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: AtlasStalled

Tommy James’ story is heading for the big screen. Why? Mario Puzo’s Godfather and The Don as well as Elmore Leonard’s Get Shorty and Be Cool already did it.


2 posted on 02/28/2010 4:53:34 PM PST by egannacht (Inalienable rights granted by...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: AtlasStalled

Who new?

3 posted on 02/28/2010 4:54:53 PM PST by paul in cape
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: egannacht

“Tommy James’ story is heading for the big screen. Why?”

Because there’s nothing like the context of reality — a real pop star, a real record label, a real convicted executive, and real mobsters — to make a drama all the more compelling. The problem with movies like The Godfather, et al. is that they come across as fanciful fiction which can be dismissed by the public as celluloid creations which really do not imact their lives; in contrast, movies like Goodfellas & Donnie Brasco are all the more gripping because we know the players aren’t characters but real people . . . and they often live on our street blocks.


4 posted on 02/28/2010 4:58:05 PM PST by AtlasStalled
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: AtlasStalled

And the soundtrack will be cool.


5 posted on 02/28/2010 4:59:12 PM PST by Vermont Lt (I do not live in Vermont. I did for four years and that was plenty.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Vermont Lt
One of my favorite groups from the ‘60’s. Back in 1969 I drove a radio station in Jacksonville, FL nuts cause every day after school I would phone them up and request “Crimson and Clover”. They finally played it just to shut me up!
6 posted on 02/28/2010 5:15:25 PM PST by proudofthesouth (Zero should spend all his time playing golf & keep his Marxist, Muzzie, Homo hands off our country)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: AtlasStalled

Interesting.


7 posted on 02/28/2010 5:18:32 PM PST by Liberty Valance (Keep a simple manner for a happy life :o)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: AtlasStalled

well liver cancer is a fitting death for a mobster...too bad other good people get it.....


8 posted on 02/28/2010 5:57:57 PM PST by cherry (i)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: AtlasStalled

Morris Levy, the head of Roulette Records, with whom he was forced to sign through mob influence..”

###

A little Crystal Blue Persuasion, eh?


9 posted on 02/28/2010 6:00:26 PM PST by EyeGuy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: EyeGuy

Follow the Mony Mony trail.


10 posted on 02/28/2010 6:54:16 PM PST by CFIIIMEIATP737
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: AtlasStalled

All these years and until now nobody suspected such hanky panky.


11 posted on 02/28/2010 7:09:03 PM PST by tlb
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: proudofthesouth

WAPE, I reckon?


12 posted on 02/28/2010 8:56:53 PM PST by ExpatGator (I hate Illinois Nazis!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson