This biography tells the story of one of the most notorious figures in the history of popular music; Morris Levy (1927ndash;1990). At age nineteen; he cofounded the nightclub Birdland in Hellrsquo;s Kitchen; which became the home for a new musical style; bebop. Levy operated one of the first integrated clubs on Broadway and helped build the careers of Dizzy Gillespie and Bud Powell and most notably aided the reemergence of Count Basie. In 1957; he founded a record label; Roulette Records. Roulette featured many of the significant jazz artists who played Birdland but also scored top pop hits with acts like Buddy Knox; Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers; Joey Dee and the Starliters; and; in the mid-1960s; Tommy James.Stories abound of Levy threatening artists; songwriters; and producers; sometimes just for the sport; other times so he could continue to build his empire. Along the way; Levy attracted ldquo;investorsrdquo; with ties to the Mafia; including Dominic Ciaffone (a.k.a. ldquo;Swatsrdquo; Mulligan); Tommy Eboli; and the most notorious of them all; Vincent Gigante. Gigante allegedly owned large pieces of Levyrsquo;s recording and retail businesses.Starting in the late 1950s; the FBI and IRS investigated Levy but could not make anything stick until the early 1980s; when Levy foolishly got involved in a deal to sell remaindered records to a small-time reseller; John LaMonte. With partners in the mob; Levy tried to force LaMonte to pay for four million remaindered records. When the FBI secretly wiretapped LaMonte in an unrelated investigation and agents learned about the deal; investigators successfully prosecuted Levy in the extortion scheme. Convicted in 1988; Levy did not live to serve prison time. Stricken with cancer; he died just as his last appeals were exhausted. However; even if he had lived; Levyrsquo;s brand of storied high life was effectively bust. Corporate ownership of record labels doomed most independents in the business; ending the days when a savvy if ruthless hustler could blaze a path to the top.
2016-02-03 2016-02-03File Name: B01BF8PL86
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy Jason MichaelsAn excellent collection of photos and high-to-midlevel narrative about the history of River Vale; NJ.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. River Vale Images of AmericaBy ElroyNicely done book of this community. Folks who lived here from the 20s through the 70s have a lot of very fond memories and its surprising how many of them have stayed connected over the years and miles.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Great history of small town in the backyard of New York City.By ed kunkelEdmund Moderacki is the historian of a town; or township that was created during a flurry of subdividing larger towns at the turn of the last century. It is a somewhat idyllic place; so maybe not too much should be written of it at all!The book puts into print something that some might say could be left to a cyber article. But Moderacki provides a point of view and sets it into type.He covers the towns Revolutionary War significance; e.g.; the Baylor Massacre and many other news and views of the town.I give it four stars because of my subjective interest and the importance of such histories. It may lack the great number of grand themes; great heroes and earth-shaking events to warrant universal appeal.However; it could serve as a model for the writer who seeks to document his or her point of view. And it certainly has plenty of pull toward those interested in this or other small towns.
