SEASON 17 / EPISODE 320
The Godfather of Doo-Wop: Vito PICONE's Legacy Unplugged
Audio or video. Your queue. Your place in the story.
IN THIS CONVERSATION
The story behind the story.
In this episode , Gianni and JEANIE welcome the legendary Vito Picone, a doo-wop singer renowned for his song ‘Little Star’ with The Elegants. As old friends, Gianni and Vito reminisce about their early years growing up in Staten Island, discussing their shared history at PS 39 and memories from local haunts like Moravian Cemetery and the Trio Club. The conversation covers Vito’s
storied career spanning 67 years, from creating the hit ‘Little Star’ at age 16 to performing
alongside legends like Buddy Holly and Johnny Maestro. Vito shares fascinating anecdotes,
including the impact of his music on other artists such as Tony Orlando and David Johansson, and stories of his encounters with giants like Frank Sinatra.
Go deeper into the conversation.
A reviewed transcript is not available for this release.
NEW YORK · 1972
The GodfatherThe role that changed everything.
In Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather, Gianni played Carlo Rizzi, Connie Corleone’s husband. Released in 1972, the film became the defining credit of his acting career. The podcast returns to the production, the cast, and Gianni’s memories of stepping into a film that would become part of cinema history.
Career history: Gianni’s official biography ↗
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