Tony Delvecchio

This is an incredible account of the infamous Jilly's Nightclub and Tony Delvecchio's involvement, as told to author Rich Herschlag. It recounts events and the patrons who visited the nightclub during it's second opening in the 1970's, as well as the behind-the-scenes of running such an enterprise.

This book is incredibly testosterone-filled, so much so that I'm surpised it doesn't drip down from the pages onto the floor. Delvecchio was a bit of a tough guy, and this book features story after story of him having to "set someone straight" or "crack someone's skull", and he really came off as a jerk. His story would have been easier to digest had he shown a more likable character throughout the pages instead of the constant flexing of his muscles. It was in him; we see evidence of that in the pages he is talking about Cat or showing his reverence to Frank Sinatra or Jilly Rizzo. But, it's forcefully pushed down and choked out by the tough guy persona.

Nonetheless, the stories he has to tell are very engaging and entertaining, especially the ones featuring Frank Sinatra, John Gotti, and Joe Pesci. They are all accounts that I've never read elsewhere, so they were as refreshing as they were entertaining. My particular favorite ancedote is the one he shares about the time Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra walked away from a benefit concert because of Jesse Jackson and Martin Luther King, Jr.'s alleged antics. It was shocking and gives the reader a behind the scenes glance at what the people at the forefront do behind closed doors. It's not always pretty.

Jilly's is a historic name, and this is the story of the hardworking man who helped bring it back to it's glory. Delvecchio and Herschlag have written a wonderful book, one that anyone with an interest in the subject matter would devour and then come back to for seconds. I know I will.… (lisätietoja)