Making the Wiseguys Weep: The Jimmy Roselli Story [Hardcover]

David Evanier (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1998

The fascinating life of an Italian American icon.

The mob couldn't live with Jimmy Roselli and it couldn't live without him. Roselli is Hoboken's other great singer, and to a greater degree than Frank Sinatra, Roselli maintained his ties to his old neighborhood and its people--indeed, he made a career of those ties. He's their link to their cultural heritage and Italy, and continues to sing a good half of his repertoire in Italian. But this didn't stop his wiseguy following from getting angry at him from time to time.

"When I started singing big," Roselli told biographer David Evanier, "the tough guys were in the front row with the big cigars. They loved me so much they wanted to kill me. But their mothers and sisters and their wives wouldn't allow it." Roselli sang his best-loved song, "Little Pal," at John Gotti, Jr.'s wedding reception. Mobster Larry Gallo was buried with a Roselli record in his hands. "Hell of a guy," Roselli says of Gallo. "Nice, warm individual."

Hoboken's unsung singer feuded with Sinatra, stood up to shakedown artists, befriended godfathers, and now has thirty-six recordings in print. A captivating story of a brilliant entertainer, Making the Wiseguys Weep is also a colorful portrait of Italian American culture from the 240 saloons that lined Hoboken's streets to the bright lights of New York City.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Relegated to the sidelines as the other Italian-American crooner from Hoboken, N.J., Jimmy Roselli (b. 1925) has had to fight to escape from the shadow of Sinatra and from the tentacles of the Mafia. In this engaging portrait of the Neopolitan-style tenor, little known outside the New York City area, Evanier (Red Love) traces Roselli's hardscrabble life?from the tenements of Hoboken's Little Italy (where he was raised?after his mother died and his father left?by his grandfather, a longshoreman who spoke no English) to his long years eking out a living as a diner owner and singing in dives. Roselli?whose passionate, big-range voice makes women swoon and mobsters break down?didn't get his big break until his late 30s, with songs such as "Mala Femmena" and "Innamorata" and the saloon standards "Little Pal" and "When Your Old Wedding Ring Was New." Evanier documents how Roselli's reluctance to give in to the Mafia hurt his career: while he associated with a few mobsters (he was friends with Sam Giancana and sang at John Gotti Jr.'s wedding), he had to fight the mob bosses who wanted more than their fair share of his profit. As Evanier points out, Roselli's stubbornness and emotional business dealing didn't help either. Evanier lets those who have known Roselli throughout the years?family, friends, promoters and musicians?tell his story and embellishes the text with the singer's own words. As rich as these comments are (Sinatra, says Roselli, "throws firecrackers, big bombs, under somebody's chair. He don't even know how to have fun, this guy"), the number of quotes sometimes slows the narrative pace. However, Evanier's depiction of Italian-American life is vivid, as is the image of Roselli, the irrepressible singer who shyly opens each sold-out performance with his grandfather's words of encouragement: "Cante, guaglione, cante!" (Sing, little one, sing!). Photos not seen by PW.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

David Evanier's work has appeared in The Nation, The New York Times Book Review, and New York. He is the author of Red Love and The One-Star Jew. He lives in California.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux; 1st edition (December 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0374199272
• ISBN-13: 978-0374199272
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #979,025 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #54 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > People, A-Z > ( S ) > Sinatra, Frank

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I am the author of "Making the Wiseguys Weep", October 6, 2000

By 

David Evanier (Brooklyn, Nw York) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Making the Wiseguys Weep: The Jimmy Roselli Story (Hardcover)

I'm the author of "Making the Wiseguys Weep." The reactions to my book have been extremely gratifying. Probably the most moving tribute came from the reader who called me the "Dante of the Italian-American community." I think that anyone interested in the Mafia and loves "The Sopranos" would want to read my accounts of Gyp the Collar, Carlo Gambino, Sam Giancana and John Gotti. Jimmy Roselli is not only the "sweetheart of the mob" but an amazing singer who is considered the soul of the Italian-American community. After writing the book, I was told by a disc jockey in New Orleans that Norjo's, the Italian grocery in that city, features behind its counter pictures of the Pope, Sinatra and Jimmy, and, beside the olive oil from Italy, CD's of Roselli and Sinatra. In addition, it is important to note that Frank Sinatra had only one true rival in terms of a great voice, and that was--and is--Jimmy Roselli. It was a joy to discover a great singer, someone who deserved a far greater recognition, and who, thanks to my book and the movie planned about it, is finally receiving it. CNN's "Newstand" and ABC's "Good Morning America" have featured the book with profiles of Jimmy. Check out "Making the Wiseguys Weep" and some of Roselli's great albums: "3 A.M.," "Best of Neapolitan Songs," "The Italian Album," "Jimmy Roselli," "When Your Old Wedding Ring Was New," and "What Is A Song." You will never, ever, forget them. Sammy Cahn, Joe Pesci, who loves Jimmy and wants to play him in the movie, Chazz Palminteri, and John Gotti, among others, will attest to that.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The author speaks, October 6, 2000

By 

David Evanier (Brooklyn, Nw York) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Making the Wiseguys Weep: The Jimmy Roselli Story (Hardcover)

I am the author of "Making the Wiseguys Weep." The reactions to my book have been extremely gratifying. Probably the most moving tribute came from the reader who called me the "Dante of the Italian-American community." I think that anyone interested in the Mafia or who loves "The Sopranos" would want to read my accounts of Gyp de Carlo, Carlo Gambino, Sam Giancana and John Gotti, among many others. Jimmy Roselli is not only the "sweetheart of the mob" but an amazing singer who is considered the soul of the Italian-American community. Martin Scorsese featured his voice in "Mean Streets." After writing the book I was told by a disc jockey in New Oreleans that Norjo's, the Italian grocery in New Orleans, features behind its counter pictures of the Pope, Sinatra and Jimmy, and CD's of Roselli and Sinatra. In addition, it's important to note that Frank Sinatra had only one true rival in terms of a great voice, and that was--and is--Jimmy Roselli. It was a joy to discover a great singer, someone who deserved far greater recognition, and who, thanks to my book and the movie planned about it, is finally receiving it. There are many great Italian-American singers: Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Dean Martin, Louis Prima, Bobby Darin and Jerry Vale among them. No one is more unique than Jimmy Roselli. No one has more passion. Check out "Making the Wiseguys Weep" and some of Roselli's truly great albums: "3 A.M.," "The Best of Neapolitan Songs," "The Italian Album," "Jimmy Roselli," "When Your Old Wedding Ring Was New," and "What is A Song." You will never, ever, forget them. Vincent Patrick, critic of the book for the "New York Times," Sammy Cahn, Joe Pesci, who loves Roselli and wants to play him, Chazz Palmintieri, and John Gotti, among others, will attest to that.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Where's the movie?!, July 12, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Making the Wiseguys Weep: The Jimmy Roselli Story (Hardcover)

I read Making The Wiseguys Weep 4 times. It had me captivated from beginning to end. I was not aware of Jimmy Roselli's music before reading it, but picked it because I am Italian-American and wanted a compelling mafia story. This book paints a picture so vivid of Italian-American culture, the life and times of the "good ol' days" and the amazing experiences of Jimmy Roselli. It made me track down some Roselli albums for his talent is amazing.
I read that this would be adapted into a movie starring John Travolta called Standing Room Only directed by Gus Van Sant. As of now, it has not been made, and I read an interview with Mr. Van Sant from mid-2003 saying that it is a possibility that the film will indeed be made. I want to know any information about this movie! I am unaware of it being in production and if it is, I absoloutly cannot wait to see it! Travolta would be terrific as Mr. Roselli.