Backstage before the show, Marina met with Tommy and his wife and manager, Carol Ross. As a result of that get together, Marina received a copy of Me, The Mob, And The Music, by Tommy James and Martin Fitzpatrick. Published by Simon & Schuster, the memoir chronicles Tommy’s career and the clandestine story of influential people in the music business who wielded power over Tommy’s fame and finances. This true story is slated to be produced as both a film and a musical.
Me, The Mob, And The Music includes fascinating personal and professional details about Tommy’s career which began in his hometown of Niles, Michigan. While working at a local record shop, he also played local gigs. After Hanky Panky, a song that he recored while still a teen, took off, he was signed by Morris Levy of Roulette Records.
But it wasn’t long before Tommy realized that Roulette had serious connections to the Genovese crime family. With his amazing talent, Tommy achieved great fame with multiple gold records, but he was being cheated out of his royalties. And these royalties would have been substantial. He has sold more than 100 million records and has been awarded twenty-three gold singles, and nine gold and platinum albums.
As Tommy says in his book, “The funny part was that it really never dawned on me how much I was being screwed by Morris. I never had the money in front of me, so I never missed it in the way that I would have if, say, I had a million dollars and then the next year lost a million dollars. I was making good money on the road so I always had enough to get by.”
Me, The Mob, And The Music is a real page turner. It gives an insider’s view of the music business and Tommy James’ ability to succeed in a competitive market because of his remarkable talent despite the shady characters dubbed “The Roulette Regulars.”
Tommy’s fans – and there are many – can tune into his weekly radio show on SiriusXM’s ’60s Gold channel, “Gettin’ Together With Tommy James,” every Sunday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. EST. He also continues to tour with the Shondells. His music not only resonates with those who enjoyed his hits as they happened, but a new generation of music lovers. And fans can look forward to the productions that will be based on his one-of-a-kind story, Me, The Mob, And The Music.
For more information on Tommy James and the Shondells, please visit www.tommyjames.com.
Photo Credit: Lead Photo by Love Images
Me, The Mob, And The Music
Tommy James with Martin Fitzpatrick
For more information on Tommy James and the Shondells, please visit the website.
Photo Credit: Lead Photo by Love Images
