Michael ,you have remained incredibly handsome.We are of the same vintage.Aged has nothing to do with how we function.You memory for detail is amazing.Keep going , keep safe and never lose your spark .Love to you always.
You have to remember that Michael isn't your typical stereotype gangster, he was in college studying to be a Dr. He obviously had the smarts. He never became a Dr, but it wasn't because he failed it was because he wanted to help his Father and ultimately his mother and family. Michael has spoken at Cambridge University, they don't invite dummies to talk i can tell you that much. Have a nice day and God bless you.
I am a live sound engineer... I started touring with bands in 1989. Over the years, I remember working venues up and down the east coast, from Florida to New York. Many of these venues were clearly mafia connected. I remember many of the booking agents, booking us into these places, were either Italian themselves...or there were Italians around that they were answering to. This was generally a cash at the door kind of business. Very easy to manipulate the numbers. Many times I saw tickets that had already been turned at the door by patrons, being resold to walk up customers. The venues were often sold well beyond capacity, by selling the allotted amount of tickets twice. Bands are generally paid 50% of their fee up front, before the tour ever starts. This money is used for expenses involved in getting the tour started. Plane tickets, tour bus rentals, hotels, production equipment rental, etc... Then the artist would receive the balance of the money, on the day of the event, almost always in cash. Many times in these mafia connected venues, there would be additional "fee's" for a variety of things, pulled from that final balance, before the artist received the payment. You always just kinda knew not to question it. Many times bands will rent equipment, locally, to produce their concerts. Concert sound, stage lighting, band equipment...might all be rented from local vendors. Often you HAD to use certain vendors for these items. Things got difficult and the gig would be in jeopardy, if you attempted to go outside of those "approved" vendors. But in all honesty... I preferred some of those situations, over the corporatization that you see these days with the likes of AEG and Live Nation.
@@EricOsaer... Now is a good time to start. Covid sort of wrecked the live production industry, many people left it to find work elsewhere. But now that its ramping back up, its a good time to get your foot in the door. Start by contacting local sound companies in your area. You will start out loading and unloading gear, and just being a general hand on jobs. Thats how you learn. While you're pushing cases and loading trucks, the veterans will teach you stuff along the way. And there's plenty of books and online materials to learn from as well. I recommend an old book called "Mixing Live Sound"... its based on slightly older technology...but the fundamentals never change, and its loaded with fundamentals. If you've got a little cash, start looking on Facebook marketplace, for a small mixer, a used power amp, a couple small old PA speakers, and a microphone 🎤. Dont spend more than few hundred dollars. Figure out how to hook it up (correctly)...and figure out to make it work. Start hanging out with people that do it for a living. Older, more experienced sound guys, are usually happy to help you along because you're helping them. There's really no getting passed the hard work part of it. Its a lot of really long days, and really hard work. I've been at it for a long time. I've had three hernia surgeries, my back is shot, my feet and shoulders are jacked up... But I'm still going, and I wouldn't change a thing. I got to see the world and have way too much fun along the way. The best way to advance yourself, is to show up on time, be dependable, and have good transportation.
@@scottrobinson9752 thank you so much for all of the advice I really appreciate it I've been kind of twiddling my thumbs and trying to figure out what to do so thank you
@Charles Cowart Music Artist. “I’m straight forward” proceeds to write an entire book beating around the bush 😂 good luck with whatever you’re trying to gain, but you’re probably not going to get it with that approach
@Charles Cowart Music Artist. bro..u need to go apologize to the tree that produced all the oxygen you just wasted to write that incredibly ridiculous comment, that was anything but "straight forward".
I had a friend who was a phenomenal pianist and singer named Charles Brown. In the late 40's and early 50's he had some big hit records. In the 60's he quit a job at mob-owned venue, without permission. He hid for years, working as a janitor. In the 80's, he finally made another album. Singer Bonnie Rait found him and took him on tour with her. He started recording again. To me, he was a Buddha. I saw him a few weeks before his death from a sudden heart attack in 1999. He was happy and serene.
I can't belive how fast Micheal puts out his content he is grinding like a beast, and every video is better than the last one, best channel on youtube everybody subscribe!!!
@@tommyboyindy1157 It is when you have to know what you're doing, that = a successful channel & also he has a family and is busy IRL so just appreciate it mate
I love these videos. You’re like a grandad telling me about the stories of the olden days. Keep up the good work and hopefully your daughter gets well soon.
I hope your daughter makes a full recovery. The bond between a father and his daughter is a strong one so when our daughters fall ill, we feel it too. Take care, God bless 🙏
@@mobsnitchanonymous213 That's not true my uncle and grandfather was close friends with the Italian Mob in Chicago they would give my grandfather free meat from their butcher shops and such so don't believe that stereotype it might be true for some but not all of them
@@dariusslay279 Maybe Michael can elaborate more on that. I can remember reading The Godfather novel many years back when I was in the eleventh grade. There's a part in the book where Mario explains why Italians didn't like blacks. It had something to do with slavery and allowing whites to fuck them over so often. Martin Scorsese always seem to acknowledge this sort of racism in the past but that most recent movie, "The Irishman", he seem to ignore it so I don't know what's true and what's not. Also on the Sopranos the first two seasons it seem as if there was a lot of respect for blacks then that third season up until the end there were all sorts of racism towards blacks. So yeah, Michael, if you could please explain do Italians mostly dislike/hate blacks or is it just Hollywood bullshit.
Clyde Stephens I mean there is no reason to elaborate on it. This channel is about positivity plus most people don’t really want to explain why because most will say they don’t or never did. It’s history and a social class thing. When people look different and people treat them like shit you are more than likely to do the same. Maybe it also has to do with Hannibal who conquered places in Italy. I just wanted to share facts not get people in their feelings
Michael mentioned Neil Bogart who later had his own label, Casablanca records, which was huge during the 70's and the disco era. His biggest artist at the time was Donna Summer. Not his only big artist. Like I said, Casablanca was HUGE during that era, probably the biggest label after Motown. As Michael said, Neil grew up in Brooklyn and my father (a wiseguy too and I can say that now because he passed away), but he was quite friendly with Neil and making money with him as well. He was friendly with Michael's dad too. Anyway one day my father had to take a ride with Neil over some kind of business venture, I'm not sure what, but my mother had a full day planned (shopping etc.) so she asked my father if he could take me with him that day and he said sure, not a problem at all. Now I'm too young to fully grasp who Neil is in terms of his strength in the music business at the time, but I knew he was in the business and had his own record label etc. So we're driving from one borough to another, pretty long ride with the traffic, and Neil has this demo his label recorded with Donna Summer, more towards the beginning of her career than when she really BLEW UP and became the Queen of Disco, but it turns out this demo Neil had was the one that was really going to make her a household name and set her on the course towards becoming as huge as she did. To be clear, she had no idea Neil was mobbed up and she had nothing to do with that herself. She was just a singer and all she knew was she was getting her big break to record with a major producer on a major label. It was when she was working with the famous record producer, Giorgio Moroder. So Neil tells me I'm gonna put this demo on for you and I want you to give me your honest opinion. He was serious because I was a kid and young people are the ones who really buy the records and decide which artists make it big or not, so NOBODY had heard this thing yet and he was curious to get my opinion. So he puts this demo on and it knocked me out. It was different than anything I had ever heard at the time, but I knew it was gonna change the game. A few months later I start hearing these songs on the radio, INSTANTLY remembered hearing them in Neil's car that day, and she just blew up and changed the game as I predicted, which didn't take a genius. Everyone who heard it for the first time had the same reaction, I just happened to hear it before everyone else. BTW Mike, great channel.
@@colebendoggettyounger2610 Yes, my father had dealings with all of them. Was one of the few guys who was close with The Chin too. He was a lot like Michael's father in that he did about 30 years all totaled and never gave anyone up. He was also a dangerous guy who wouldn't think twice about making you disappear if you stole from him or insulted him in any way. The highest compliment you can receive from other gangsters in that life, and I'm sure Michael will attest to this if he reads this thread, is to be referred to as "a mans man", and if I heard my father referred to and introduced that way once, I heard it a thousand times. Even when I was a kid and he was away, gangsters who knew my father would tell other gangsters you see this kid, his father is so-and-so, a mans man. He really didn't have much to do with sports so he rarely talked about it or watched it, but he liked boxing, won the NYC Golden Gloves when he was a kid. We were from the lower east-side and the late Cus D'Amato owned Gramercy Gym on 14th Street back then, when my dad was a kid, and he trained my father. I knew him pretty well, we visited him up in the Catskills a few times when Mike Tyson was still an amateur, and he was 100% certain Tyson was going to become the youngest HW Champ in history, breaking Floyd Patterson's record whom Cus also trained. Anyway he always used to tell me your father would have been champ of the world had he turned pro and not gone to prison when he chose a life of crime instead. Now I don't know about the 70's and 80's, but my dad told me boxing was heavily fixed before I was born and it's what drove Cus out of NYC and out of the game for so many years, because he refused to play ball with the mob. So they blacklisted him in a sense, but they didn't kill him because so many of the kids he trained became made guys, capos and even under-bosses and bosses. He was like a father figure to those kids who fed them when they were hungry, I think The Chin even trained with him as a kid (not 100% sure?), but that's why they gave him a pass and just blacklisted him rather than kill him, because too many of them genuinely loved him like a father, including my dad and a ton of made guys and higher. But he made a comeback with Tyson in the 80's so by that time the mob was not nearly as heavily involved with boxing as they had been decades earlier. Probably still involved to a lesser degree, just not as heavily. Back when my father was a kid you couldn't get a title shot if you didn't play ball with the mob. The only guy who had a complete "HANDS OFF" order according to my father was Rocky Marciano, cause Italians idolized him, mob guys too.
A lot of this also really illuminates the potential motives for the setup and killing and Sam Cooke. Cooke was trying to form his own talent agency and label and poach a lot of major black artists, from a lot of these greedy and powerful individuals.
Gotta say, I can't get enough of these videos. I poured through all of them in a week and am greatly looking forward to more and more content on here. I hope your daughter gets well soon and wish you and the rest of your family good health as well.
I could imagine if Michael had been straight from the get go and had something like a Harvard MBA. He would be running some of the biggest corporations. Would probably be more ethical and honest than many CEO’s
@@elavke5441 Semi, you decide for yourself. . Harvard and Yale produce many politicians and the big corporate execs that people always complain about the crimes they get away with. They produce many of the lawyers that mob guys pay big with criminally gained dollars to get off.
I’ve been following this guy for a couple of years now. Unreal outcome but clearly a leader. Bless you and your family and keep doing your thing. Hearing you speak is like story time for kids
Vlad the culture vulture, he tried to vulture the Italian culture as well. Why doesnt he do videos on his own culture? Oh yeah, I forgot, its bc he doesnt have one!
@Snaggle Toothed I'll have to check that out anyone that thinks micheal didnt put his work in has issues in the head lol and you know he had to be harder guy he had to impress ppl because his dad but sonny isn't Micheals blood father im trying to find out if sonny adopted him or if back then u could just say thats my kid i love talking and searching about mobsters if u find something cool let me know if i do ill hit u back
Brandon Stuart you can’t say that sonny wasn’t michaels blood father because he doesn’t even know himself he said in a vladtv interview they never actually done a dna test after knowing the possibility
@@lefty3985 i seen in an older report ill have to go thru my RUclips it will take awhile but he was asked about sonny not being his real father cause micheal was bourn before his mother got with sonny and micheal agreed with him but didnt go in much depth about it ive asked micheal in a couple msgs but he wont answer and im not paying 300 dollars to ask him over zoom lol
I love it when I get my notification, doesn't matter what I'm doing, I stop and watch, thank you Michael again for sharing the awesome stories! Also I hope your daughter is feeling better still sending prayers🙏🙏🙏, god bless you and your family!!!
Hi Michael I just wanna say I love your videos. My dad and I watch them all the time and he watches you way more than me. Please keep making these awesome videos.
Mr Franzese, you should really do a video on other known mobsters you have met and how they were like, like carmine persico, rusty rastelli, neill dellacroce and other known wiseguys
Mike! I have been watching you for the last month or so and you have the best channel on RUclips right now. Very inspirational and love the stories. Subscribed two weeks ago! Praying for your daughter and your family. Can’t wait watch your story on a series show one day. God Bless.
@@terrencesalvatore965 I know I celebrated it. When I was at my worst. And even having a terrible relationship with God at the time, I begged St Michael to save me from the life of crime, drugs and hurt that I was causing. In return I'd be a soldier for him whenever he ddt me before the big one at the end. He really did help me out and I'm 100% on board.
@velCROhash I will. Keep working at it man. You found a gift there. I see these so called unsigned rappers, talking about how broke they are and the misery they are in, yet they can buy bot accounts and pay for expensive videos. Your the opposite, and unlike them you actually have a message and the flow you have is something they can't buy. I am not black, I'm not even American, but I've lived a life of crime and drugs. Most of my friends are now dead, in jail or on their way to both. Matter of fact I've no friends left from that life. My family are one of the biggest crime families in the UK and Ireland too. Google the name. I'm pulled back from it all for myself and my children and missus. It's been very hard at first but totally worth it.
Michael, I can not get away from your channel, you may have been a badass at one time but that’s all behind you now and that’s water under the bridge. Love you and enjoy listening.
“The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side.” ― Hunter S. Thompson
The negative side is the satanic sex rituals and drinking children’s blood. In Hollywood, theres surface level bad and then there’s the underground evil that runs the industry.
@Tyler Simmons link what? 3 hour long videos? Cause you’re not gonna be convinced with short videos. Look into Chrissy teigans past tweets and adrenochrome connection. The tweets may be deleted but people screenshot I would suggest using DuckDuckGo.com as a search engine instead of google. Why do you think all these celebs support abortion and why these left politicians love planned parenthood so much. Child organ/sex trafficking is real.
This man is truly a fascinating story teller. Seems like a real gentleman despite his "somewhat sketchy" past lol. Really enjoying hearing about his life.
It was when the music started at the end that I realised I was not actually sitting opposite you Michael. You have a natural talent for making some one listen with ease and much interest.
I'm keeping your family in my prayers.! Michael would do the same for us. Much-love & thank you for sharing these awesome stories! The way you bring words to life is incredible. Keep up the good work & God bless.
I love the way Michael tells a story . And when all said and done good business people ! All though some might think a bit unorthodox . And stay safe at this point in time everyone !
At one time the influence of the mob was incredibly pervasive. I had a great Uncle that arrived in NYC when he got home from the Korean War. He decided to make New York his home. During one visit we were discussing the movie 'Goodfellas.' He told me that in NYC throughout the 1950's to the mid-80's, (when the mob started taking serious hits from RICO prosecutions) no matter what the transaction, some money found it's way to La Cosa Nostra. If you bought a 10 cent pack of gum in a bodega, 2 cents went to the Mafia because the store owner was paying protection. My uncle said it was basically a "mob tax" added to everything.
I’m glad to hear your daughter Amanda is doing well I will keep her in my prayers and today’s video was a very interesting I never knew the mafia have their hands in the music industry
430 comments in just an hour?? Amazing. I love this channel, great content, like coming to see your dad for a few stories from back in his day. God bless
I absolutely loved this! You never bs us on details! And I always wondered about the behind the scenes biz in the music industry. This is what we need more of vs the bs that's in the news today! Thank you again for putting out great content!
I'm so happy this video was posted. I have been suspicious of this for so long and have done so much reading on the industry and to have someone like Michael just come out and SAY IT. I watched this and kept thinking, "I knew it!!" So thank you Michael for verifying ;)
Stay strong Mr. Michael Franzese you're not alone we are with you! Seen all of your videos thanks for sharing your amazing stories. We could listen for hours & hours. One of the Best on RUclips No Doubt! Sincerely Matteo
Love watching this channel,when we gonna be seeing you start interviewing some people Michael?? All the way from ENGLAND UK 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧 🏴🏴🏴
A lot of respect for Michael. Highly detailed stories and I’m hooked. Watching a video a day. Keep up the great content. Sending my best to your daughter
Mr. Franzese, your accounts of events in your past life are to say the least interesting and provocative. The most interesting part of your stories besides the content itself is your non-reliance on a script and easy recounting of circumstances and individuals in a very engaging way. Thanks very much for your channel and stories. Its entertaining as hell, and sometimes terrifying as hell!
4:00 There's a similar story when DC Comics tried to trademark the term, "Super-Hero", with pretty much the same end result. My best wishes to your daughter & whole family. Be well.
I'm only in my mid 20s but I love all the oldies and listen to all of these artists regularly, so it was very fascinating to hear all of this. Thanks Michael!
@@bryanmanuel4945 Great Comment reminds Me of the comment made in the movie GOODFELLAS ONE DAY SOME OF THE KIDS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD CARRIED BY MOTHERS GROCERY BAGS WHY ? OUT OF RESPECT
The best real life stories on you tube told by a good man who is trying to make a difference and not glorifying his past..and trying to put kids off the fake image of the streets being their family and also helps people with business interests. Great guy all round. Hope your daughters well..
Does Phil Spectre have any connection to the mob and the his wall of sound? I was born 77 but I love classic Rock and Roll of the 50’s-60’s right up too today. Of good music today.
I'm a veteran of the music industry. Morris Levy is an infamous legend in the business. Tommy James and the Shondels, signed to Roulette, never saw a dime in spite of multiple major hit singles (Crystal Blue Persuasion, Crimson and Clover, Hanky Panky, Mony Mony and others). Industry people were well aware of the mob's presence in the business. We generally steered clear of the mob, although there's a lot more involvement than the general public thinks.
David Evans, Tommy James book, Me, the mob and the music. It was a horror story with Roulette records. Morris kept the royalties on the bands music but at the same time gave them the creative freedom they might have not had if they signed with another major label. It took many years for Tommy James to get the money Morris held on to. The music business today I believe is actually worse. Between MP3 downloading, your music is free for the taking off the internet. Records, tapes & CDs are basically unnecessary to most of the music consumers. Radio disc jockeys are not the major players they once were back in the day. Unless you take your band on the road playing venues, how can you make money? And now with COVID and social distancing, it’s even more difficult.
Cecil Holmes, a Buddah VP and was Neil Bogart's best friend, was an early adviser in my career in the record business during the 1990s. Great to hear these behind the scenes anecdotes. Thank you for this.
Mr. Franzese. Thank you for the awsome stories. I watched every one. Did you ever deal with philly or have business in AC? I hope you daughter feels better.
Michael has an incredible memory for detail and a natural speaker.
Im 35....and i wish i had hair like him ....😆
He sure does. Fascinating man
He's epic. He's doing God's work, with God on your side you can do amazing things.
Michael ,you have remained incredibly handsome.We are of the same vintage.Aged has nothing to do with how we function.You memory for detail is amazing.Keep going , keep safe and never lose your spark
.Love to you always.
You have to remember that Michael isn't your typical stereotype gangster, he was in college studying to be a Dr. He obviously had the smarts. He never became a Dr, but it wasn't because he failed it was because he wanted to help his Father and ultimately his mother and family. Michael has spoken at Cambridge University, they don't invite dummies to talk i can tell you that much. Have a nice day and God bless you.
I am a live sound engineer... I started touring with bands in 1989. Over the years, I remember working venues up and down the east coast, from Florida to New York. Many of these venues were clearly mafia connected. I remember many of the booking agents, booking us into these places, were either Italian themselves...or there were Italians around that they were answering to. This was generally a cash at the door kind of business. Very easy to manipulate the numbers. Many times I saw tickets that had already been turned at the door by patrons, being resold to walk up customers. The venues were often sold well beyond capacity, by selling the allotted amount of tickets twice. Bands are generally paid 50% of their fee up front, before the tour ever starts. This money is used for expenses involved in getting the tour started. Plane tickets, tour bus rentals, hotels, production equipment rental, etc... Then the artist would receive the balance of the money, on the day of the event, almost always in cash. Many times in these mafia connected venues, there would be additional "fee's" for a variety of things, pulled from that final balance, before the artist received the payment. You always just kinda knew not to question it.
Many times bands will rent equipment, locally, to produce their concerts. Concert sound, stage lighting, band equipment...might all be rented from local vendors. Often you HAD to use certain vendors for these items. Things got difficult and the gig would be in jeopardy, if you attempted to go outside of those "approved" vendors. But in all honesty... I preferred some of those situations, over the corporatization that you see these days with the likes of AEG and Live Nation.
How does somebody get into becoming a sound engineer?
@@EricOsaer... Now is a good time to start. Covid sort of wrecked the live production industry, many people left it to find work elsewhere. But now that its ramping back up, its a good time to get your foot in the door. Start by contacting local sound companies in your area. You will start out loading and unloading gear, and just being a general hand on jobs. Thats how you learn. While you're pushing cases and loading trucks, the veterans will teach you stuff along the way. And there's plenty of books and online materials to learn from as well. I recommend an old book called "Mixing Live Sound"... its based on slightly older technology...but the fundamentals never change, and its loaded with fundamentals.
If you've got a little cash, start looking on Facebook marketplace, for a small mixer, a used power amp, a couple small old PA speakers, and a microphone 🎤. Dont spend more than few hundred dollars. Figure out how to hook it up (correctly)...and figure out to make it work. Start hanging out with people that do it for a living. Older, more experienced sound guys, are usually happy to help you along because you're helping them.
There's really no getting passed the hard work part of it. Its a lot of really long days, and really hard work. I've been at it for a long time. I've had three hernia surgeries, my back is shot, my feet and shoulders are jacked up... But I'm still going, and I wouldn't change a thing. I got to see the world and have way too much fun along the way.
The best way to advance yourself, is to show up on time, be dependable, and have good transportation.
@@scottrobinson9752 thank you so much for all of the advice I really appreciate it I've been kind of twiddling my thumbs and trying to figure out what to do so thank you
Very interesting
He’s better at producing content than most RUclipsrs he really is a boss and takes business serious in all aspects
all he does is talk in front of a camera. you know he doesnt do any of the behind the scenes stuff...
He did his behind the scene stuff in his past life..
he needs to go home and get his fuckin shinebox.
A solutely President Franzese,to fok w any clause laws 💪
@@relaxg1727 is there any way to say that someone talks smooth in a bad way?
Michael has incredible natural charisma. He's easy to like.
Very true,he is one humble gentleman a pleasure to watch & listen to!!
Probably why he survived
I work in the music industry. I guarantee that wise guys would treat artists better than Spotify does. Ohhhh!
Lol
@@charles-y2z6c it's already that way...
@Charles Cowart Music Artist. “I’m straight forward” proceeds to write an entire book beating around the bush 😂 good luck with whatever you’re trying to gain, but you’re probably not going to get it with that approach
@Charles Cowart Music Artist. bro..u need to go apologize to the tree that produced all the oxygen you just wasted to write that incredibly ridiculous comment, that was anything but "straight forward".
Bada bing!
I had a friend who was a phenomenal pianist and singer named Charles Brown. In the late 40's and early 50's he had some big hit records. In the 60's he quit a job at mob-owned venue, without permission. He hid for years, working as a janitor. In the 80's, he finally made another album. Singer Bonnie Rait found him and took him on tour with her. He started recording again. To me, he was a Buddha. I saw him a few weeks before his death from a sudden heart attack in 1999. He was happy and serene.
I can't belive how fast Micheal puts out his content he is grinding like a beast, and every video is better than the last one, best channel on youtube everybody subscribe!!!
How hard is it to sit down and talk for 10 minutes?
I've been subscribed since the first video
I didn't say it's hard but he is putting out qualty content every day some times 2 times a day not a lot of channels are doing that these days
@@tommyboyindy1157 It is when you have to know what you're doing, that = a successful channel & also he has a family and is busy IRL so just appreciate it mate
@@XperiaFPS couldn't have said it better my self man, nice to see a real man who understands real life.
Mike is a top tier story teller... no matter how big or small the stories are, you're totally glued
Michael, your daughter is in my thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery.
I love these videos. You’re like a grandad telling me about the stories of the olden days. Keep up the good work and hopefully your daughter gets well soon.
I would love it if you could do a Video on Mafia outfit styles through early 1900s to the 1980s and your thoughts on it 😁
Yeah please Mr. Franzese do it please.
I like that idea a lot
Yes! Excellent idea Nikola!
I hope your daughter makes a full recovery. The bond between a father and his daughter is a strong one so when our daughters fall ill, we feel it too. Take care, God bless 🙏
If you have any more stories on Marvin Gaye I am sure many of us would love to hear them
I want to hear more as as well
@@mobsnitchanonymous213 That's not true my uncle and grandfather was close friends with the Italian Mob in Chicago they would give my grandfather free meat from their butcher shops and such so don't believe that stereotype it might be true for some but not all of them
Doc Kaos815 Beats some were cool but no most of them didn’t like black people not just some.
@@dariusslay279 Maybe Michael can elaborate more on that. I can remember reading The Godfather novel many years back when I was in the eleventh grade. There's a part in the book where Mario explains why Italians didn't like blacks. It had something to do with slavery and allowing whites to fuck them over so often. Martin Scorsese always seem to acknowledge this sort of racism in the past but that most recent movie, "The Irishman", he seem to ignore it so I don't know what's true and what's not. Also on the Sopranos the first two seasons it seem as if there was a lot of respect for blacks then that third season up until the end there were all sorts of racism towards blacks. So yeah, Michael, if you could please explain do Italians mostly dislike/hate blacks or is it just Hollywood bullshit.
Clyde Stephens I mean there is no reason to elaborate on it. This channel is about positivity plus most people don’t really want to explain why because most will say they don’t or never did. It’s history and a social class thing. When people look different and people treat them like shit you are more than likely to do the same. Maybe it also has to do with Hannibal who conquered places in Italy. I just wanted to share facts not get people in their feelings
Michael mentioned Neil Bogart who later had his own label, Casablanca records, which was huge during the 70's and the disco era. His biggest artist at the time was Donna Summer. Not his only big artist. Like I said, Casablanca was HUGE during that era, probably the biggest label after Motown. As Michael said, Neil grew up in Brooklyn and my father (a wiseguy too and I can say that now because he passed away), but he was quite friendly with Neil and making money with him as well. He was friendly with Michael's dad too. Anyway one day my father had to take a ride with Neil over some kind of business venture, I'm not sure what, but my mother had a full day planned (shopping etc.) so she asked my father if he could take me with him that day and he said sure, not a problem at all. Now I'm too young to fully grasp who Neil is in terms of his strength in the music business at the time, but I knew he was in the business and had his own record label etc. So we're driving from one borough to another, pretty long ride with the traffic, and Neil has this demo his label recorded with Donna Summer, more towards the beginning of her career than when she really BLEW UP and became the Queen of Disco, but it turns out this demo Neil had was the one that was really going to make her a household name and set her on the course towards becoming as huge as she did. To be clear, she had no idea Neil was mobbed up and she had nothing to do with that herself. She was just a singer and all she knew was she was getting her big break to record with a major producer on a major label. It was when she was working with the famous record producer, Giorgio Moroder. So Neil tells me I'm gonna put this demo on for you and I want you to give me your honest opinion. He was serious because I was a kid and young people are the ones who really buy the records and decide which artists make it big or not, so NOBODY had heard this thing yet and he was curious to get my opinion. So he puts this demo on and it knocked me out. It was different than anything I had ever heard at the time, but I knew it was gonna change the game. A few months later I start hearing these songs on the radio, INSTANTLY remembered hearing them in Neil's car that day, and she just blew up and changed the game as I predicted, which didn't take a genius. Everyone who heard it for the first time had the same reaction, I just happened to hear it before everyone else. BTW Mike, great channel.
KISS was probably the biggest on the label
@@Spineburger Before Disco blew up, YES, but not during the height of the Disco craze when Donna Summer became the queen.
@@2GunRock did ur father have any dealings with the mob heavyweights and if so how prevelant was sports fixing back then in the 70s or 80s?
@@colebendoggettyounger2610 Yes, my father had dealings with all of them. Was one of the few guys who was close with The Chin too. He was a lot like Michael's father in that he did about 30 years all totaled and never gave anyone up. He was also a dangerous guy who wouldn't think twice about making you disappear if you stole from him or insulted him in any way. The highest compliment you can receive from other gangsters in that life, and I'm sure Michael will attest to this if he reads this thread, is to be referred to as "a mans man", and if I heard my father referred to and introduced that way once, I heard it a thousand times. Even when I was a kid and he was away, gangsters who knew my father would tell other gangsters you see this kid, his father is so-and-so, a mans man. He really didn't have much to do with sports so he rarely talked about it or watched it, but he liked boxing, won the NYC Golden Gloves when he was a kid. We were from the lower east-side and the late Cus D'Amato owned Gramercy Gym on 14th Street back then, when my dad was a kid, and he trained my father. I knew him pretty well, we visited him up in the Catskills a few times when Mike Tyson was still an amateur, and he was 100% certain Tyson was going to become the youngest HW Champ in history, breaking Floyd Patterson's record whom Cus also trained. Anyway he always used to tell me your father would have been champ of the world had he turned pro and not gone to prison when he chose a life of crime instead. Now I don't know about the 70's and 80's, but my dad told me boxing was heavily fixed before I was born and it's what drove Cus out of NYC and out of the game for so many years, because he refused to play ball with the mob. So they blacklisted him in a sense, but they didn't kill him because so many of the kids he trained became made guys, capos and even under-bosses and bosses. He was like a father figure to those kids who fed them when they were hungry, I think The Chin even trained with him as a kid (not 100% sure?), but that's why they gave him a pass and just blacklisted him rather than kill him, because too many of them genuinely loved him like a father, including my dad and a ton of made guys and higher. But he made a comeback with Tyson in the 80's so by that time the mob was not nearly as heavily involved with boxing as they had been decades earlier. Probably still involved to a lesser degree, just not as heavily. Back when my father was a kid you couldn't get a title shot if you didn't play ball with the mob. The only guy who had a complete "HANDS OFF" order according to my father was Rocky Marciano, cause Italians idolized him, mob guys too.
Is your father Joe Sullivan by chance? Have read quite a few books where he is mentioned.
When Mr Franzese tells you something “you can take it to the bank”. Another great sit down episode.
Such a cool genuine guy. Just goes to show you can do bad things but be a good person. Change can be made
All I can say is, that's one hell of a way to refresh someone's memory lol 😂😂😂. Don't mess with Sonny Franzese RIP 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏.
That had me dyin😂😂
@@BioLiveMagic I know right lol 😂😂😂🤣.
@@Mattschannelism yuppp 🔥
RIP Sonny 🙏
A lot of this also really illuminates the potential motives for the setup and killing and Sam Cooke. Cooke was trying to form his own talent agency and label and poach a lot of major black artists, from a lot of these greedy and powerful individuals.
@current_interest what? What does death of the artists have to do with guys trying to make their own talent agencies?
@@elavke5441 lol
You answered your question...
Incredible stories, so smart and so proud he turned his life around with Christianity
That intro sent a chill down my spine. Love this guy. I watch him every morning, before work. Puts my mind at ease just listening to him talk
Mr Franzese is all HEART. It takes tremendous heart to live that mafioso life....and takes EVEN MORE HEART to make the decision to walk away from it.
I love listening to these stories. Man I could sit and listen to Michael speak anytime. Great storytelling.
Always guaranteed a great story. I love these sit downs.
Is that u john wayne
Gotta say, I can't get enough of these videos. I poured through all of them in a week and am greatly looking forward to more and more content on here. I hope your daughter gets well soon and wish you and the rest of your family good health as well.
Morris Levy is the inspiration for Hesh on The Sopranos.
I could imagine if Michael had been straight from the get go and had something like a Harvard MBA. He would be running some of the biggest corporations. Would probably be more ethical and honest than many CEO’s
Harvard are bigger criminals.
@@allywilkeforsenate
Yale may even be bigger criminals.
@@charles-y2z6c are you guys serious about harvard and yale?
@@elavke5441
Semi, you decide for yourself. . Harvard and Yale produce many politicians and the big corporate execs that people always complain about the crimes they get away with. They produce many of the lawyers that mob guys pay big with criminally gained dollars to get off.
What makes him smart? Because he was involved with dishonest lying thieves who manipulate every aspect of American life ?
Waiting every Mike’s video so much!
One of the best storytellers on the internet!
Thank you)
Michael Franzese 👍🙏
I’ve been following this guy for a couple of years now. Unreal outcome but clearly a leader. Bless you and your family and keep doing your thing. Hearing you speak is like story time for kids
You know Michael has uploaded when you like the video before watching it...
I'm so glad Mr franseze has his own channel, instead of being on that stupid Vlad. I'm a big fan from south Africa.
Vlad is disrespectful and idek if he knows it
Vlad thinks he's black. He really want to be a African guy lol
@@YeshuaAkbar-u3f how should people with a certain skin pigment act?
@@milkboccle you don't know?
Vlad the culture vulture, he tried to vulture the Italian culture as well. Why doesnt he do videos on his own culture? Oh yeah, I forgot, its bc he doesnt have one!
Hi Michael hope your daughter is ok!!!
@Sherlyn Amen, sister!
@Snaggle Toothed I'll have to check that out anyone that thinks micheal didnt put his work in has issues in the head lol and you know he had to be harder guy he had to impress ppl because his dad but sonny isn't Micheals blood father im trying to find out if sonny adopted him or if back then u could just say thats my kid i love talking and searching about mobsters if u find something cool let me know if i do ill hit u back
Sherlyn I agree 💯. One hell of a gentleman, father, grandpa.
Brandon Stuart you can’t say that sonny wasn’t michaels blood father because he doesn’t even know himself he said in a vladtv interview they never actually done a dna test after knowing the possibility
@@lefty3985 i seen in an older report ill have to go thru my RUclips it will take awhile but he was asked about sonny not being his real father cause micheal was bourn before his mother got with sonny and micheal agreed with him but didnt go in much depth about it ive asked micheal in a couple msgs but he wont answer and im not paying 300 dollars to ask him over zoom lol
When im feeling low and unsure, your stories and hunger are my Ray of light.
God bless you Michael
I love it when I get my notification, doesn't matter what I'm doing, I stop and watch, thank you Michael again for sharing the awesome stories! Also I hope your daughter is feeling better still sending prayers🙏🙏🙏, god bless you and your family!!!
Hi Michael I just wanna say I love your videos. My dad and I watch them all the time and he watches you way more than me. Please keep making these awesome videos.
Mr Franzese, you should really do a video on other known mobsters you have met and how they were like, like carmine persico, rusty rastelli, neill dellacroce and other known wiseguys
sending prayers to your daughter and your family. have a blessed day mr. franzese.
The song "remember" from the Shangri La's is the song playing in the Goodfellas scene when they are exhuming Billy bats
"Heres a wing!".....
I thought you were talking about cod zombies for a second
Mike! I have been watching you for the last month or so and you have the best channel on RUclips right now. Very inspirational and love the stories. Subscribed two weeks ago! Praying for your daughter and your family. Can’t wait watch your story on a series show one day. God Bless.
These videos are great Michael. From a capo in the mob to a soldier for St Michael in the biggest most powerful family of all.
Hey todays the feast of St. Michael!
@@terrencesalvatore965 I know I celebrated it. When I was at my worst. And even having a terrible relationship with God at the time, I begged St Michael to save me from the life of crime, drugs and hurt that I was causing. In return I'd be a soldier for him whenever he ddt me before the big one at the end. He really did help me out and I'm 100% on board.
@velCROhash you're an artist very good work.
@velCROhash I will. Keep working at it man. You found a gift there. I see these so called unsigned rappers, talking about how broke they are and the misery they are in, yet they can buy bot accounts and pay for expensive videos. Your the opposite, and unlike them you actually have a message and the flow you have is something they can't buy. I am not black, I'm not even American, but I've lived a life of crime and drugs. Most of my friends are now dead, in jail or on their way to both. Matter of fact I've no friends left from that life. My family are one of the biggest crime families in the UK and Ireland too. Google the name. I'm pulled back from it all for myself and my children and missus. It's been very hard at first but totally worth it.
Prayers to your daughter and best wishes to you and your famil. Greetings from Sweden
That start😂😂😂😂 one way to refresh someones memory😂😂😂
Lmao right 😂😂
That sure is one way to 'blow someone's mind'! 😂😂😂
It seems like a paraphrasing of the scene in the Godfather, when Michael is telling Kate about his father's role in getting someone's contract signed.
Never miss a Michael sitdown. God Bless, keep 'em coming
I could listen to these stories all day! Great job Michael
Michael, I can not get away from your channel, you may have been a badass at one time but that’s all behind you now and that’s water under the bridge. Love you and enjoy listening.
You could be a history teacher on the mafia!
“The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side.”
― Hunter S. Thompson
Sounds like many of my past day jobs that I've worked in.
Damn - that's powerful.
The negative side is the satanic sex rituals and drinking children’s blood. In Hollywood, theres surface level bad and then there’s the underground evil that runs the industry.
@Tyler Simmons you really think i can “prove” it to you in a youtube comment? Do your own research.
@Tyler Simmons link what? 3 hour long videos? Cause you’re not gonna be convinced with short videos. Look into Chrissy teigans past tweets and adrenochrome connection. The tweets may be deleted but people screenshot I would suggest using DuckDuckGo.com as a search engine instead of google. Why do you think all these celebs support abortion and why these left politicians love planned parenthood so much. Child organ/sex trafficking is real.
This man is truly a fascinating story teller.
Seems like a real gentleman despite his "somewhat sketchy" past lol.
Really enjoying hearing about his life.
It was when the music started at the end that I realised I was not actually sitting opposite you Michael. You have a natural talent for making some one listen with ease and much interest.
I could listen to you for hours. Incredible stories, I learn something new from each video. God bless you, Michael! 🙏🏽
I'm keeping your family in my prayers.! Michael would do the same for us. Much-love & thank you for sharing these awesome stories! The way you bring words to life is incredible. Keep up the good work & God bless.
Hello from Finland again! We are eager to hear more this kind of stories. Hope your family is ok!
Im swedish but goddamn you fins know how to make moonshine 😂
I love the way Michael tells a story . And when all said and done good business people ! All though some might think a bit unorthodox . And stay safe at this point in time everyone !
At one time the influence of the mob was incredibly pervasive. I had a great Uncle that arrived in NYC when he got home from the Korean War. He decided to make New York his home. During one visit we were discussing the movie 'Goodfellas.' He told me that in NYC throughout the 1950's to the mid-80's, (when the mob started taking serious hits from RICO prosecutions) no matter what the transaction, some money found it's way to La Cosa Nostra. If you bought a 10 cent pack of gum in a bodega, 2 cents went to the Mafia because the store owner was paying protection. My uncle said it was basically a "mob tax" added to everything.
Much respect too Michael Franzese & the MOB...nuff said.
I’m glad to hear your daughter Amanda is doing well I will keep her in my prayers and today’s video was a very interesting I never knew the mafia have their hands in the music industry
Had their hands in everything
You explain things in unbelievable detail. Love your videos and respect the grind that it takes. Hope your daughter is doing ok
Really cool how quickly you've been growing here on RUclips, Michael. You deserve it!
Always been a fan of Michael since he started doing interviews. But these are on another level of awesomeness! Tuning in everyday!
You my man, are a legend. Greetings from Serbia!
You are great Michael, respect 4u !!!
I pray for your daughter Amanda to get well soon.
God bless you, and youre family... RESPECT!!!
430 comments in just an hour?? Amazing. I love this channel, great content, like coming to see your dad for a few stories from back in his day. God bless
I absolutely loved this!
You never bs us on details!
And I always wondered about the behind the scenes biz in the music industry.
This is what we need more of vs the bs that's in the news today!
Thank you again for putting out great content!
I’d love to see a new series of Mafia fiction games if they let Michael in as an advisor on making it seem more realistic.
As someone who’s family used to be apart of this life, it’s really cool to hear the truth about how good and bad it can be, thanks man!
I was excited for this video when you said you were going to make one abt it
I'm so happy this video was posted. I have been suspicious of this for so long and have done so much reading on the industry and to have someone like Michael just come out and SAY IT. I watched this and kept thinking, "I knew it!!" So thank you Michael for verifying ;)
Hey Michael, have you ever considered about making a video about the mafia's connections with other criminal organizations?
Incredible life stories Mr. Franzese .................really enjoy your channel wishing you and yours all the best.
Today is a great day its my brother’s birthday and my favorite guy on RUclips have uploaded a video. Keep it up man love your vids ❤️
Stay strong Mr. Michael Franzese you're not alone we are with you! Seen all of your videos thanks for sharing your amazing stories. We could listen for hours & hours. One of the Best on RUclips No Doubt! Sincerely Matteo
First!! Love and respect from Canada, Michael! 🇨🇦🇺🇸
Much appreciations from Romania for all your videos! Keep them coming
Love watching this channel,when we gonna be seeing you start interviewing some people Michael??
All the way from ENGLAND UK
🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧
🏴🏴🏴
A lot of respect for Michael. Highly detailed stories and I’m hooked. Watching a video a day. Keep up the great content. Sending my best to your daughter
Love hearing these stories the way they're layed out. Always feels like you're right there when things were going down lol
Your videos have been helping me through some tough times. Keep up the good work!
Really enjoyed this one. Wish they were way longer. Great channel. Blessings to you
Mr. Franzese, your accounts of events in your past life are to say the least interesting and provocative. The most interesting part of your stories besides the content itself is your non-reliance on a script and easy recounting of circumstances and individuals in a very engaging way. Thanks very much for your channel and stories. Its entertaining as hell, and sometimes terrifying as hell!
I didnt even wait a second lol, soon as I saw the notification I clicked on it and already knew it was gonna be interesting
I am so happy you started your own channel Michael. I absolutely love listening to your stories. You're a legend ❤
4:00 There's a similar story when DC Comics tried to trademark the term, "Super-Hero", with pretty much the same end result.
My best wishes to your daughter & whole family. Be well.
I'm only in my mid 20s but I love all the oldies and listen to all of these artists regularly, so it was very fascinating to hear all of this. Thanks Michael!
I feel like I have to wear a suit to watch these. Out of respect. Thanks for the video, Michael.
Shirt with cufflinks is a must
Don't forget the pastrimi sandwichs is a must while watching Mike's Vids
😂😂😂
The other day I saw a few kids wathching Michael Franzese with a suit on, why? Because it was out of respect
@@bryanmanuel4945 Great Comment reminds Me of the comment made in the movie GOODFELLAS ONE DAY SOME OF THE KIDS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD CARRIED BY MOTHERS GROCERY BAGS WHY ? OUT OF RESPECT
thank you for taking the time to make these videos and share your time with us. I really enjoyed so much. Cheers from Texas
Being a “Made” guy has its advantages!
yeah and hella cons
As a music enthusiast/ record collector, this was a great episode. Watched it twice all the way through.
I would like to hear him talk about Allen Klien and his connections to Sam Cooke, the Beatles etc.
Yea stories of the mafia/ music industry ties from back in the day were the best. The Frank Sinatra/ Mafia/ JFK ties were a crazy story.
The best real life stories on you tube told by a good man who is trying to make a difference and not glorifying his past..and trying to put kids off the fake image of the streets being their family and also helps people with business interests. Great guy all round. Hope your daughters well..
Love hearing you sharing old memories👍
Have not finished this video and already looking forward to the next. Much love and hope your daughter gets well👍🏼
Does Phil Spectre have any connection to the mob and the his wall of sound? I was born 77 but I love classic Rock and Roll of the 50’s-60’s right up too today. Of good music today.
Thank God!,that your daughter is doing better I’m still praying for your family. Stay Blessed!!
I could hear you talk for hours mike
💯
Bit gay 😕
Sheek900 Michael responded to me 🤡
I could listen to him for days and days.
Donald Schrier yeah bro same
Thanks for your videos Michael, so entertaining and informative! God bless your daughter for a speedy recovery too! Best wishes from Sydney Australia!
I'm a veteran of the music industry. Morris Levy is an infamous legend in the business. Tommy James and the Shondels, signed to Roulette, never saw a dime in spite of multiple major hit singles (Crystal Blue Persuasion, Crimson and Clover, Hanky Panky, Mony Mony and others). Industry people were well aware of the mob's presence in the business. We generally steered clear of the mob, although there's a lot more involvement than the general public thinks.
David Evans, Tommy James book, Me, the mob and the music. It was a horror story with Roulette records. Morris kept the royalties on the bands music but at the same time gave them the creative freedom they might have not had if they signed with another major label. It took many years for Tommy James to get the money Morris held on to. The music business today I believe is actually worse. Between MP3 downloading, your music is free for the taking off the internet. Records, tapes & CDs are basically unnecessary to most of the music consumers. Radio disc jockeys are not the major players they once were back in the day. Unless you take your band on the road playing venues, how can you make money? And now with COVID and social distancing, it’s even more difficult.
rudimentary 🏴☠️🤐
velCROhash pretty heavy shit. We ain’t in Kansas anymore....
Cecil Holmes, a Buddah VP and was Neil Bogart's best friend, was an early adviser in my career in the record business during the 1990s. Great to hear these behind the scenes anecdotes. Thank you for this.
Mr. Franzese. Thank you for the awsome stories. I watched every one. Did you ever deal with philly or have business in AC? I hope you daughter feels better.
The channels blowing man, im super stoked for it!
Hope your daughter is well Micheal :)
I've known and worked with people my whole life of 71 yrs. Michael is a smart guy and now I see how he got out and survied in style.