Though it would be impossible to comment on all our records, I want to mention a few that come readily to mind. First, there was “Somehow” and “Knee Bop” by The Ballads. They were one of the first integrated Doo-Wop groups. Dick Arnold was lead and the rest of the group was Frank Airone, Bob McGowan and Jack Davis. To this day, we have these highly valued collector’s items for sale. Dick Arnold also recorded “I Need Her” and “I Know.” “Elvis R.I.P.” is a wonderful and warm salute to a great performer and also is a collector’s item. Naturally, we have remained friends with Dick, a wonderful person.

   Another who comes to mind is Joe Tinari. He recorded two instrumentals, the first was “Velvet Mood” and “Passion Guitar,” and the second was “From Russia with Love” and “Guitar Boogie.” Tinari’s recording of “Velvet Mood” was played on the radio during the mourning period for President Kennedy. Margaret always used to say Joe “played with his heart.” She was right. In my opinion, he was one of the greatest guitar players we ever heard. Along with Joe “Fish” Criscuola, his rhythm guitarist, they made music with two guitars that was unbelievably mesmerizing. And both, were truly our great friends.

   “Chinatown” and “Velvet Mood” (with lyrics) were recorded by Victor Knight. It was an excellent record for us and we still get calls for it from the United Kingdom and Germany. Victor was a fine young man with a beautiful voice who also recorded “I Guess It Must Be Love” and “Within My Heart.”

   While all of this was going on, our daughter, Catherine, and our son, Caesar, were growing up. Exposed to music all their lives, it was no surprise that they were musically inclined. Cathy was coached by her mother and developed an absolutely beautiful voice. She recorded “Other Lips,” a country single, and “It Takes a Lot,” which made all kinds of radio charts. But, country was not really her thing, as her voice was just too big for country. She went on to perform with people such as Tony Bennett and Rodney Dangerfield and was the opening act for the best comics of the day in the Catskills resorts and at the Park Plaza in New York. She is now a successful voice teacher with her own studio in Branford, Conn., Vocal Productions Inc.

   

   Caesar, on the other hand, took guitar lessons from Joe Tinari. He also took lessons in music arranging and attended the University of Bridgeport, one of the finer music schools in the region. He backed up such acts as John Davidson, Sergio Franchi and many other performers at the Oakdale Theater. Caesar also arranged big orchestrations for his sister when she appeared with Tony Bennett and others. Caesar went with Cathy on all her big jobs and became her leader and conductor. His ability as an arranger led him to do countless arrangements for many singers and to this day is very much sought after. He did the arrangement for our release of “Elvis R.I.P.” His mother and I were sorry that we never released a record with him, but he did play guitar on some of our releases and we have many studio tapes with him backing up his sister. He was an excellent guitar player and just released a CD with songs he wrote, arranged, recorded and released on his own label, Altec Records.