DJ PsychoMike presents the music of JOE PESCI! Yeah, that Joe Pesci!
He is one of the best actors of our time- but to the people who grew up with him, he is the singer. What? Do you think that's funny? Does that amuse you?
You know Joe Pesci as the gangster, the lawyer, and the robber. But did you ever think you'd know Joe Pesci the singer?
This is the guy we all know to be a tough guy, a wise guy. The guy that even starred as the angry version of a hangry person in a Snickers commercial. Who knew he had a love for singing jazz?
Of course, you think of him in the greatest improvised scene in the history of cinema:
The fact that he can sing and once had a music career is definitely on the top of the list of things you had no idea Joe could do.
Do I have to tell you his songs often have explicit lyrics?
He had played guitar in bands and in 1968 he released his first album as Joe Ritchie (aka Joe Pesci)
But wait. There’s more to the back story. Pesci introduced Franky Valli and the Four Seasons to singer and songwriter Bob Gaudio, who would later write some of the band's most famous songs. The moment is captured in Jersey Boys.
His singing career was derailed when he was cast in RAGING BULL and earned an Oscar nomination but he would return to music when he starred in My Cousin Vinny in 1992, he released his second album called Vincent LaGuardia Gambini Sings Just for You. Vincent or "Vinny" LaGuardia Gambini is of course Pesci's character in the film.
According to Esquire, the album was a "raucous, satirical project that sounds like a coked-up version of Dean Martin," and portrays Vinny's characteristics very well, especially on songs like "Take Your Love and Shove it."
Joe even has a rap song:
Joe’s life is more interesting than you think, in 8 minutes:
In 1972, 8 years before The Scorsese Wars began (w/Raging Bull), Frank & Joe were playing nicey nice. I assume it's Pesci on guitar & Vincent poundin' away on the drums (as opposed to pounding Pesci into the ground [literally] in Casino). Decent little R&B/Soul instrumental:
Long before their well known collaborations with Mr. Martin Scorsese, Frank Vincent and Joe Pesci were trying to make a name for themselves in the entertainment field as a lounge act. This obscure 1972 Christmas single features Vincent as Santa Claus and future Academy Award winner Pesci as a kid who stutters like... like... well, listen and find out.
An example of the brilliant SNL THE JOE PESCI SHOW from SNL
Joe Pesci Pissed Off A Real Life Goodfella | Letterman:
Joe Pesci special guest appearance with trumpeter/vocalist Matt Von Roderick, at the Catalina Jazz Club in Los Angeles CA on April 28th, 2022:
Ray Liotta on Joe:
Behind the paywall : HALF NELSON starring Joe Pesci and Dean Martin in a TV pilot!
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