Vinny Vella appeared in over 100 movies, TV episodes, and commercials. Best known for his role as Artie Piscano in Martin Scorsese's Casino, Vinny saw it all and delighted in telling everyone he encountered about his life, escapades, and acting career. Vinny in story after story in Who's Better Than You: Vinny Vella Life Stories regales the reader with the deeds and misdeeds of his life. Throughout his life, you will witness Vinny's use of cunning, wit, and unpredictability to achieve his winning ways.
Enjoy the many adventures of Vinny gathered by the author after sitting down with Vinny at La Mela Ristorante in Little Italy week after week which are chronicled in this book. Vinny reveals meeting Frank Sinatra, wise guys, actors, and other celebrities. You will laugh to tears as he talks about his "twin brother", mausoleum shopping, grade school problems, Rikers Island, San Gennaro Festival, Casino, an encounter with Hobo The Chimp, lottery mishaps, his time in Bellevue Psychiatric Hospital, King Tut's ring, running numbers, and his family.
Who's Better Than You! is a phrase known to everyone who encountered Vinny Vella. It was his way of engaging with people he spoke with. Vinny was a quintessential New Yorker. Born in Greenwich Village, his family lived above John's of Bleecker Street Pizzeria, and what a world to be born into. Vinny's Italian parents, Louis and Helen raised their seven children with Vinny being the second youngest. Vinny demonstrates in his stories how to talk your way in and out of various circumstances in which you may find yourself. Vinny did not suffer fools gladly. Nobody was going to take advantage or make a fool out of him. The stories contained in this book are all fiction unless they are true. They bear no resemblance to any real or fictional characters or persons. Names have been changed to protect both the innocent and the guilty.
In September of 2012, Vinny performed the first of four sold-out shows sharing his Life Stories at The Duplex, a world-renowned historic venue in Greenwich Village that helped launch the careers of Woody Allen, Barbara Streisand, and Joan Rivers among others. Performances followed at The Bitter End, Governors Comedy Club, and other venues.
This book contains written testimonials from show biz celebrities, directors, journalists, and documentary filmmakers. Armand Assante, Vincent Pastore, Michael Madsen, Anthony Michael Hall, Paul Borghese, Dominick Chianese, Jim Jarmusch, Gianni Russo, Michael Musto, and Jackie Martling, are just a few of the personalities who contributed their appreciation in written tributes.
Who's Better Than You! is an enduring legacy of Vinny's life and the joy and happiness he brought to those he met and those who enjoyed his performances.
