Episode Details

First on ITALICS, we’ll take you to meet Joseph J. Grano, Chairman and CEO of Centurion Holdings LLC. Mr. Grano is also the driving force and vision behind the effort to build a new National Italian American Museum at Pier A, Battery Park in Lower Manhattan.Mr. Grano was also a driving force behind the Calandra Institute’s Watershed Exhibition, The Italians of New York, Five Centuries of Struggle and Achievement at The New- York Historical Society in 1999-2000. Mr. Grano’s personal Philanthropy and sponsorship, combined with his great ability to raise funds through his myriad business and social network is well noted and honored, and was one of the factors that helped the Italians of New York to break all attendance records at that time at the New- York Historical Society, who collaborated with The Institute on the Exhibition. Mr. Grano is one of the most successful financiers in America, having formerly served as Chairman of PaineWebber UBS, and as a National Director at Meryll Lynch in his younger days. Joseph Grano is also a Broadway Producer, “Jersey Boys”, one of the most successful plays in recent memory, with touring companies all over the nation, is one of his projects. Joe Grano is a frequent guest on financial and political news television Programs. In 2009 Mr Grano released his first book, “You Can’t Predict A Hero, From War to Wall Street, Leadership in Times of Crisis”.

Next ITALICS takes you to meet Mark Rotella, author of the acclaimed new book “Amore, The Italian American in Song”. “Amore…” celebrates the decade between World War II and The Beatles, when Italian American Voices ruled the airwaves and popular music culture. Starting with groundbreaking Italians like Enrico Caruso, through pioneering Italian American like Louis Prima,Amore chronicles many household names, and some forgotten by history. “Stolen Figs, and Other Adventures in Calabria”, was also authored by Mr. Rotella to much acclaim. We spoke with Mr. Rotella before he presented at the Institute’s Writer’s Read Series.

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