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about his first 
recording contract...

When I appeared at the new Washington Hotel, a DJ from King Radio was so impressed with the bands exceptional sound that he called Decca Records from the bandstand and they held the telephone so they could hear my arrangement of 'Night Train'. the Decca official immediately flew us out to Hollywood where we recorded 'Millie's Riff'; which became the number one hit recording nationally.

about Reprise Records' interest in the band...

The editor of Cash box Magazine contacted Louie Prima and wanted him to record us on Reprise Records. Louie had just obtained the Company from Frank Sinatra. Louie was very excited by our band and wanted to sign us up but the record company was involved in a big promotion for a new artist, so he wasn't able to do it at that moment. He wanted to do it at a later date. Just after this conversation we were signed by Coral Records. Louie was very disappointed. We, of course, were pleased to be on Coral Records and eventually Capitol and Columbia Records.

about some of the musicians that got their start with his band...

"Joe Romano, played sax with Stan Kenton and Woody Herman and is currently appearing in Las Vegas with Pete Barbutti. He played for me in  my earlier band."

"Matt Mangione played piano in my band and brought his younger brother Chuck Mangione to sit in several times."

about a funny incident that happened with Liberace...

"I was sitting with Liberace at the Chez Ami bar in Buffalo, NY after my show. Lee (Liberace) was in his casual clothes and I had my performing outfit on. A man came over and started telling me how much he enjoyed my TV show, and he called me Liberace. I tried to explain that the gentleman sitting next to me was in fact Liberace. 'No he said, I have watched you many times and this is not Liberace -- you are!'

Liberace just laughed and laughed. Later, when Liberace and I met in different parts of the country, we would reminisce and laugh over this story.

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