THE SOPRANOS star – actor, playwright, director, and singer – Vinny Pastore and His Gangster Squad perform Fri, Feb. 27 at Bayonne’s Masonic Lodge.  (Photo: Zee Zee Photography)

Soprano’s Star swaps Wiseguys for Sidemen in Upcoming Bayonne Show

By Sally Deering

 When David Chase, Executive Producer of THE SOPRANOS cast the show’s first season, he picked Vincent Pastore to play Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero, who got bumped off in second season off after Tony Soprano discovered he snitched to the FBI.

After Soprano and his wiseguys whacked Big “P” on a boat off the coast of Asbury Park, Pastore went on to star in a series of films, formed a theater company in New York City, starred in the Broadway musical “Bullets on Broadway” and kept on plugging after fighting a bout with cancer.

Unfazed and cancer-free, on Sat, Feb. 27, at Bayonne’s Masonic Lodge, Pastore will show the musical side of his many talents in “VINNY PASTORE AND HIS GANGSTER SQUAD” a night of live Rhythm and Blues, Rock and Roll, Funk, Soul, and Reggae hits. Pastore shares the spotlight with some pretty intense musicians including Frank Pisani on keyboard and vocals, Al Orlo playing lead guitar, Eddie Denise on bass guitar and vocals, Charlie Powers on drums and vocals, Baron Raymonde playing sax, and Tommy ‘Blues Buddha’ Dudley on vocals.

Filming in Connecticut on a recent Thursday afternoon, Mr. Pastore took a mid-afternoon break to talk with River View Observer (RVO) about his career as an actor, playwright, and singer; and how he believes saying yes to new projects keeps your hand in the show biz game.

RVO: Where did you grow up? Where were you born and raised?

VP: I grew up in New Rochelle, New York. I lived all over New Rochelle, till I was 50. That’s where I grew up and that’s where I had my nightclubs. Continue reading GANGSTER ROCK  Vincent Pastore of THE SOPRANOS Sings and Swings →