Sal Buono shares reflections on his childhood memories, from playing cards to the lessons learned from his teachers. This conversation explores the importance of family history and the community connections that defined how people cared for their neighborhoods. By examining these personal narratives, we understand the vital role that local records and memories play in keeping our past alive. Finding your roots is about more than just locating names; it is about finding yourself. This discussion provides a framework for documenting your own Italian genealogy and preserving the oral traditions passed down through generations. Whether you are beginning your research or looking for new ways to share your family history, these insights offer a meaningful path forward. Sal’s Website Sal Buono Click photo to purchase Click here to join our group on Facebook

THE UNDESIRABLES Help Bring the Untold Story of Italian Immigration to Life DOCUMENTARY IN PROGRESS They came to America seeking a better life. What they found was hardship, discrimination, poverty, and a struggle for acceptance. The Undesirables tells the powerful, often overlooked story of early Italian immigrants and the sacrifices they made to build a future for themselves and their families. These were our parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents. They left their homeland, faced prejudice, endured difficult working conditions, and struggled to establish a place in a country that did not always welcome them. Their stories deserve to be told. Their sacrifices deserve to be remembered. Help Preserve Our History Your contribution will help bring this important documentary to completion. More importantly, you will be helping preserve a legacy that belongs to all of us. This is about more than making a film. It is about ensuring that future generations understand what their ancestors endured, the obstacles they overcame, and the lasting contributions Italian immigrants made to America. Many of these personal stories have never been told. Some are in danger of being lost forever. Help us keep their memories alive. Help us tell their story. Help bring The Undesirables to the screen. Every contribution, large or small, brings us one step closer to completing this documentary and preserving this important chapter of American history. To Contribute Contact Michael Cavalieri My name is Michael Cavalieri, I’m an Actor/Writer/Director originally from New York. My Directorial Debut was a short film called “RITORNATO ” https://ritornatothemovie.com/ (which I also star in) was awarded a special grant by the Russo Brothers, the Directors of Avengers: Endgame (the highest grossing film of all time), the National Italian American Foundation and the Italian Sons and Daughters of America. Based on a true story about finding my roots, “Ritornato” was shot entirely on location in Limina, Sicily, the hometown of my Grandfather Agatino Alibrandi.  “Ritornato” went on to win many film festivals worldwide and was one of the only American films selected for the prestigious Taormina Film Festival in 2020. It continues to touch people worldwide. “Ritornato” was recently handpicked  by the Instituto di Cultura of Miami for a special screening to represent Italian Heritage and culture all over the country for the month of October. In addition to the press below, I just received the premio “Siciliani nel mondo”, “Ambassador of Sicilian Culture and Roots” and “Custode dell’ l’identita“, for my film work and dedication to The Sicilian/Italian culture around the world. I just returned from Sicily where we had events in several cities including Caltanissetta, Sant’Alessio, Valguarnera, Messina, Siracusa & Agrigento. My latest film “Sulfur Road” is the emotional story of two men in their final years of life, reuniting, and coming to terms with their difficult youth, growing up as child labor in Sicily’s sulfur mines.  They were “Carusi”, adolescent miners sold to the mining industry by their impoverished families.  Basilio, who had emigrated to America, comes home to Italy, to find his friend Antonino, and with the assistance of their adult children, Louis and Laura, the men return to the site of the mining facility they once called home.  In a parallel flashback story, we learn how young Basilio and Antonino first came to meet and how they survived their terrible circumstance.  It’s a heartbreaking yet inspiring revelation for Louis and Laura as they come to understand the poverty, impossible conditions, and abuse their fathers survived yet never spoke of.  The men silently suffered so their families could thrive and realize their true dreams. As the old men and their families reconcile their past, so does the Sicilian community, as we look back on a generation of real-life, forgotten heroes who survived the mines and at long last are celebrated for the work they did and what they endured.   At its heart “Sulfur Road” is a story of friendship, family, humility, and heroism. Click here to join our group on Facebook

https://youtu.be/tud78SR0yik Join us live for an interview with singer Vanessa Racci as we talk about her recent heritage tour in Italy, her new holiday album to be released in November and much more! ARTIST NAME: Vanessa Racci ALBUM TITLE: Comfort & Joy LABEL NAME: VRE Records STREET DATE: Nov 6th, 2026 GENRE: Jazz Vocal Holiday Album ARTIST BIO:  To Preorder CD: https://store.spinneymedia.com/products/vanessa-racci-comfort-joy-cd  To Preorder Streaming https://orcd.co/comfortandjoy  Vanessa Racci is a touring and recording jazz vocalist who is equally comfortable singing straight-ahead jazz as she is music that reflects her Italian heritage. Her heritage inspired her first two albums, the first, Italiana Fresca, in 2017, produced by David Finck and arranged by Yaron Gershovsky, Manhattan Transfer MD, and the second being, Jazzy Italian (Zoho Jazz Label, 2022), celebrating Italian Americans who made their mark on jazz from Louis Prima to Chick Corea. Produced and arranged by Grammy winner, Steven Feifke, Jazzy Italian made the top 10 Traditional jazz albums of 2022 on the RMR jazz chart and is programmed on Siriusly Sinatra and NPR in addition to 150+ radio stations. Her music has also been licensed on Network television and made the coveted Spotify playlist, “Italian Dinner Party.” On her next project and third album, Vanessa is showcasing her straight ahead abilities with a Jazz Vocal Holiday album, while completing her Masters in Jazz Voice at SUNY Purchase (Grad May, ’27).  The album, Comfort & Joy, revives seasonal jazz classics from Ella, Sinatra, Nat, Bing, and the like, with a modern jazz twist. Guiding Vanessa on this project is two-time Grammy winner, Nicole Zuraitis, as co-producer and arranger-pianist, Ron Drotos, whose career encompassed both jazz, Broadway conducting and the New York pops. The album also includes the top musicians in jazz today such as Dan Pugach on Drums, Marcus McLaurine on bass, Sean Harkness on guitar, Geoff Burke on Sax and Benny Benack III on trumpet and guest vocals.  Vanessa performs at over 50 venues and festivals across the country annually from New York to New Orleans to San Francisco with a combined social media following of 20K+. Notable appearances include ABC7NY, Birdland NYC, Blues Alley-DC, Gracie Mansion, The Paramount, Scranton Jazz Festival, White Plains Jazz Festival and the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center. When she isn’t performing, she teaches voice to budding young singers at her home studio. Vanessa also had robust training in Jazz voice at SUNY Purchase with Alexis Cole and privately with Jackie Presti. She is currently working with Professor, Kate Baker as part of her Masters program.  To learn more or subscribe to her mailing list, go to http://www.vanessaracci.com or follow on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok or Spotify @VanessaRacci. The tart, sassy sound and swinging rhythm of Vanessa Racci are a potent brew. A studied musician who, at this writing, is working toward a master’s degree in jazz, Vanessa sings with the confidence of a woman who knows her instrument. Led by a sense of adventure and fun, she sets sail effortlessly through a song and finds many surprises along the way. Vanessa extolled her family heritage in two prior collections, Italiana Fresca and Jazzy Italian, that made jazz and Italian songs seem meant for each other.  Now, in an album that represents a major step forward for her as a jazz singer, she has done the same with the music of the holidays. Yuletide tunes and jazz are often an uneasy fit; the songs are apt to turn into blowing sessions that strip them of their intended spirit. These three artists, along with a group of stalwart Manhattan jazzmen—notably her guest cohort, trumpeter-singer Benny Benack III—have made even the most familiar songs of the season sound fresh. Vanessa and Benny take “The Christmas Song” for a jazzy spin while keeping its childlike wonderment intact. The English carol “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” is revamped in the style of cool ‘50s modern jazz. Vanessa sprints through a medley of four chestnuts from Ella Fitzgerald’s 1960 album Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas; all of them receive a harmonic and metric overhaul but still swing hard in the Ella tradition. Not every tune is a standard. “I’d Like You for Christmas” was written in the ‘50s by Bobby Troup for his wife, Julie London, who sang it on an obscure single. From June Christy’s This Time of Year, a 1961 album of holiday songs penned for her by Connie Pearce and Arnold Miller, a West Coast couple, Vanessa chose “The Merriest,” a wreath of well-wishes for those who are struggling. James Gavin Click here to join our group on Facebook Preview Clip of “Comfort and Joy”

In this episode, actor and director Anthony Robert Grasso shares his journey through Italian heritage, acting, and filmmaking, emphasizing the importance of tradition, community, and continuous learning in the arts. Explore Italian roots and the power of storytelling with actor and director Anthony Robert Grasso. In this conversation, Anthony reflects on his professional background and the importance of tradition in his filmmaking career. He shares personal stories about his early work as a fine art painter and his time in the corporate world, illustrating how hard work and a commitment to learning shaped his path. By examining his own creative journey, we gain insight into how personal heritage influences artistic expression and professional growth. Whether you are interested in the intersection of culture and art or looking for inspiration to pursue your own passion, this discussion highlights the value of community and the pay-it-forward mentality. Understanding these personal narratives is a meaningful part of family history research, helping us see how our backgrounds inform the work we create today. Subscribe for regular guidance on tracing your Italian roots, and share in the comments what role your heritage plays in your own life. Anthony Robert Grasso Website Click here to join our group on Facebook

Click here to join out Facebook group Morning: Ceramic Craftsmanship in Caltagirone We checked out of our hotel and set off across the interior of Sicily toward Palermo. Our first stop was the hilltop town of Caltagirone, world-famous for hand-painted ceramics (maiolica). We visited a local ceramic factory to watch artisans shape raw clay and hand-paint vibrant geometric patterns. We also visited the iconic Scalinata di Santa Maria del Monte—a breathtaking 142-step staircase where every single step is faced with a unique ceramic tile pattern. Lunch at Trattoria Anima (Caltagirone) Located near the ceramic museum in Piazza Marcinnò, we enjoyed a classic meal at Trattoria Anima: Starter: Mixed salad of tomatoes, radicchio, and arugula. Main Courses: Strozzapreti pasta with swordfish, eggplant & mint cream; Palermitana-style swordfish with roasted potatoes; or a rustic vegetarian platter featuring caponata, eggplant parmigiana, and vegetable croquettes. Dessert: Homemade Tiramisù. Afternoon: Villa Romana del Casale (Piazza Armerina) After spending the morning taking in centuries of history, we headed back to the hotel for a quick breather before our stomachs started reminding us it was lunch time. We asked the hotel concierge for an authentic, no-frills local spot. Without hesitation, he pointed us toward Trattoria paninoteca pizzeria B&B mamm e figl (a cozy local favorite known as Trattoria da Mamma), just a quick 10-minute walk down Via Carbonara. “It’s where the locals go,” he promised. And boy, was he right. What a find! We were treated to an authentic, three-course Feast of Naples—antipasto, primo, and contorno—for a mind-blowing €8. I ordered: Eggplant Parmigiana: Rich, savory, and cooked to perfection. Gnocchi: Pillow-soft and tossed in a vibrant tomato sauce. Meatballs: Two massive, melt-in-your-mouth polpette. If you ever find yourself anywhere near Via Carbonara, trust me—do not skip this place! Afternoon: Villa Romana del Casale (Piazza Armerina) We reboarded the bus and drove to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Villa Romana del Casale near Piazza Armerina. This sprawling 4th-century AD Roman villa houses some of the best-preserved ancient floor mosaics in the world, including the famous “bikini girls” sports mosaic and extensive hunting scenes. After a quick espresso stop at an Autogrill along the highway, we arrived in Palermo and checked into the magnificent Eurostars Centrale Palace Hotel, an 18th-century noble palace in the heart of the historic center. We took a short evening walk for a quick bite of ham and cheese before turning in. Have you ever traveled somewhere to trace your family history? Let me know in the comments below! Explore the rich history and cultural significance of Italian folk dances, especially the Tarantella, through the insights of Anna Harsh, an expert in Italian dance traditions. Discover the stories, regional variations, and modern adaptations of these vibrant dances. Key Topics History and origins of the Tarantella Regional variations and stories behind Italian dances The cultural and healing significance of dances like the Tarantella Anna Harsh’s journey from research to dance company The role of dance in community and heritage preservation Takeaways Italian folk dances are rich with regional stories and history. The Tarantella was originally a healing dance for spider bites. Regional variations of the Tarantella reflect local stories and traditions. Dance serves as a way to connect with and preserve cultural heritage. Anna Harsh’s work helps keep Italian dance traditions alive in the US. “Tarantella was meant to heal from a bite.” “The red scarf symbolizes life and death.” “Spinning sends vibrations to the heavens for healing.” Allegro Dance Company Click here to join our group on Facebook Click to find on Amazon