Antonio Morelli was a good conductor and he had "juice" with some important people. Sinatra and him would get into it at times. Morelli was a very straight laced guy. Like a symphonic orchestra type guy. Tall and regal looking. Very elegant on stage.

I remember one time when Sinatra did the first show of the night and was holed up in the Regency Room at table 53, his table, and wouldn't do the second show over some dispute with Morelli. I think you would remember this because as I remember it, it was already into the 3rd or 4th night and you guys from LA were already here. Entratter spent hours trying to get Frank to make peace and go to work. It was something about that Morelli was making the band sound like an symphony orchestra and Frank wanted it to sound like a "band" for this trip in.

Morelli's was picked for his connections in New York and personally recommended by one of the family's. He had been at The Copa with Entratter. He was a favorite of the rich people who we wanted to get to come to Vegas. Frank couldn't move this guy if he wanted to. In fact, Entratter has to call NY and get "someone" involved to get Frank back to work.

Frank goes on stage. I stand in the back to see what will take place. Franks does his opening song and then another and after that stops, lights a cigarette and walks over to the place where Morelli is standing and stands right in his face. They stare at each other and Morelli backs away. Franks looks at the band and tells one of the musicians out loud, "Follow me - let's do it right." He starts into one of the up tempo songs and the band jumps right in. Boy it sounded great. All the guys were pushing to the hilt.

I had to go back to the casino, but the waitresses tell me it was one great show.

In the 50s and early 60s, the bands were just pulling in the really good musicians from around the country. Later I hear we had most of the best around except for the studio musicians in NY and LA.

An unhappy Frank is no picnic for us in the casino. When the band was sounding right for him, then, we in the casino knew it was going to be a good two or three weeks.