There are some individuals in the
music industry that have long had ties with the mafia. It earned
some them a bad reputation that they were never able to shake. For years many have claimed Motown
was started with mob money.
Motown founder Berry Gordy
vehemently denies the allegation to this day. For years Frank
Sinatra was accused of working for the mob. He never denied it
nor did he confirm it.
Tommy Mottola
Tommy Mottola, the former head of
Sony Music, and ex-husband of singer Mariah Carey, was the
subject of a widely read, unflattering piece in Vanity Fair that
flat out said he has mob ties.
Mariah Carey and Tommy Mottola
"Tommy Boy"
By Robert Sam Anson
Vanity Fair - November 1996
- The news also brought a quick call
to Sony from a CBS corporate officer. "Do you know this guy
has a Mafia background?" a senior executive quotes the CBS
man as saying. "What are you doing tainting this wonderful
company you just bought from us with a guy who has a background
that could make the F.B.I cringe?" - Vanity Fair
Madonna and mafia
boyfriend Chris Paciello in the 90's
Then there was former Miami club
king Chris Paciello, who dated Madonna, and was indicted,
convicted and sent to prison for 10 years on a mafia related
murder that transpired in his home state of New York. Madonna's
girlfriend, literally, Ingrid Caseres, reportedly even
accompanied him to mob meetings, according to Gangland News.
Madonna
Ciccone, her daughter and mafioso
Chris Paciello in Miami in the 1990's
Paciello became a prominent figure on the club scene in Miami in
the 90's, making millions from two night clubs and a restaurant.
Then came the indictment against him for a mob murder in New
York. Gone was his money and fame to federal indictments, lawyer
fees and jail. He snitched on the mob and received 7 years in
jail.
Then there's the Anthony Pellicano wiretap, harassment and
witness tampering scandal where writer Anita Busch was targeted:
“Los Angeles Times writer
Anita Busch has been looking into the federal indictment of
reputed Mafia captain Anthony (Sonny)
Ciccone
on charges of extortion and threatening to kill actor Steven
Seagal.” - Los Angeles Times 7/12/02
There's that name
again "Ciccone."
Fancy that, Madonna's faking an English accent, trying to break
into the English aristocracy, when she's got more mob ties than
Capone.
Because tea, Ascot and the English
countryside go hand in hand with the mafia. Not. Madonna puts
the c in common.
Anthony Pellicano
Anthony Pellicano worked for clients such
as Madonna and Tom Cruise. The federal government stated this
year that Pellicano has mob ties and tried to put a hit on an
incarcerated man that worked with him, to stop him from
testifying in the disgraceful wiretap scandal that has exposed
several Hollywood stars and just how far they will go.
But at the end of the day, one really has
to asks oneself, what does music or film have to do with crime.
As a star, to venture into such territory tells the world you
shouldn't even be in the business at all.