About Just Play Like You Do in the Basement Coming of Age as the Drummer for the Greatest Entertainer in the World
Rick Porrello takes readers from the music room of his boyhood to the glittering spotlights of showrooms and theaters around the world in this poignant memoir. He recounts his rise from teen jazz drummer to performing with top-tier musicians for one of the most iconic figures in show business. This singer, dancer, actor, and impressionist captivated audiences worldwide. He broke racial and entertainment barriers and earned his place as the ultimate showman—“the greatest entertainer in the world.”
At the heart of the story is Porrello himself. Shaped musically by his older brother’s path and driven by his father’s ambition, Ricky was eighteen when he began touring—Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas, London, Paris, Acapulco, and Sydney. But behind the glamour is a teenager navigating the pressures of family expectations, an inheritance shaped by both jazz and organized crime, and an undeniable pull toward a life far from the stage.
Set against the charged backdrop of music, identity, and duty, Just Play Like You Do in the Basement explores roots, the thrill of forbidden chemistry, and the deeply personal struggle of choosing between two powerful dreams.
“This is a story of passion, pressure, and the choices that define a life. Bold, heartfelt, and steeped in music, Just Play Like You Do in the Basement hits with both soul and swing.” —Kyle Eaton, Manhattan Book Review
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Author Bio:
Rick Porrello is an author, musician, and retired police chief. His unlikely career path began as a teenage jazz drummer performing with a legendary entertainer known simply as “Sammy.” After walking away from the stage, he went on to serve more than three decades in law enforcement, including ten years as a police chief in suburban Cleveland.
Porrello is the author of five nonfiction books, including The Rise and Fall of the Cleveland Mafia and To Kill the Irishman, which was adapted into a film starring Ray Stevenson, Vincent D’Onofrio, and Christopher Walken.
Just Play Like You Do in the Basement marks his first memoir.