THE BAND LEADER
“FRANCIS CASELLA”

1957 - New York City.

The Band Leader is a deeply personal and sweeping story told through Johnny Angelina’s eyes, a seasoned pianist who encounters a remarkable man named Francis Casella. Johnny has spent decades performing across the U.S., from hotel lounges in Los Angeles to private events in New York, always guided by his father’s philosophy: learn all kinds of music to survive in the business. This wisdom eventually leads him to a quiet assisted living facility in upstate New York called The Welcome Home, where he performs the timeless songs of the '40s and '50s—known as the “standards”—once a month.
There, Johnny meets Francis Casella, a distinguished, well-dressed older gentleman with piercing blue eyes and a silver and black cane. There’s something mysterious about him, a listener who clearly understands what he’s hearing, requests songs from a bygone era, and soon reveals that he was a Band Leader for over 60 years.
Intrigued, Johnny agrees to meet with him privately. Francis wants to tell his story—a secret story—and asks Johnny to record it, but only release it after his death.
Johnny agrees, and they plan to spend two weeks together at a secluded log house on Saranac Lake. The property belongs to Connie Florin, the daughter of Buddy Florin, who was once the pianist in Casella’s band and a close friend. The Lakehouse is serene, snowy, and equipped with a grand piano and recording setup.
Francis starts his story with his youth, studying at Juilliard in the early 1950s, where he honed his skills in arranging, conducting, and composing. He gradually assembled a 15-piece Big Band, choosing each musician for their talent, character, and dedication. His big break came when he was hired to perform at the wedding of Sal Martello’s daughter in White Plains, New York. Little did he know then that Martello was an important figure in the Katino Crime Family. From that point, Casella’s life took a dramatic turn; he became both a sought-after musician and someone connected to the underworld. Casella led his band through clubs, private gigs, and eventually into film scoring. A highlight of his career was composing and arranging the soundtrack for a feature film, "This Is My Life," where he met Misty Maronda, a captivating singer and actress. Their collaboration earned him praise and cemented his reputation, though much of his work remained behind the scenes due to his shadowy associations.
Eventually, the burden of his connections grew too heavy. In the late 1970s, Casella fled the U.S. under the alias Peter Zoda and resurfaced in Vienna, Austria. There, he founded the Francis Casella Big Band within Europe’s Jazz and Classical circles. In Vienna, he meets Valentina, a gifted Cellist who becomes the love of his life. They share years of art, music, and travel.
Tragically, Valentina died unexpectedly, and her loss changed Francis forever. He became more reclusive in his final years, choosing to reflect and entrust his legacy to Johnny.
As they spend the three weeks together, Johnny documents Francis’s story and gains deep insight into a life filled with music, danger, love, and resilience. When Francis dies of cancer in 2017, he leaves Johnny with a final mission: to take his ashes to Vienna, bury them beside Valentina, and find a key hidden beneath her Cello-engraved tombstone. The key opens a safety deposit box at a Swiss bank, holding valuable paintings and documents—Casella’s final treasure and a symbolic passing of the torch.
The story ends with Johnny back at the Lakehouse, reflecting on his journey and preparing to write the story of Francis Casella and himself. Through Francis’s life, Johnny rediscovers purpose, the power of legacy, and the soul of the music they both adore.
This story promotes Jazz and Classical music.