Saturday, December 14, 2024

Frank Dileo: Saying Goodbye to a Good Fella

Share

Frank Dileo was laid to rest on Wednesday in Pittsburgh by family and friends. Michael Jackson’s long time manager is a beloved figure in the music business, dating back not only to “Thriller” and “Bad,” but to Frank’s stints at other record companies. He was also an actor, appearing in “Good Fellas” and “Wayne’s World.”

Jackson executors John Branca and John John McClain were not present, but Frank’s long time music lawyer and friend, Joel Katz, was there. So were delegations of Frank’s old cronies from Columbia and Epic Records including Lary Stessel and John Doelp. We had a nice time with Al Bunetta, the Nashville music manager and partner of singer John Prine. Also on hand: Charlie Brusco, Dan Beck, Jimmy Sacco, Frank Randall, Joe Mansfield. Frank would have been so proud.

The night before the funeral, most of this gang assembled at Lidia’s in downtown Pittsburgh where many toasts were made and lots of stories were told. Michael Jackson fans would love to have been flies on the wall for that session. Wednesday morning’s service was led by Dileo’s cousin, a priest from Cleveland. who spoke eloquently about everyone’s “Uncle Tookie.”

Over 150 people went on to lunch after the internment, where more stories were shared at D’Imperio’s. Friends from Nashville and Las Vegas made it in, too, including 18 year old singing sensation Manika, whom Frank was managing. She’s already got a hot single out on Sony since Frank became ill last winter. He’d be proud.

At the end of the internment, by the way, one of Frank’s cousins played John Denver singing “Take Me Home Country Roads” on a boom box. It was the first hit single Frank had had a hand in. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News, where he created the Fox411 column. His movie reviews are carried by Rotten Tomatoes, and he is a member of both the movie and TV branches of the Critics Choice Awards. His articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. He is also the writer and co-producer of "Only the Strong Survive," a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals, directed by DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus.

Read more

In Other News