By david, glasgow, scotland (62.252.128.4 - 62.252.128.4) on Monday, January 21, 2002 - 08:47 pm:

ralph

i spotted a merle distributors on woodward c1963.

they were listed at 15365 livernois in 1965.

the latter is possibly a mistaken digit. should be 15305 (?).

anyway this sounds like another merlino company.

By Marilyn (4.4.41.251 - 4.4.41.251) on Monday, January 21, 2002 - 09:49 pm:

The Merle Dist. on Woodward was originally S&S Dist. I forget if the other partner died or was bought out. I can find out for you tomorrow though.

By RalphTerrana (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Tuesday, January 22, 2002 - 12:34 am:

Marilyn,
you're awesome....

By Ralph Terrana (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Tuesday, January 22, 2002 - 12:40 am:

David,
John Merlino's main business was a food catering company.He was a fustrated song writer that liked recording and had the money to do it.

By david, glasgow, scotland (62.252.128.5 - 62.252.128.5) on Tuesday, January 22, 2002 - 06:19 pm:

he co-wrote the dynamics 'whenever i'm without you' which was released on top ten records.

a nice record.

By Ralph Terrana (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Tuesday, January 22, 2002 - 07:46 pm:

David,
I didn't know that about Merlino. This gives me a whole different look at the guy.You gotta know a couple of things about the guy.He was an extremely boisterous, cocky Italian. He would have made a good movie character. He carried a gun ( primarily for his business and the large amounts of cash he might have had ) and loved to let it be known he was carrying. The first time he saw Neica...he was there to do somethng in the studio....he went up to her desk...threw his gun, with it's leather clam shell holster on her desk and said .." Here...check this for me " What a cowboy!! Neica is looking at this gun ( a 45 ) like..."is this guy crazy? " In reality, with Merlino. I really think his gun was some sort of extension to his penis. But he also had a big heart and would bring things from his catering company for the staff. He would, at Christmas , bring in large candy filled candy canes to give to the staff's kids.
He really did have a big heart. A good spell down the road things would get ugly between John Merlino and me.To be frank I haven't made up my mind if I want to write about it, but if I do I suppose it will be in the TS story. I still have to think about it though.

By david, glasgow, scotland (62.252.128.5 - 62.252.128.5) on Tuesday, January 22, 2002 - 08:02 pm:

is he still around?

i think that is the first question i would ask!

this story is getting better by the minute.

By Ralph Terrana (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Tuesday, January 22, 2002 - 08:14 pm:

David,
I suppose in the end I'll talk about it. After all..it is part of the story. But it was a time in my life that I would learn I have a very dark side. Maybe we all do when pushed a little.Like John Merlino, I was also an Italian.

By John Lester (213.1.133.104 - 213.1.133.104) on Tuesday, January 22, 2002 - 08:39 pm:

Ralph....were you and Russ born in Italy?

I think everyone can see the Italian look about you both. In fact, when I saw you both in Pete's book, I thought to myself..those two look more Italian than spaghetti!!

I am not going to ask Neica if you kept pinching her!

HA HA!

By Ralph Terrana (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Tuesday, January 22, 2002 - 08:56 pm:

No John. My brother and I were born in Detroit. My grandparents came from Sicily. We were fortunate to be raised in a very large, loving extended family. Many aunts and uncles and cousins.

You'd be out of your mind to not want to pinch Neica Lee, however the line to do so would more than likely be somewhat long.

By Ade (193.129.220.205 - 193.129.220.205) on Tuesday, January 22, 2002 - 10:31 pm:

All this talk of Italy and sicily. It's all a bit scary. I'm always wary of Italian food.

Once I had alphabetti spaghetti and it spelled disaster.

Boom boom
(I know it's not really the forum but I've been carrying that joke for years!!!!!!)

By NeicaLee (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Wednesday, January 23, 2002 - 12:06 am:

John
Whether you ask or not, here is the answer. No Ralph did not pinch. He is Italian, but Italians here don't make those kind of moves. Not the ones I know anyway.
As for the line Ralph, if there was one, it was outside our office, and I was not interested. Besides, I counted on you to keep everyone at a respectable distance, which you did, as best you could.
I do remember Merlino, not my favorite person after that incident, candy canes and all.

By Ralph Terrana (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Wednesday, January 23, 2002 - 03:15 am:

NeicaLee,
I think I was a little protective of you in those days.Everyone was so sure that " something was going on " between us. In reality, we were just very good friends that cared for one another. Yeah...old Merlino sure loved to show you his gun.