Sunday, October 21, 2007

Puccis and Billy Ford

Where are Bobby and Dianne Pucci? I recall that Guido Pucci was killed back in the late seventies...he used to MC at Berts Bar in Lasalle sometimes....Dianne was a great friend....anyone know where or how she is?
Also I would like some info on Billy Ford-I read with sadness that his brother Ralph passed recently....any help would be so appreciated....thx everyone!

21 comments:

les__f MSN said...

Hello again cathyart,  Quido I knew very well,as his sons were/are Gerry & Michael ,.....There Uncle Leno was the guy that actually MC'd at Bert's Quido was killed in the 70's late late 70's & possibly 1980ish, I flew back to Montreal to attned Gerry & Gail's Wedding ( quite a deal) lots of fun & food ...........  Quido was a professional Nightclub Singer,and his brother Leno was a good singer as well,but only did it on occasion at Berts etc etc ........ Michael,Gerry used to play in a band with Quido for a while ,before going on to their own thing, Michael (last I heard) was touring with Cirque de Soleil , and Gerry has been a mainstay at the Queen Elisabeth for over 20 years,in the Piano bar,.....he plays only a couple of hours a day, most of his time he's doing Studio work, with various artists,he's a very accomplished piano player,and has a mini studio in his house,Mike is a fantastic guitar player,and backed up many bands,as well as appeared on a few French TV shows (in the band),       He also taught music for a while through one of the University's in Montreal...(not bad for a kid ,whose music teacher saw fit to 'fail' him in music )  .......hahahahahah as for Bobby & Diane ,I cannot place which part of the family they would be from,....      and I 'll tell you this ,if you sit down to have a few beers with Gerry,be prepared to be there for a while.................hahahahahaha    a side note , Whenever I went to see Quido & his sons play whether it be in one of Montreal's Nightclubs or a resort up in the Laurentians,I would always ask Quido to play "That's Life" .........cause this guy did it with unmatched enthusiasm,.........(my opinion anyway) and to impress us longhaired teens with music that usually was heard by Our parents in a day when Rock was more our thing,...........He was Good   RIP  Quido   I used to get  the job of waxing his Buick Riviera, (bought a new one every 2nd year) until he switched to Eldo's (can't recall what year that started, but the test was when I was done Quido would come into the garage & pickup the cloth I was using and ask me if I knew the test of a having done a good wax job,.....I didn't at the time,.so he throws the cloth onto the hood of the car,......................and it sailed right across the hood,and is probably still sliding down Gervais St........................hahahahahah   I knew I did a good job,.and got paid &20 bucks for doing it,..........not bad Do-Re-Mi for a couple of hours work inthose years,........................and I put it to good use ,probably in the 50 club,Bert's or the Witch's Hut ,Haraki ,...or wherever .....hahahah

earlcooper1 MSN said...

Hey Cathy                  Sorry to tell you that Billy passed on in 1991 (@ 49yrs old) of cancer. I'm Billy & Ralph's nephew. How did you know them?   Earl Cooper.

brianb9975 MSN said...

Hi Kathy,

Could you be thinking of Billy, Ralph's nephew? Younger guy, hung out with Ralph a lot, blond hair, plumber.

By the way, Earl, my condolences on your unclu's passing; i knew Ralph well. if it;s not too indelicate to ask, how did he die?

brian

earlcooper1 MSN said...

Hey Brian                  I'm hearing that it was a combination of head trauma (a "fall" in his house) resulting from a seizure). About a year earlier, he suffered another seizure & subsequent head injury too. His lifestyle didn't help matters much, alcohol played a major part in his eventual demise.                   You're right about Cathy, I hope she wasn't thinking of my cousin Billy (who's a year older than me @ 45yrs). It was his Dad I was referring to.   BTW, what's your last name?   Earl.

brianb9975 MSN said...

Hey Earl,

Last name is Burke. i know what you mean about the lifesstyle, believe me. i was with Ralph on more than one bender, more all-nighters than i care to (or can) remember.

How is Billy anyway? He was always a stand up guy.

take care,
brian

earlcooper1 MSN said...

Hey Brian                 I too, participated in "many-a-bender" with Ralph. Despite his lifestyle & poor choices, he truly was a great Uncle to me when I was a kid growing up in the streets of Verdun. Good times, lots-o-laughs!                 I was in Montreal last February & visited Billy @ his home in Dorion. He was recovering from a ruptured appendix. He's fine now & has a girlfriend living with him and his son. He's still working for Brandt plumbing.   Earl.

cathyart1 MSN said...

Hiya-great to hear that Billy is OK and doing well-he was one of the funniest guys I ever knew...great personality! Again,sorry to hear of Ralphs passing-he was a nice guy and I was lucky enough to have shared a few fun times with him, we went out with a gang of buddies several times and we always had a good time. I went to his flat in Verdun (Woodland...Argyle...somewhere around there...)  a few times...it was a long time ago....and  he was always so nice to myself and my girlfriends. It's  such a nice spot here....to remember the past and to keep on being in touch!

spankypheebs0 MSN said...

Hey Bri-great to see ya on here! I'm still going to visit Ottawa  in the next few weeks...do ya have a granny hut in yr backyard for my son and I to stay in overnight? hee hee...lotsa catching up to do and this is a great place to hook up with the Verdunites! I'll be in touch soon...xxx

cathyart1 MSN said...

Glad to hear Billy is doing well,even without his appendix! I also remember a guy called Morris (if I recall correctly) who was quite the partier and went out with us quite often......been going nuts trying to remember his last name-

earlcooper1 MSN said...

Hey Cathy                  I know the guy you're talking about. I too, have forgotten his last name. He's doing fine & actually made a speech/eulogy @ Ralph's funeral. If Morris' last name comes to me, I'll let you know. How about these other two characters: Gerard & Jude? Ring a bell?   Earl.

cathyart1 MSN said...

Hi Les...Bobby and Dianne Pucci used to live on Hurteau St in Ville Emard with the parents...Bobby worked at a mens store at the corner of Bishop and St Catherine St for many years...their Dad was a truck driver-his wee lad was struck by a truck and passed away at a very young age.....does this help you to remember the Puccis from Ville Emard that I knew? Thanks,Cathy

les__f MSN said...

Hello Cathyart1 ............Yes that explains a little bit,.I was trying to Remember Puccis from Verdun( then Lasalle) .but couldn't think of any,.but Ville Emard does help.//I will ask my buddt Gerry Pucci ,if he knows of or is related to that family....................                                                               hf&rv

les__f MSN said...

Hi again Cathyart1,....that should have read,that I couldn't think of any 'other' Pucci's from Verdun or Lasalle,.............I wasn't thinking of Ville Emard,.........                                                                                          hv&rv

cathyart1 MSN said...

Hi! Bobby and Dianne lived on Hurteau St in Ville Emard-Uncle Guido visited their place quite a bit  on weekend mornings  ....I remember  Dianne Puccis 16th birthday party when a crazy guy from the old "Dougie" burst in through a window and scared us all to sh#$!!!Broken glass everywhere....never a dull moment in Verdun or Emard!!!Sirens and ambulances-I remember Dianne asking her Mom would it be OK for her to have  a drink of St Antione Abbey Apple Cider after that scene-so funny (I think she said YES)! Ha ha!

les__f MSN said...

Apparently Leno Pucci ( Gerry & Mike's Uncle & Quido's brther) owns a little restaurant in Verdun ,.on Verdun Avenue the next block over from the old pool hall,.......( I guess diagonally across from the old school)?? He also still owns a cab in Verdun too,.........  Leno was known to MC at Bert's and with very little coaxing,.would sing a few songs too,.....He is also a funny character,.with real Montreal personality...............always laughing & loud.....and a good guy.................                                                          hf&rv

the lad MSN said...

Cathy   The Pucci's on Hurteau? Would that be just below Allard?     Lad

the lad MSN said...

Les   The restaurant is across from the bank. Same side of the street.Used to be corner store at one time..I think     Lad

cathyart1 MSN said...

Yep that's the Pucci's I knew...Bobby worked at a Mens Clothing place on St Catherine at Bishop....they went to the Catholic School (James Lyng maybe) but we were friends from VHS and Dianne and I used to walk each other from Verdun or vice versa halfway across the Stevens bridge then run home....called each other when we arrived safely home! They lived on Hurteau near Allard! What a fantastic family-that's how I got to know Guido and Lino

the lad MSN said...

Cathy   My ex is from Ville Emard.She worked with their mom..Thats how I got to know them.. Think I was at a wedding for one of them...kinda of a blur now.... Who did you know at James Lyng.. We would go and hang out their instead of going to school..me  and some other guys..truant officier flashed me his badge one day and told me should be in class..man should have seen his face when I told him I didnt go there. Also since I was on the sidewalk could not even tell me to move along..Priceless.. Good Times   Lad    

les__f MSN said...

This message has been deleted by the manager or assistant manager.

les__f MSN said...

Oh Crap ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,hitting wrong buttons,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, YIKES