Shana

Fictional story based around my real band, Burgundy Express, which toured Nevada, Hawaii, and mainly the West Coast. The leader of the band gets into trouble with local gangsters and politicians while playing in Las Vegas at the Pussy Cat Ago go.

It's 1969 Las Vegas, Nevada. Monterey Express is currently playing at The Pussy Cat Ago Go, "The Hotspot" dance club on the Vegas Strip. Tony Minetti is the leader of the band. Tony and his drummer, Big John O'Riley, also run a part-time detective agency which changes the course of their lives forever. Knowing the women and pitfalls of Las Vegas, Tony makes a really big mistake! He lets his guard down, falling madly in love with BJ, a sexy blonde from the Strip. She seemed innocent at first, like the girl next door. Not knowing she was trouble, Tony was sexually drawn to her in every way. That few months of heaven ended when The Express continued their road tour, ending in Hawaii. While playing the Outrigger Hotel in Wakiki, BJ shows up. Tony and Big John quickly find out there is something terribly wrong with her. BJ tells them a contract had been put out on her. She ticked off some of her mafia type playmates. Being a detective, you meet up with real scum bags, prostitutes, and criminals of the underworld. But, Tony didn't see what Big John was seeing. Tony is quickly going down in flames and Big John is trying to put out the fire. John wants Tony to "Drop The Broad" while trying to keep Tony out of harms way. But, he soon finds himself caught up in his own troubles with these gangsters. Already in too deep, they find themselves playing "who do you trust" with the CIA, Las Vegas politicians, and discovering murder along the way. With all of this happening, Tony is also searching for a mystery woman, SHANA. The back drop throughout this mystery is Monterey Express, a solid horn band of the 60's and 70's that travels the West Coast and Hawaii, playing music from Sly and the Family Stone, Chicago, B S and T, and a lot of soul music. This is a fictional story of crime, passion, a mystery woman, great music and many funny antics from their drummer, Big John O'Riley.

I am an author and retired musician/entertainer. I performed with many recording artists and stars in the 60's and 70's, including Jimmie Rodgers (Honeycomb) Pat Boone (Love Letters In The Sand), Ray Peterson (Corina, Corina), Al Wilson (Show and Tell), Donnie Brooks (Mission Bells), The Coasters, The Drifters, and The Rivingtons. Plus many more........On the funny side, I backed Danny Thomas, Mory Amsterdam, and Jerry Van Dyke. to name a few. I was Denny of the infamous duo, Denny and Kenny playing in Northern California and the Nevada Curcuit. Somehow through the years Denny and Kenny became a cult legend. The last two "rare" 45 records sold in Australia for $750.00 and New York for $800.00 which SHOCKED ME.​ I played drums with The Jack Ross Show performing in Las Vegas, also in Palm Springs for Bob Hope's Desert Classic (twice), Cal Neva Lodge at North Shore Lake Tahoe, The Sahara at South Shore Lake Tahoe, Sahara in Las Vegas I am now retired from music, but still have a 24 track recording studio at my house for my own personal enjoyment. I am also retired from my real estate gig as a broker and appraiser. In December of 1999, I had a brain tumor and operation, leaving my left side weak. Since I could not perform "live" anymore, I started a whole new chapter in my life, writing books. My first book, "The Jiggy Joggers," is my memiors. My next book, "A Deadly Game," September, 2012 by Friesen Press. And now SHANA, a crime drama. God Bless you all, Denny Sacco ​