This memoir tells the story of Rick Porrello’s journey from a basement in Cleveland Heights to the bright lights of stages around the world. He begins as a boy with sticks in his hands, pushed forward by the weight of family expectation, the shadow of his brother’s rising star, and the complicated legacy of both music and crime. His story weaves through smoky clubs, shimmering showrooms, and a world tour alongside Sammy Davis, Jr., the greatest entertainer of his time. Beneath the sparkle is a quieter story: a young man trying to find his place, pulled between loyalty to family and a growing pull toward another life, one rooted in service and self-discovery.

Reading this memoir stirred something deep in me. The writing has an unpolished honesty that made me feel like I was sitting across from Porrello while he told his story. Sometimes the sentences clipped along fast, like drumbeats rattling off the snare. Other times, they slowed, stretching out like a cymbal crash that hangs in the air. What hit me hardest was how vulnerable he was about his family, especially his father’s expectations and his brother’s spotlight. That tension made the glamorous parts shine brighter because you could feel the cost of them. I caught myself grinning during his first rehearsal jitters, then sinking back when the family’s past with organized crime crept in. It’s raw and messy in places, but that mess feels authentic.

What I liked most was how he balanced the glitter of the stage with the grit of ordinary life. He doesn’t hide the chaos. The burn scars, mob ties, and bad choices. That makes the triumphs hit harder. His memories of Sammy Davis, Jr. felt electric, full of awe but never blind hero worship. The writing has its loose, wandering moments, like a story shared late at night, but I found it charming. I was moved by how much of it is about family love and the ache of carving your own identity.

I’d recommend this memoir to anyone who loves music, but also to people who enjoy personal stories of struggle, ambition, and growth. You don’t have to be a drummer to feel the pulse of this memoir. It’s for readers who like to be pulled behind the curtain, to see the sweat along with the spotlight. If you’ve ever felt torn between who your family wanted you to be and who you felt you were meant to become, you’ll find yourself nodding along with Porrello’s journey.

ISBN : 9798987831243