PATTI LATTANZI, BILLY CARLUCCI
& the Gang

The broadcast had evolved from an oldies show into a real personality, talk broadcast about Joey, Patti and their friends.

 

Cruisin' 92.1, WVLT's Joey and Patti Lattanzi both started their musical careers at an early age.

 

Patti, whose father John Nasuti was a marine and loving father, was awarded the Purple Heart. Her mother Felicia, who was and still is a supportive influence in Patti's musical career, raised a daughter whose strength & determination is a perfect match for Joey.

 

Joey began playing the trumpet at the age of nine and was taught by his father Peppino Lattanzi, a well known music arranger and trumpet player. Pepe, an army rifleman received the Bronze Star, and Joey's mother, Angelina who's love for music is a driving force behind Joey.

 

The couple believe that to find a person with so much in common is a blessing from God. This was not just fate, they say. "This was a special encounter." Knowing each other in high school, they both were in the band together, but never really spoke.

 

Then they added, "We gazed at each other from afar, both feeling something, but too young to know what it was at the time.

 

"Twenty-five years later, thanks to Joey's Uncle Tony, he met Patti, her mother Felicia, and grandmom Lucia at an Ann Margaret concert. Uncle Tony asked Patti if she knew his nephew Joey Lattanzi. "The rest of the story is a love story with words & music that are hard to find!

 

"Their record credits include working with such artists as Bobby Rydell, Vince Montana, Major Harris, Tito Puente, Count Basie and Alice Cooper.

 

Joey is survived by his wife, Patti and children Jamie and Joseph, his sister Carmella and grandson Nicholas. Joey is also survived by many aunts, uncles, cousins and other relatives. The Lattanzis lived in Williamstown, NJ.

 

Carl Hemple, General Manager of WVLT and WMIZ Radio said, "Joey was a wonderful, kind human being whose warmth radiated throughout any room he was in. We at Cruisin' 92.1, WVLT will miss his smile and laugh. This is a true loss to our broadcast family.

 

"Gerry Wilkinson, Vice-President of the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia and a consultant for WVLT said, "When I first heard Joey on the air, my reaction was that this will never fly. However, over time, I changed my mind. Joey and Patti's love for each other and their true friendship for their listeners came across. They weren't phonies. You can't fool the audience. Joey was exactly what he was on the air, a warm friendly guy who genuinely liked everyone. After our first meeting, I felt like I knew Joey all my life. That was Joey Lattanzi.

 

"The Lattanzi Show can be heard on Cruisin' 92.1, WVLT, Thursdays, right after Jerry Blavat. It cruises your way from 7 pm to 8 pm