Chapter 13

           JohnnyFontanesatinthehugerecordingstudioandfiguredcostsonayellowpad.Musicianswerefilingin,allofthemfriendshehadknownsincehewasakidsingerwiththebands.Theconductor,topmaninthebusinessofpopaccompanimentandamanwhohadbeenkindtohimwhenthingswentsour,wasgivingeachmusicianbundlesofmusicandverbalinstructions.HisnamewasEddieNeils.HehadtakenonthisrecordingasafavortoJohnny,thoughhisschedulewascrowded.

           NinoValentiwassittingatapianofoolingaroundnervouslywiththekeys.Hewasalsosippingfromahugeglassofrye.Johnnydidn’tmindthat.HeknewNinosangjustaswelldrunkassoberandwhattheyweredoingtodaywouldn’trequireanyrealmusicianshiponNino’spart.

           EddieNeilshadmadespecialarrangementsofsomeoldItalianandSiciliansongs;andaspecialjobontheduel-duetsongthatNinoandJohnnyhadsungatConnieCorleone’swedding.JohnnywasmakingtherecordprimarilybecauseheknewthattheDonlovedsuchsongsanditwouldbeaperfectChristmasgiftforhim.Healsohadahunchthattherecordwouldsellinthehighnumbers,notamillion,ofcourse.AndhehadfiguredoutthathelpingNinowashowtheDonwantedhispayoff.Ninowas,afterall,anotheroneoftheDon’sgodchildren.

           Johnnyputhisclipboardandyellowpadonthefoldingchairbesidehimandgotuptostandbesidethepiano.Hesaid,"Hey,paisan,"andNinoglancedupandtriedtosmile.Helookedalittlesick.Johnnyleanedoverandrubbedhisshoulderblades."Relax,kid,"hesaid.