'Gino' dances in disco Heaven
The season-long search for the Celtics' dancing man affectionately known as Gino has come to a saddening end as the Wall Street Journal reports that the man died 18 years ago.
Joseph R. Massoni, pegged as the dancer clad in a Gino Vannelli T-shirt grooving in the American Bandstand clip that has become known as the Celtics' virtual victory cigar, reportedly passed away at age 34 in Fontana, Calif.
Dick Clark Productions, which produced "American Bandstand" until it went off the air in 1989, agreed to help locate the man after being contacted by The Wall Street Journal. The company reviewed old tapes and talked to former dancers to uncover the mystery. One dancer, Terry Izen of East Highlands, Calif., received a call a few weeks ago from another former dancer telling her to check out the Gino video on YouTube."I was like, 'Oh my God, it's Joe Massoni!'" says Ms. Izen, who says she is the redhead to the right of him in the video.
Ms. Izen, who is now 52 and is involved in theater, was a regular dancer on "American Bandstand" in the mid-1970s. She says didn't know Mr. Massoni very well but lent him the tight Gino Vannelli T-shirt. But she did remember stopping by his family's Italian restaurant in Rialto, Calif., between shootings one day.
So when she set out to find him, she began calling Rialto's Italian restaurants. No luck. She turned to the white pages of the phone book. On the second try, she reached a woman who said she was Mr. Massoni's brother's mother-in-law.
The news couldn't have been sadder. Mr. Massoni, the woman said, passed away 18 years ago from pneumonia. "I didn't want to burst everybody's bubble because it's been so neat what's been going on in Boston," Ms. Izen said.
The Wall Street Journal couldn't independently verify the claim that Mr. Massoni is the deceased dancer. But Dick Clark Productions vouches for Ms. Izen's story. A spokeswoman for the San Bernardino, Calif., coroner's office confirmed that a man named Joseph R. Massoni passed away in 1990 at age 34 in Fontana, Calif. Calls to the residence of Mr. Massoni's brother weren't returned.
"If it's true, we are saddened to hear that news," says the Celtics' Mr. Gotham. "'Gino' has provided a lot of enjoyment for our fans, and his spirit will live on during the NBA Finals."
With the real Gino dancing on in disco Heaven, we're looking for best Gino tribute. Send us your photos or video in honor of Gino (the winner receives an iPod shuffle). For more on the Gino phenomenon, check out our video of fans trying to imitate Gino's moves below.
Gino............NNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Who cares about Gino! What I want to know is what the heck has happened to Eddie House?? Last time he really played was game 7 against Cleveland. Guy brings great energy, a dangerous 3 point threat for the Lakers to worry about. Plays good D too! Anyone have an answer to why he isn't seeing ANY playing time??
I saw an article mid season (perhaps here on boston.com) that said the 'real Gino' was alive and well, and had actually threatened a lawsuit against the Celtics for selling T shirts without consulting him on the deal. What the hell is going on here?
Forsberg's response:
That was the singer, Gino Vannelli, not the dancing 'Gino.'
I find it disheartening that the Celtics were mocking him when they thought he was alive and will continue to do so now that they know he's dead. Classy. Maybe they could dig him up and seat him courtside in Pierce's wheelchair. May the curse of Gino follow the series.
@ #4:
Nobody is mocking him, and don't try to be a troll by saying otherwise. If he is in the afterlife and can see this somehow, I'm sure he is thrilled with the whole thing. I know I would be. Now go back to your cave.
Gino-Joe! Sorry to see you go!
Let's hope he's dancin' on Sunday night. Get down!!!
I say we at least bring Terry Izen in for a dance with rest of the Celtics Dancers.
I found myself grooving a bit and i thought it was cool. Alive or dead...it cheered me up...we need more "Gino's" in this world...not "vannelli's" like #5
No! That's a bloody heart breaker! But at least he left one hell of a legacy
This has been a very special season for the Celtics and their fans, and Gino, in some small way, was definitely a part of the fun on Causeway Street and someone that the fans rallied around and for. When Gino makes his appearance Sunday night, perhaps for the last time this season, I hope the crowd gives him the loudest ovation yet.
RIP Joe - some how, some way you have been a part of the greatest turnaround in nba history - if there is a lesson to be learned, you never know when something you did, or said in the past will live on forever in the memories of others. We feel that we knew you Joe, and all our thoughts are with you and your family - say Hi to Red and DJ and Reggie and Len Bias too. Now help us bring home the Larry O'Brien Trophy where it truly belongs - with the fans of the Boston Celtics! GO CELTS - Do it for Joe!
Um, I guess if you don't follow basketball, ya' just don't get it. I hate basketball. I don't get it. Go Sox!
ive recently moved back to new england from this area of california. by chance i happen to be friends with the one of joes great nephews. The family received a call 4 days ago breaking the news about our new "victory cigar."
The thing that bugs me is that people act like this was new at the garden, gino has been rocking the garden for approx 6 years now. It all started back in the antoine days.
Gino has been rocking the garden for the better part of 6 years now. This isnt anything new, not 100% sure why people are acting like this gino dancing is a new thing.
is it more about the song or Gino? for me it's the song...why not just use the Original clip from Saturday Night Fever with Travolta...
All I want to know is, what is the name of the track he's groovin to?
I love the comments on this site.
Who is acting like Gino is new? You people are making a fake point in order to sound smart or something. No one thinks that Gino is new.
And playing the video is a form of mocking the dancer? What a putz. It's a celebration, there is nothing mocking about it.
And Eddie House didn't played against DET becuase Lindsey Hunter eats him alive.
G-d Bless the wonderful times the video memories of his dancing has provided us all. In the Jewish tradition we say of those who pass, "May their memory be forever a blessing." With this video it is true this dancer has just done that. What a wake-up call to the hell AIDS has put us through. So many talents lost.
A classy thing Boston does sometimes is react collectively to events, good and bad, in special ways when it counts in sports. Ted, Yaz, Conigliaro, even "Beat L A" to another team (? ) was unique and only in Boston. A tribute in Mr. Massoni's name, a collective gift from the fans to AIDS research might be done spontaneously, like a flash mob. Collectively putting our money where our mouths' are after removing our collective feet, for even mentioning AIDS, even if true. Pain relief for his family and of those that have lost someone in the last generation to AIDS, might be had.
Go Red Sox!
He kind of looks like Mr Kotter without the 'fro,
Gino Joe sure had some moves. You know the great thing about that dance? A huge, super tall white guy can do that dance and not decapitate anyone- it's laid back & groovin. More super tall white guys need to learn that dance.
Yeah I remember Gino Joe during the last few years. I don't remember him much during Antoine's first year but he wouldn't have had too many chances to dance then, anyways.
You know, I think Gino Joe started either just before, or sometime during that run to the Eastern Conference Finals when we had Rodney Rogers and Tony Delk, Antoine, Paul and Kenny Anderson. That was a fun team. I think it was in '02. Prior to that, there was no reason for anyone to dance.
I think Joe was dancing for his enjoyment and our entertainment all those years ago and I hope he knows he's doing it again. I'm sad for those who loved and lost him. A word to the wise....speculation is like assuming.....you know what they say about assuming. This type of speculation is simply bad form and bad taste.
I danced on American Bandstand for three years. I have several old tapes. The guy wearing the GINO shirt tells Dick his name on one of the shows...it is not the same name mentioned in this article. The gal admits she didn't know him well. She's an actress and might need publicity. I'm not so sure he's gone. Give it a few days and see if the real "Gino" (SAM , not JOE) shows up.
His name may be Joseph Massoni, but he will ALWAYS be 'Gino' to me.
I have been a fan of Gino since the very beginning ... long before the fad caught on with most everyone else. My friends and I would always go wild whenever he showed up on the screen, wiggling those snake-like hips of his. It was a truly sad game for me if he didn't put in an appearance, and I always looked forward to seeing him up on the jumbotron. I hope the Celtics don't get rid of his image anytime soon, since he holds a rather special place in so many hearts now.
It honestly shouldn't matter to anyone whether Gino (Joe) did, in fact, die of pneumonia, or if that diagnosis was a euphemism for something else. What DOES matter is that this young man died at the tragically young age of 34, which is way too young for anyone to be shuffling off this mortal coil. My heart goes out to his family, and I hope that they look on his (unintentional) legacy here in Boston and smile.
Meanwhile ... ROCK ON, GINO!!! We love you!!!
I knew Joe very well. His mother called me last week and told me about the whole Celtics thing. Until then none of his family or friends where aware of it. Joe would defiantly have loved this!! He was a very talented guy and a wonderful friend. It’s fantastic to see so many enjoying this. I can’t wait to visit Boston, what a great city. Rock on Joe!!!!
Angel, is there anyway I could contact you about getting a copy of those tapes. I work for the Garden and editied the Gino interactive dance video 13 years ago. That's right, Gino's been playing at the Fleetcenter/TD Banknorth Garden for 13 years. We have never lost a Celtics game after playing Gino.
I am still the director for the jumbotron show at the Garden and I would love to get my hands on more Gino footage. Could you call me at the TD Banknorth Garden( Home of the Celtics) and ask for extension 1254.
Victoria, please pass on my condolences to Gino's(Joe's) Mom. You have no idea how many smiles Gino has inspired during that span. Like the cult of Celtics fans who come to the games in Gino shirts, our control room staff has always had a special place for Gino in our hearts. I would love to learn more about his life and get some other pictures of him if possible.
P.S. - Gino danced again last night after our big win in Game 2!
Bostonians........GET A F...... LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jumbojohn thanks for the kind words. I will pass it on to his mother, it will mean a lot to her. You have no idea how wonderful this is to his friends and loved ones. Out of respect for his family I would not release pictures of him without their blessing. I saw the game or should I say the massacre. Dance on!!
It had a good beat & I could dance to it...
Since he lived in Southern California, I think Gino (Joe) was a Lakers Fan. Everytime you run the clip, you give the Lakers luck. That's why they will win games 3, 4, 5, and 6.
Here's to Joe and the legend of Gino. He's won a place in the heart of loyal Boston sports fans forever with his indelible smile and positive vibes. I'd love to see the Jumbojohn guy cut up a new all-Gino groovin video to help us get out of our seats and celebrate ANOTHER Celts victory.
Here's hoping that he's in a better place.. but damn, Celts nation sure feels like a great place to be right now.
BEAT L-A!!!!
(I'd love to see them win on Sunday, but, it would be pretty special to see them win it at home and send Joe dancing through the night in his Gino shirt)
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