Johnny loved his family

and in keeping with his own family upbringing, he introduced all of his kids to playing an instrument. He started by teaching most of them piano at an early age. Sunday dinners and holidays with relatives weren’t complete without music and singing. Kids, cousins, and his wife were the backup singers for some of his demos!  On this page you will hear his talented singer/songwriter son Bill on “A Lonesome Heart,” daughter Geri at 7 years old on “Little Miss Twinkle Christmas Star,” singer/songwriter granddaughter Jessica Rotter at 16 on “The Sky is Extra Blue,” and famed jazz guitarist “cousin” Thom Rotella on “I Love You Mary.” Even the East Coast cousins Marty and Jules Rotella recorded “Every Time I See you,” “Christmas Is," and “Nothing But the Best.”

Johnny’s wife, Ann, was a well-trained musician and accordion player with a beautiful singing voice. Her brother was the big band leader/songwriter Jerry Gray, who was also Glenn Miller’s arranger. Johnny often deferred to Ann for collaborative composing ideas on his songs. Her sharp ears and musical sense frequently steered Johnny to more unusual and intriguing harmonies. You can hear Ann’s composition “Interlude” for flute and piano played by her and daughter Geri.

His love for Ann was dedicated and deep. In the last years of their life, as she suffered with Alzheimer’s, he wrote his final love song “Every Time I See You.” Unable to sing it himself, he recited the words while playing the song on the piano. In addition to that recording, there are other beautiful performances of this song by his talented musician nephews Marty and Jules Rotella, as well as a solo piano version by famed jazz arranger/pianist Alan Broadbent.

(Lyrics)

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