UNCLE FLOYD VIVINO 1951-2026

From Dennis Diken:

I’m heartbroken to hear of the passing of Uncle Floyd Vivino. so many wonderful memories flood my mind and heart at this time. here’s some random rambling…

His TV show was already a big part of our world when The Smithereens were called to be on the program in 1980. it would be the first of five appearances for us! and it marked our TV debut. quite a thrill. plus it added luster to our then puny press kit. (sidebar: Mike Mesaros and I played in a band called Mark Mazur & The Targets and we were on twice as well!)

Tons of local (and national) bands were vying for a slot and Floyd told me not long ago that the deal was done for us when Nick DiNizio slid a $20 dollar bill in his tip jar and said “book my kid’s band on your show.” at the time, Floyd had a weekly Friday nite piano residency at The Stage House on Front Street in Scotch Plains (just down the road from Pat’s family house) and we made that scene any time we weren’t gigging.

Jim, Pat, Dennis, Uncle Floyd, Mike

I really can’t think of any other entertainer who has brought me as much joy as Floyd did. I’d catch the full cast shows at Garfield High School, The Rahway Theater, The Bottom Line. and my friend Bobby Zeiss and I would often make the trek from Carteret to Wild West City in Netcong on Sunday afternoons to nurse a few beers and hear him play honky tonk numbers on the spinnet at their saloon.

tThen there was the pre-covid Valentine’s Day 2020 Stanhope House show. man, I laughed so damn hard. and the taping of the documentary Banded Together: The Boys From Glen Rock High, a tribute to a high school music teacher who mentored Floyd, his super-talented brothers Jimmy and Jerry and many others. and there was no better MC for a beefsteak fundraiser (North NJ residents will know what I’m talking about).

More reasons why I will always love Floyd: he turned me onto Louis Prima; he had a storage space with tens of thousands of 78s, 45s and LPs of all stripes and he loved to share them on his Garage Sale Radio show (with jolly sidekick Scott Gordon); David Bowie (a big fan, as was John Lennon) would call him up at home to talk about Shemp; our shared deep passion for The Abbott & Costello TV show; one of his biggest piano influences was Jimmy Durante; his character Mr. Grouch; his role in Good Morning Vietnam (purportedly Floyd’s comedic flair had a strong influence on some of Robin Williams’ bits in the flick).

He could have grabbed a big brass ring if he wanted to. but he didn’t. he stayed in Jersey and he lived to entertain and make people happy. his last regular hit was Wednesday nites at the Twin Door Inn in nearby Maywood. he was unstoppable. until he got sick.

I can go on and on. and I’m sure I’m forgetting some cool recollections. but let me just close by saying I was thrilled to play on a recording with Floyd. I overdubbed drums to his version of “Shaving Cream” for Covered In Punk, a fun-filled, star-studded tribute to Dr. Demento that was released in 2018.

No one tickled my funny bone and musical spirit like Floyd. he was always very kind to me and always supported the Smithereens.

A wealth of musical and showbiz knowledge bit the dust when Floyd left us. there will be no one to take his place. ever. man, am I gonna miss him.