"Connecticut bootlegger queen nellie greeN"©
FOREWORD BY CHARLENE GREEN MASSEY (NELLIE GREEN'S GREAT GRANDDAUGHTER)
NELLIE GREEN:
Known as the “Queen of the fastest rum runners on the East Coast,” Nellie Green led a captivating life full of bootlegging adventures. Nellie was an extremely successful bootlegger during the entire Prohibition Era (1920-1933.
She fearlessly stood up to all those who tried to stand in her way, receiving respect and financial support from many influential people.
Nellie built an underground empire in a business world dominated by men. Her rum runners were men of intrigue who assumed aliases such as “Blackie,” “Wing,” and “King Tut.”
This book recounts the life and times of the legendary bootlegger Nellie Green, set against the historical backdrop of the Prohibition era, the women's movement and the Roaring Twenties.
***WHERE TO PURCHASE "CONNECTICUT BOOTLEGGER QUEEN NELLIE GREEN":
* Available at: Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF STORES WHERE MY BOOKS CAN BE PURCHASED - SEE: WHERE MY BOOKS CAN BE PURCHASED AT THE END OF THIS WEBSITE
* NOTE: ALL photos shown BELOW and in my books are COPYRIGHTED.
* GALLERY OF PHOTOS INCLUDED IN CONNECTICUT BOOTLEGGER QUEEN: NELLIE GREEN:
PRESS RELEASE:
"CONNECTICUTSOFTBALL LEGEND JOAN JOYCE"
BOOK REVIEWS:
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Joan Joyce is the real deal, a fierce competitor and one of the greatest athletes and coaches in sports history. Tony Renzoni’s moving tribute to Joan shows us why she is a champion in sports and in life.
— Billie Jean King, sports icon and equality pioneer
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Joan Joyce is truly the greatest female athlete in sports history. And a great coach as well. Tony Renzoni’s well-researched book is a touching tribute to this phenomenal athlete. I highly recommend this book!
--- Bobby Valentine, former MLB player and manager, current athletic director at Sacred Heart University (Fairfield)
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Joan Joyce has to be one of the most incredible female athletes of all time. She has left an indelible mark on women’s athletics—creating a legacy that has been instrumental in bringing women’s athletics into the public spotlight ------ ConnecticutWomen’s Basketball Hall of Fame, 1994
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We both started out really young and we stuck with it and made something of our lives. With great admiration, Brian. PS: Joan, Let’s have a re-match someday, bowling for dollars!
—Brian Hyland, singer, songwriter, publisher, international recording artist
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There are fascinating human beings, then there’s Joan Joyce. For my money, there’s never been a more talented, more accomplished, more transcendent female athlete than Joan. She captured the imagination young girls, women AND men alike before the advent of the twenty-four-hour news cycle, the sports- only television networks and social media. What couldn’t she do? The greatest softball player who ever lived. Represented the United States on the hardwood in basketball. The least number of putts ever in a professional round of golf.
Not to mention nine NCAA Regional appearances as the head softball coach of Florida Atlantic University (that’s how I know her best). I’ve never met a better storyteller than Joan because, well, she lived all of her stories! I feel fortunate to know the single most influential and unique female athlete who has ever walked the planet...Joan Joyce.
—Ken laVicka, ESPN, Voice of FAU
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As a young man participating in athletics in school I can only marvel at the accomplishments of our girl, Joan Joyce. Her list of participation & accolades in athletics are the stuff of dreams to me! God bless and keep her, and her life as teacher and role model.
—Johnny Mathis, Grammy-nominated recording artist
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Is Joan Joyce the greatest athlete ever from the great city of Waterbury, Conn.? YoU bet. Is Joan Joyce Connecticut’s greatest female athlete? Absolutely—by a city and country mile. Is Joan Joyce the greatest female athlete of all time, period? Tony Renzoni sets out to prove just that in Connecticut Softball Legend Joan Joyce
—Joe Palladino, Waterbury Republican-American
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The story is all true. Joan Joyce was a tremendous pitcher, as talented as anyone who ever played. [responding to a newspaper account of his early 1960s match-ups against Joan Joyce]
—Ted Williams, Hall of Fame MLB and Boston Red Sox great, December 30, 1999
NEW
Joan Joyce: The Wonder Girl
by: KeelyBaisden Knudsen, Lauren Slatto-Rosenay , and Tony Renzoni
Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble
"CONNECTICUT'S GIRLS OF SUMMER:
THE BRAKETTES AND THE FALCONS"
NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON, Barnes & Noble, etc.
In their 76-year history, the Brakettes of Stratford, Connecticut are considered the most successful and longest running organized women’s sports franchise of all time. Among their many other accomplishments, the Brakettes 40 National Championships serve as the gold standard of excellence. The Brakettes have produced 24 National Hall of Fame members and 11 Olympians. Likewise, the Connecticut Falcons, by all measures, were certainly the most dominant pro women’s team in the four-year existence of the Women’s Profession Softball League (WPS). Two very important teams in the history of sports!
"HISTORIC CONNECTICUT MUSIC VENUES: FROM THE COLISEUM TO THE SHABOO" ©
FOREWORD WRITTEN BY LEGENDARY HALL OF FAMER FELIX CAVALIERE!
“
Historic Connecticut Music Venues: From the Coliseum to the Shaboo” pays tribute to the many
landmark music venues that have featured national, regional, and local performers.
While of the locations have closed, they have certainly not been forgotten. The New Haven Coliseum, the Arena, and the Bushnell Memorial were once the places to be for music lovers, while elsewhere places like the Cheri Shack, and the Shaboo hosted national and local headliners.
Other venues such as Foxwoods, Mohegan Sun, the Meadows, Café Nine, and Toad’s Place have now taken center stage and continue to attract large crowds.
With in-depth interviews with performers and numerous timeless photos, this book takes you on a nostalgic and fun journey of the Nutmeg State’s music scene.
NOTE: PHOTOS OF ARTISTS ON THIS WEBSITE AND IN MY BOOKS ARE COPYRIGHTED!!
*JOAN JOYCE HIT MUSICAL *
AFTER 6 CONSECUTIVE SOLD-OUT PERFORMANCES, THE LEGACY THEATRE HAS ADDED ADDITIONAL PERFORMANCES : SATURDAY SEP 11, 2021 AND SATURDAY SEP 25, 2021.
* THIS PLAY IS FABULOUS WITH STANDING OVATIONS AND RAVE REVIEWS! THIS IS A WONDERFUL TRIBUTE TO AN AMAZING ATHLETE AND COACH - OUR JOAN JOYCE!
***SPECIAL NOTE: THIS MUSICAL PLAY WILL SOON BE PERFORMED IN OTHER AREAS OF CONNECTICUT. LOCATION AND DATE TO BE ANNOUNCED ON MY FACEBOOK AUTHOR PAGES.
REVIEW OF JOAN MUSICAL AT LEGACY THEATRE (STONEY CREEK, CT):
"Sometimes when you’re a legend, you have the ability to impact people in ways that even you can’t imagine. Such is the case for Waterbury’s Joan Joyce, who at age 80 continues to discover just how inspirational her athletic career has been.
Joyce, whose athletic exploits have motivated thousands of girls and young women to embrace their athletic dreams, has now inspired a musical about her incredibly successful career as a nationally renowned softball player, basketball player and professional golfer". - Republican-American, by Roger Cleaveland
LIST OF OUR SPECIAL GUESTS FOR JOAN JOYCE MUSICAL:
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OCT 12 Thu • 7:30pm – Donna Lopiano and Debbie Chin – NO comp seats requested.
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Oct 13 - Fri – 8:00 pm – Meghan Jane Doonan and Dr. Uday Mathur– Nurse who treated Joanie and former pitcher on Joanie’s FAU team
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OCT 20 Fri • 8:00pm – LINDA FINELLI – No comp seats requested. PEGGY KELLERS – PREFERS SEATS D1 AND D2
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OCT 22 – John Stratton – CENTER, Seats 13 and 14 Sun • 2:00pm
*CONNECTICUT BOOTLEGGER QUEEN NELLIE GREEN"
"CONNECTICUT SOFTBALL LEGEND JOAN JOYCE"
"CONNECTICUT SOFTBALL LEGEND JOAN JOYCE" ©
FOREWORD WRITTEN BY GOLF GREAT JANE BLALOCK!
Joan Joyce has been inducted into an incredible twenty-one (21) Halls of Fame - starring at a high level in: Fast Pitch Softball, Basketball, Volleyball, Golf, and Bowling. Joan was a sought after basketball referee for 34 years, a successful University Golf Coach for 18 years, and a very succesful softball coach for over 60 years, At the time of her passing in March, 2022, Joan was the Head Coach of the women's softball team at Florida Atlantic University (FAU),
In her playing days, Joan was considered the greatest female softball pitcher in the world. Her accomplishments are too numerous to list, They include; a lifetime pitching record of 743-42, 150 no-hitters and a staggering 50 Perfect Games.
In basketball, Joan set an AAU single-game scoring record of 67 points.
In golf, Joan set a Ladies (LPGA) AND mens (PGA) record of only 17 putts in a round of golf. This record has not been broken in over 40 years!
Joan Joyce is considered by many to be the Greatest Female Athlete in Sports History.
There will always be female athletes who excel in an individual sport (Mia Lamm, Serena Williams, etc) - but there will never be another Joan Joyce!
* NOTE: ALL photos SHOWN BELOW AND in my books are COPYRIGHTED.
GALLERY: PHOTOS INCLUDED IN MY JOAN JOYCE BOOK:
GALLERY:
JOAN JOYCE BOOK SIGNING PHOTOS. (Recognize anybody?)
CONNECTICUT ROCK 'n' ROLL: A HISTORY ©
* FOREWORD WRITTEN BY KEN EVANS (THE FIFTH ESTATE BAND)
BACK COVER (Including Book Description)
Artists Shown: Bottom: The Highwaymen performing at a sold-out concert in the Montowese House as part of the Indian Neck Folk Festival in Branford, Connecticut; Rockville’s Legendary Gene Pitney (member of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame); Inset: Tina Weymouth (of Talking Heads).
"CONNECTICUT ROCK 'n' ROLL: A HISTORY" - PRESS RELEASE
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WHY I WROTE THIS BOOK:
1. To pay tribute to the many talented artists that called Connecticut their home. Included are artists who achieved fame on a National/International level, fame on a Regional level, and popularity on a local level.
2, To highlight the many cultural events that have been impacted by rock 'n' roll (e.g., Record Hops, Record Stores, Radio Station Disc Jockeys, After-school Hangouts, etc.)
BOOK REVIEWS
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Tony Renzoni has written a very thoughtful and well-researched tribute to the artists of Connecticut, and we are proud to have Gene included among them.
—Lynne Pitney, wife of Gene Pitney
An informative and entertaining musical journey through Connecticut’s place in rock and roll history, including the beautiful doo-wop song “In the Still of the Night” by the Five Satins, the Playmates’ novelty car tune “Beep Beep” and the creative cover of “Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead” by the Fifth Estate. Tony Renzoni also highlights several established artists who achieved latter-day success after relocating to the state, including Meat Loaf with his number one comeback hit “I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That).”
—Warren Kurtz, contributing editor, Goldmine, the music collector’s magazine
Our Alice Cooper band recorded the Billion Dollars Babies album in a mansion in Greenwich. Over the years, there have been many great musicians from Connecticut, and the local scene is rich with good music. Tony Renzoni’s book captures all of that and more. Sit back and enjoy the ride.
—Dennis Dunaway, hall of famer and co-founder of the Alice Cooper band
Rock ’n’ Roll music fans from coast to coast will connect to events in this book.
Strongly recommended!
—Judith Fisher Freed, estate of Alan Freed
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***WHERE TO PURCHASE "CONNECTICUT SOFTBALL LEGEND JOAN JOYCE":
* Available at: Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF STORES WHERE MY BOOKS CAN BE PURCHASED - SEE: WHERE MY BOOKS CAN BE PURCHASED AT THE END OF THIS WEBSITE
Book Reviews - Newspapers, publications, etc.
1. BOOK REVIEW IN THE NEW HAVEN REGISTER.
CLICK HERE: Branford man’s book explores Connecticut’s place in rock ‘n’ roll
2. "Connecticut Rock 'n' Roll: A History" discussed in the popular international Goldmine Magazine.
CLICK HERE: Book promotion in Goldmine Magazine
3. BOOK REVIEW IN THE SOUND NEWSPAPER.
4. BOOK REVIEW IN THE NORWALK HOUR NEWSPAPER/ONLINE.
5. BOOK REVIEW IN CONNECTICUT MAGAZINE.
6. Connecticut Magazine Holiday Gift Guide December, 2017 Edition (page 48):
CLICK HERE: https://mydigimag.rrd.com/publication/?i=455026#{"issue_id":455026,"p
Gallary of Artists Featured in "Connecticut Rock 'n' Roll: A History"
NOTE: ALL PHOTOS SHOWN BELOW AND IN MY BOOK ARE COPYRIGHTED.
Book Signings across the state:
"Connecticut rock 'n' roll: a history"
(Recognize anybody?)
*** FACEBOOK AUTHOR PAGES:
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"Connecticut rock 'n' Roll: A History":
https://www.facebook.com/connecticutrocknroll/
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"CONNECTICUT SOFTBALL LEGEND JOAN JOYCE":
https://www.facebook.com/joanjoycebook
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"CONNECTICUT BOOTLEGGER QUEEN: NELLIE GREEN":
https://www.facebook.com/Connecticut-Bootlegger-Queen-Nellie-Green-101108268789964/?ref=pages_you_manage
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"HISTORIC CONNECTICUT MUSIC VENUES: FROM THE COLISEUM TO THE SHABOO":
https://www.facebook.com/Historic-Connecticut-Music-Venues-From-the-Coliseum-to-the-Shaboo-108376544985892
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"connecticut's Girls of Summer: the Brakettes and the falcons"
https://www.facebook.com/Connecticuts-Girls-of-Summer-The-Brakettes-and-The-Falcons-108591742126166
WHERE MY BOOKS CAN BE PURCHASED:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=tony%20renzoni...
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Tony%20Renzoni
** SIGNED COPIES AVAILABLE AT:
* RJ Julia Bookstore (Madison) - (203) 245-3959
• Griswold Inn’s “Goods and Curiosities” store (Essex) – (860) 767–0210
• Seaside Home & Gifts – 172 Thimble Islands Rd, Stony Creek, CT (Branford) - (203) 208-0521
• Breakwater Books - Guilford
• Fairfie
* Waterbury Barnes & Noble - 235 Union Street Waterbury, CT -
agreebs - West Main St, Branford, CT
203-759-7125
Also available at:
* Naples, Florida Barnes & Noble (239) 598-5200
* UCONN Barnes & Noble Hartford
* North Haven Barnes & Noble
* Country Card Corner - 7 Klarides Village Dr, Seymour, CT - (203) 888-5944
* Emmy Lou's Ltd - 17 Hebron Ave #1, Glastonbury, CT - (860) 633-9565
* Anchor & Compass - 163 Main St, Deep River, CT - (860) 322-4327
* Bowerbird - 46 Halls Rd, Old Lyme, CT - (860) 434-3562
* Baker & Taylor Books - 251 Mt Olive Church Rd, Commerce, GA - (706) 335-5000
* That Bookstore (Wethersfield) - 860-529-5500
* American Wholesale Book Co. Inc - 4350 Bryson Blvd Florence, AL - 205-956-2186
* Ingram Book Company - 1 Ingram Blvd, La Vergne, TN - (615) 793-5000
* Bookazine Co Inc (Wharton) - 105 West Dewey Avenue, Wharton, NJ - (201) 339-7777
* Barnes & Noble Distribution - 1 Barnes and Noble Way, Monroe Township, NJ - (732) 656-7200
AVAIBLE AT SPECIFIC WALGREENS STORES INCLUDING.
IF BOOKS ARE SOLD OUT, ASK MANAGER TO REORDER:
WALGREENS - BRANFORD (East Main St store)
WALGREENS - NEW HAVEN
WALGREENS - RIVERSIDE
WALGREENS - PLAINVILLE
WALGREENS - BRIDGEPORT
WALGREENS - ORANGE
WALGREENS - ENFIELD
WALGREENS - FAIRFIELD
WALGREENS - ESSEX
WALGREENS - NEW BRITAIN
WALGREENS - OLD LYME
WALGREENS - New Milford
WALGREENS - CANTERBURY
WALGREENS - NEWINGTON
WALGREENS – UNCASVILLE
WALGREEENS – WATRBURY
WALGREENS - WATERBURY
IF BOOKS ARE SOLD OUT, ASK MANAGER TO REORDER!
Available at specific CVS stores, including:
CVS - BROOKLYN
CVS - STAMFORD
CVS - WATERFORD
CVS - UNCASVILLE
CVS - EAST LYME
CVS - STAMFORD
CVS – PUTNAM
* and many other outlets.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Photo by Mary Ellen Blacker
Tony Renzoni is the author of the well-received books Connecticut Rock ’n’ Roll: A History, Connecticut Softball Legend Joan Joyce and Connecticut Bootlegger Queen Nellie Green.
His new book Historic Connecticut Music Venues: From the Coliseum to Shaboo is the second in his series on rock ’n’ roll in Connecticut.
Tony is a rock ’n’ roll enthusiast. He was an avid collector of rock memorabilia for many years, amassing a record collection of over ten thousand vinyl records. One of his hobbies has been researching the rock ’n’ roll music scene in Connecticut, as well as nationally.
Tony had a thirty-eight-year career with the federal government. As district manager in Connecticut’s Fairfield County, he oversaw the operations of four field offices, serving over 100,000 beneficiaries. He wrote over one thousand weekly columns that were published in the Connecticut Post newspaper and on the paper’s website. Tony was a recipient of more than forty awards, including his agency’s highest honor award.
Tony Renzoni is a graduate of Sacred Heart University in Fairfield and is a lifelong resident of Connecticut.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tony Renzoni is a rock 'n' roll enthusiast. He has been an avid collector of over ten thousand vinyl records. One of his hobbies has been researching the national and local rock 'n' roll music scene, in Connecticut.
Tony had a thirty-eight year career with the Federal government. As district manager in Connecticut's Fairfield County, he oversaw the operations of four field offices, serving over 100,000 beneficiaries. Tony wrote over one thousand weekly columns that were published in the Connecticut Post newspaper and on the Connecticut Post website. Tony was a recipient of more than forty awards, including his agency's highest award.
A lifelong resident of Connecticut, Tony lives on the Connecticut. Tony Renzoni is a graduate of Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut.