Hey Mr. Terrana, if I recall correctly, in Mr. Rivera's book a brief reference was made to dinner time and the great importance of that when you and your brother were kids. Being a fellow Italian, I wanted to say that where I come from, a small town near Wilkes-Barre/Scranton PA (the town is Pittston)...we have a few Terrana families. I am friends with them and we sometimes talk about our passion for the best food in the entire world...Italian food! (the Terrana's I know are of Sicilian descent...I am Calabrese and Napolitan). Anyway, do you have any favorite dishes that you wouldn't mind mentioning here? Tripe is something that is popular here in Pittston, and I am sure you know what that is...or Baccala...and like I always said.."a day without sauce is like a day without sunshine!!! Everybody loves Italian food!!! Now I am getting hungry!!! tony
Tony, You just blew my mind. My people first settled in Pittston before moving to Detroit. The Terranas there must be some sort of relatives to me. Yes, I am Sicilian. Very interesting.
Ralph, the one man (Terrana) I know is a lawyer. He is about 55 years old. His name is John, and I believe his father was Jake, whom I believe has passed away in the last few years. But there are more of them who also live here in Pittston. Like you said, they are most likely related to you. It's a small world after all!!!! tony
A small world, for sure Tony. I wonder how they are related to me. My grandfather was Salvatore Terrana. He owned a sulpher mine in Sicily and sold his interest to pay his way to America. He obviously had relatives in Pittston that were coal miners. It was while there that he decided his sons would not grow up to be coal miners, and he moved to Detroit to work in the auto industry.
Yes Ralph, as a matter of fact I know of two ALU families and one TERRITO family. I went to school with a guy named Lorenzo Territo. They are all from this area too. A lot of Italians here in Pittston! And yes Dave, that is the Scranton they are talking about in the Chapin song. Scranton and Pittston are only a few miles apart.
It is incredible Ralph. I'm intrigued and quite interested where this story goes.
Thanks Tony. I love lots of types of music. Rare Earth is up there at the top but I also liked Harry Chapin's music. Normally I wouldn't like that type of thing and I didn't care for W.O.L.D. However I enjoyed the follow up "Cats in the Cradle" and once I heard "Dance Band on The Titanic" I was curious enough to pick up his Dance Band double LP in the bargain racks. I loved it. I discovered that Harry could really tell a story through a song. I'm not one for lyrics but some of those songs by Harry are very moving. If you get a chance take a listen to Corey's Coming. It'll bring tears to your eyes!! Harry was taken from us far too soon.
I think Harry appeared on Midnight Special around the time that Rare Earth played on the show. Maybe Peter or Ray might recall working with him?
Ralph. Yes, there is no doubt that you are related to those people. And this area is loaded with Italians who once settled here, and like you said a lot of them moved out to other states. But Pittston was most definitely a settlement area for the Italians!
UK DAVE...I know about Corey's Coming, and yes it is quite a touching Harry Chapin tale! I know what you mean about Harry. His story is quite a sad one too..his life and all..which is most likely why he was able to write from the heart so effectively!!!
No, I haven't got the DVD but I think I have the RE clip off Youtube.
In the UK I only ever saw one photo of Rare Earth in the music papers. It was not much bigger than a postage stamp and underneath it said 'Rare Earth are just one of the bands to feature on Midnight Special. Harry Chapin and Helen Reddy have also appeared'. Well, it was something along those lines. I remember being so excited because it was the first photo of the band playing on stage that I'd ever seen.
