A PERSONAL NOTE FROM SAMMY’S FILMMAKER
From the age of 16, he lived for music. Sammy loved success stories - "the ones that tell us about individuals who never realized that what they were trying to do was impossible."
No matter how strong the winds of life may have blown his way at times, he never veered from music. He also never completely realized until the last year of his life what he had accomplished and how many lives he had touched worldwide with his dream of music.
Three nights before his passing, Sammy asked me: " de, who wrote Body and Soul?" After a quick google search and my response, he proceeded to tell me about every recording of this song since the late 1930's and quickly added: "but I like my versions of it the best, " as he began humming Body and Soul.
After spending 20 years documenting this Maestro's life, I realize in that moment that no matter the years I had spent with him, I would never know the depth of his mastery of music.
What I learned from this man is that music was his sunlight and his moon, music kept the rhythm of his heartbeat, and mostly in the end all he ever desired was to share his music with the world.
From the moment I focused my camera on him, that late summer of 2001 at Capitol Studios, I bared witness to the essence of his soul and his purpose on this earth. From that first downbeat, I wanted to share those four recording days of This is the Moment with the rest of the world.
This 2024, Sammy would have been 100 years old. It is also the 100th anniversary of a benchmark when jazz began to be seen as a serious musical form and becoming increasingly popular all over America. 2024 is the perfect year to bring Sammy Nestico's story to the world.
Sammy entrusted me with his legacy and before he passed away, I promised him that I would share it with the world.
I am at the last stretch of filmmaking and I need to hire the best editor to bring his film home.
With your help, we can do it and there are so many ways that you can make this happen.
Join his website NEVER LET ANYONE STEAL YOUR DREAMS, The Sammy Nestico story
Accept our invitation to join his Facebook Page
Join his Instagram
Share his stories with your Circles. Talk about Sammy and keep on playin' to keep his music alive.
If you can or know someone who can, please consider making a tax-deductible donation
by making a purchase in his Music Gift Shop.
One of our Co-Executive Producers and generous supporter will match dollar for dollar up to $5,000.
Thank you, diane estelle Vicari
