“the payola chronicles”

how the mafia & the Cia created rock & roll

by justin stamm

Read the riveting story of Nicky Carbo & the Mafia’s partnership with the CIA to create the Rock & Roll culture of the 1950s, & why they did it.

Set in a noir setting and starting in the glamourous year of 1954, Carbo leads a crew that partnered with the CIA through “Operation Mockingbird” to influence culture change by promoting Rock music on the radio, in the record companies, in the performance halls & monopolizing what records went into the jukeboxes.

Commanding a position of control & strength between the two worlds of the Mafia, as Nicky Carbo, & the civilian world, as Joseph Kelly, Carbo bears the heavy weight of power as he struggles to overcome his PTSD from World War II.

At 35, & with little time for serious relationships, he finds himself trapped in a love triangle forced to choose between his mistress Jackie, an aspiring singer, & Sophia, who is his ideal woman.

Carbo bears the title of Underboss of the Alo crew well though, using his command of Machiavellian tactics to accomplish his purpose with ease at every turn, in business & politics, with music as just one of his jurisdictions of power.

This fictional Mafia pulp styled crime drama is based on true events & real life characters, with some of the names changed for the sake of the innocent.

Originally written as a TV series, “The Payola Chronicles” brings you the Original Series Scripts for each Episode, along with pulp styled concept art, commentary & exclusive never seen before photos of the author’s Godfather, real life Mafia Boss Vincent “Jimmy Blue Eyes” Alo (portrayed in Godfather II as Johnny Ola) & Meyer Lansky as well.

Welcome to The Payola Chronicles.

“Over the years, I've read a lot of things written on the Mob and everybody gets it wrong on how they operated. Most of what you know about them is from movies, and most of it is bullshit. Nobody that I've seen can write about these shit heels like him. The characters, the history, and the politics… Nobody.

— Nick Behnen, Old Las Vegas Gangster & Casino Manager

“It is a distinct honor to be involved with this intriguing & riveting story on the underbelly of the music industry. In consideration of my 26 year close & personal relationship with Frank Sinatra, this compelling project is uniquely familiar.”

— Tony Oppedisano, Frank Sinatra Manager

“you hit a home run with this. best story on the mob and how they really were that i’ve read.”

Freddy F. - Mob Associate

"I knew both Jimmy Alo and Meyer Lansky since 1968, and spent an untold amount of time with them. In fact, after going on tour in a band that was part of the early Rock and Roll era, I opened a barbershop on 71st in Miami Beach called the "Hair Designers", that became a hangout for Italian and Jewish gangsters from all around the area. I knew all the Mob bosses...Sam Giancana, Vincent the

Chin... Everyone.

Justin has the backing from many many people from this world on the historical setting and accuracy of this story. He wove in the right amount of fiction to create the best narrative possible, without making the wrong people angry. He accomplished this task incredibly well. Bravo and well done."

Jeff Pearl - Mob Associate

What people are saying!

what’s inside?

  • The Original Script Book for the “Payola” TV Series

  • Concept Art for the show

  • Never seen before or published photos of mafia boss

    Vincent “Jimmy Blue Eyes” Alo & his partner Meyer Lansky

  • Foreword by Nicky Behnen

About justin

Justin is a Screenwriter, author, show creator, podcaster, researcher on government criminality & a documentary director, producer & speaker on Mafia history. He has spent decades interviewing real life Mafia characters like Mafia Boss Vincent "Jimmy Blue Eyes" Alo.

Additionally, he wrote “Code Name Zorro”, the real life story on the assassination ofMartin Luther King jr in 2001. Justin is also a husband & father residing in Southern California.