It all began in October, 1904.

My great grandfather, Antonio Theobald Markezi, had just been hired to provide craft services for George M. Cohan's new Broadway show, "Little Johnny Jones" (which, as you may recall, featured the uniquely annoying tunes "Yankee Doodle Dandy" and "Give My Regards to Broadway").

It was a big break for my great-grandfather, who was affectionately known to friends and family as "Smesso." He had only a year earlier arrived in Manhattan after an arduous journey from "the old country" (New Jersey), and from what I can make out from his tattered and faded diaries, he took to his new job "like a dyspeptic whore to a carbonated phosphate."

Unfortunately, after just a few months, the show soon became a runaway success, and Mr. Cohan decided it was time for him to jump to one of the major-label catering companies. He summarily fired Smesso, claiming that he was sorry but that he had to "do what's best for my career."

Undaunted, but certainly embittered, Smesso decided to use his meager savings to publish a small magazine called Tarantism, which would (in his words) "take down the theater establishment....from the outside!" The first edition, which forwarded the theory that Cohan was "a big sell out" and "an agent of the Mensheviks," sold surprisingly well. The second printing, which revealed that actress Ethel Levey often came to dinner sans corset, and with "ankles unabashedly exposed," caused a minor stir.

Soon, Smesso was the undisputed "King of Rumormongers (Mid-City)," and in some circles, he is credited with inventing the concept of "tabloid journalism." Unfortunately, in July of 1906, district attorney Julius Mayer is credited with inventing the concept of "slander," and a few weeks later, Smesso again found himself penniless in New Jersey (yes, just like the song).

Much of the next forty years is hazy, as my great grandfather's diaries become increasingly rambling, and also Italian (which I can't read). In regards to his new vocation, I believe I can make out the word "nostra" which must surely mean "nose" or "nostril," and "cosa" which I am told means "house." So my guess is that he got into floral delivery.

Well there must've been a lot of money in flowers, even back then, because after he passed away, Smesso left a sizable inheritance to his three sons, as well as a small empire of barber shops and gentlemen's clubs. My grandfather and his two brothers then took over what my family, somewhat superfluously called, "the family business." The three brothers were successful for many years, and had many wonderful adventures and mistresses; until the Summer of 1955, that is, when inexplicably, they were all killed in separate meat-grinding accidents.

It was right about then that my father packed up his young family and bravely decided to follow his new lifelong dream of "opening some sort of store or something in California." I was only seven years old at the time, but I can still remember seeing the vast Pacific Ocean for the first time, and breathing deep her salty air (of course, she looked and smelled alot like the Atlantic Ocean, so it really wasn't that earth-shaking, but I remember it none the less).

As for my own business dealings, you ask? Well, I guess I don't really like to talk about myself. My father always taught me that modesty and humility are the most important of attributes, and also that you should never incriminate yourself, and that the damned Feds will do anything to get us. So enough with all the questions! Suffice it to say that this record label acts as a nice little tax shelter, and that it gives my wife something to do during the day. Oh, yeah, and that music is my, um, passion.

Anyhoo, I would like to personally thank you for being with us to celebrate our One Hundred Year Anniversary. Of course, we have some special things planned, including new CD releases from both Pushcar, and The Hectors, as well as some sort of a raffle for the kids. Wow. One hundred years of Tarantism! Would anyone believe it was possible if I hadn't just told you that it was?