Louis John Venanza was known as Lou Mann as a musician and band leader. The band was called The Lou Mann Band and was very popular in Little Italy in Baltimore. The band played pop music during the mid-1970’s until 2001 when Lou became sick. They played at most of the Little Italy dances at St. Leo’s Church, most of the restaurants that had live music in Little Italy, along with many of the major halls around the Baltimore area where Italian music was wanted, especially for Italian weddings.
L-R: Chris Poole, Bill Poole, Eddie Myers, Lou Vananza, Johnny Castagna, Shelley Hopkins
The Lou Mann Band featured Chris Poole (saxophone), Bill Poole (drums), Eddie Myers (trombone), Lou Vananza (trumpet and leader), Johnny Castagna (accordion), and Shelley Hopkins (guitar -of Shelley’s Emeralds).
The band was a mainstay at Bud Paolino’s Crab House Restaurant in east Baltimore and that were featured for many of the fund raising events for Governor William Donald Schaefer and many other politicians through the 1980’s and 1990’s.
Lou passed away in December 2003.- Article and photo courtesy of Frank Primestein.
