Mr. New Orleans: The Life of a Big Easy Underworld Legend

by Frenchy Brouillette, Matthew Randazzo V

Meticulously researched and supported by FBI records and official court documents, Mr. New Orleans is the story of how a shy Cajun altar boy from Marksville, Louisiana, became a championship bodybuilder, an unbeaten pro boxer, and finally a New Orleans criminal kingpin—without ever losing his affable nature. Simultaneously an action-packed true-crime memoir, (with a new twist on the Kennedy assassination) and an authentic street history of The Big Easy, here’s the rags-to-racketeering story that could only have come from America’s most infamous outlaw city.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, History, Biography, Crime

314 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2010

About the author

Born and raised in New Orleans, MRV is the author of four books, including 2010's Godfather Knows Best with Johnny Fratto, the first book signed to Igniter, the HarperCollins imprint of superstar authors Neil Strauss and Anthony Bozza. His latest release Breakshot: A Life in the 21st Century American Mafia is the incredible true story of Kenny Kenji Gallo, the Japanese-American criminal mastermind who became the most controversial gangster in the history of the modern American Mafia."

Reviews

[Sean Chick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun, crazy read that provides a look at a New Orleans that is no more, the high tide of the mafia. Much of how one enjoys this book depends on Brouillette. He is good at weaving a yarn, but some will be turned away by his informal tone, con man credentials, and exaggerations. Of the later, one might conclude he is lying, but much of what he says corroborates my own research and he is very self-deprecating. As a memoir, this one is certainly no less believable than the schlock powerful people churn out to defend their reputations, whether that be Heinz Guderian or Bill Clinton. Since the New Orleans mafia is little understood, this is among the few primary sources we have.

Oddly, for a book about sex, drugs, and the mafia, there is a moral of sorts here. We are all doing time, and it is up to us whether it is easy time or hard time. I will take that to heart and recommend this book to anyone interested in New Orleans in the 1950s and 1960s.

[Alex Diaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frenchy’s life story is like reading a Scorsese film. Hell, if Scorsese is on the hunt for something to adapt after Killers of the Flower Moon, it should be this book. Yes, it’s definitely self-aggrandizing, and I’d bet that not quite everything in these pages is all the way 100% true, but in this case I’m glad the truth didn’t get in the way of a good story. The story that unfolds from rural Louisiana to heart of the French Quarter is both engrossing and hilarious, with a dash of intrigue and a pinch of strong emotion (especially towards the end, goddamn). If you like New Orleans, or gangster movies, or even if you’re just looking for a book you can laugh at every so often, give this one a try.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frenchy Brouillette’s memoirs are a heaping helping of Cajun-style underworld history. Penned with coauthor Matthew Randazzo V, Mr. New Orleans is a personal guided tour through the Big Easy, with special attention paid to all that is sleazy and tawdry.

The book should not be mistaken for a volume of academic history. Though considerable research apparently was done on the New Orleans underworld, tales are presented with the goal of titillation rather than education. No discernible effort was made to find the verifiable details within the legends or to challenge the accuracy of sources.

The authors’ stated intention was to “preserve the spirit and history of the near-extinct New Orleans outlaw and the shadowy black market society he inhabited,” and that has been accomplished.

In a stream of obscenity-laced recollections, Brouillette describes his long career as a muscle-building, motorcycle-riding agent of “fun.” Whether a customer’s idea of “fun” was liquor, drugs, woman, gambling or whatever, Frenchy, who benefited from a family connection to an important Louisiana politician, was able and willing to provide.

Brouillette claims to have associated with local Mafia boss Carlos Marcello and considers him a personal hero. He speaks of the notorious crime boss with frequency and familiarity and provides details of Marcello’s relationship to his apparent crime boss predecessor Sylvestro “Silver Dollar Sam” Carollo.

Frenchy also spends a fair amount of time on the underworld connections to the Kennedy Assassinations. He links assassin Lee Harvey Oswald with the Marcello clan and moves on to blacken the reputation of crusading prosecutor Jim Garrison (not among Frenchy’s favorite people). He charges that Garrison was far from the determined anti-mob public servant portrayed in the movie JFK and was actually corrupt, lazy, paid-pal of the local New Orleans underworld.

It will be difficult for many — perhaps impossible for some — to accept that a muscle-bound Crescent City pimp had access to the better known names in New Orleans government and entertainment and served as a confidant of a powerful mob boss. That’s all really beside the point. Mr. New Orleans seeks to preserve an experience. Somehow gross exaggerations — even occasional fibs — seem to fit well within that experience.

[J.C. Stearns · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wild ride from start to finish! I read this as research for an upcoming writing project, and I was not disappointed. I learned a great deal about the structure of the organized crime scene, as well as some lovely details on the seedy side of New Orleans life, especially in the late 50s and early 60s.

Of particular interest is the details about the Kennedy assassination. I'm normally very critical of conspiracy theories, but the thoughtful and informative theory that Frenchy laid out is frightening in its reasonability.

More broadly, if you're looking for a humanization of some of the biggest names in the New Orleans criminal scene in the 60s, this book has a great deal of information to provide that sort of context.

[Bernard A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Must read for anyone interested in the American Mafia and anyone interested in New Orleans history. Or really just anyone who likes a good story. Frenchy Brouillette was a story teller for sure, but I don't believe a lier as many reviewers have suggested. At the end the author thanks people such as Sam and Vic Carillon as well as other in named underworld figures. People who could confirm a great deal of it. I had the privilege of meeting Frenchy in the 90s. To me he was one of the old French quarter characters of which I planned to be one day. I had the privilege of sharing a bottle in Jackson Square and listening to some of these same stories for which I'm grateful. Frenchy was murdered in 2015 marking the end of an error in The Big Easy. I'm grateful these stories were put to paper while he was still with us.

[CJ Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is very entertaining and a fascinating insider account of the rise and fall of New Orleans., but I suspect it contains a healthy amount of BS. I don't think someone who admits to being drunk or stoned most of the latter half of his life can have such an eidetic memory. I googled Frenchy after finishing the book and read that he was stabbed to death the year following its release. He certainly died with his boots on.

[James Boucher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

What a book! I read this non stop until I was finished and enjoyed every page. It flowed through time really well and the stories were captivating. I like how he told the golden era stories from his youth but then didn’t hesitate to save some space at the end for the more tragic later years. The book contains stories that include the who’s who of the time of American gangsters and movie stars. Very glad I chose to read this book.

[Sirin Nabokov · Rating 5 out of 5]

History of the glamorous sleaze of a New Orleans in the perpetual decline of it's own illusory and intoxicating allure.

I think that says it all other than the allegory resides in the life story of pimp Frenchy Brouillette who alternates between self-aggrandizement and self-pity, just like the city he loves.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the first the book promises to be part tall tale & part history & part homage to the Golden Age of New Orleans. The narrative voice is spectacular, the hilarious colloquialisms are worth reading on their own, but the stuff about the Kennedy Assassination is MIND BOGGLING & then the fantastic story about a famous 80's pop song is icing. Highly recommend!

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Colorful and funny biography is great right through the fascinating JFK assassination material, but definitely sags in the repetitive last third, much like Frenchy’s life itself.
Frenchy was stabbed to death in his home a few years after publication, but apparently no link to the book’s mobbed-up contents.

[Dustin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful Book

Great book with great stories from mid 20th century New Orleans. Anyone from Louisiana should find some connection on this book and understand a little better about the long time crookedness of the state in general

[Jeanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Terrible writing. Gets boring after you keep reading the same trash over and over I just couldn't read any more. I read half the book, thought I would never finish. I decided to go to the ending of the book and read that chapter, and just more of the same. I done.

[Elizabeth Sims · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth it for the Kennedy-assassination stuff alone. That's what I say.

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

if you aren't from NO or Marksville, you probably would think just so so

[David L Frank · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sounds like a lot of BS and bragging to me. Would be interesting to fact-check some of the content of this NOVEL. A lot of self serving information and fake build-up.

[Beth]

Don’t bother.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

New Orleans Guidebook

I love New Orleans because everything you see, hear, or experience is a half a lie, but it’s so convincing that you realize that the truth is really the whole lie.

[Sheri Flynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now I know who killed the Kennedy's

Second time I've read this masterpiece... Love the old time stories... I might read it a third time in a couple of years

[Collette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book if you know New Orleans. The characters are great and real. Loved it.

[Dennis_a]

too blasphemous for me. too sacrilegious for me.
discussed at Mid-city baton rouge book club.
rare opportunity: the group was able to speak to Mr.. Matthew.
5/22/2023

[Tim Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Colorful storytelling, a but repetitive but an entertaining book. Great explanation of the New Orleans organized crime world

[Seamus Roniger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Educational

I enjoyed the historical facts from the point of view the book offered.
I also liked how they presented the story.

[Connie B · Rating 1 out of 5]

Stopped quickly: not as Interested as I thought I would be.

[marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

An incredible memoir of the underworld of New Orleans and the life of Frenchy. Wild and a page turner.

[Scott Pacult · Rating 4 out of 5]

Time travel back to when New Orleans and the French Quarter were populated with larger than life characters.

[Kate. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This guy is full of sh*t.
A total a$$hole.
But dashing. And funny. And resilient.
I loved every word.

Throughout the French Quarter's golden age and on into its crack-addled years of decline, Frenchy Brouillette was a pimp. An old man. An escort's agent. A horse trainer. A body builder. An alcoholic. A man about town. A street psychologist. So. Is prostitution really a victimless crime? If it produces men like Frenchy, I would have to say "no." Frenchy, buy me a drink at Old Absinthe one of these days, baby.

SEVEN THINGS I LEARNED FROM THIS BOOK:
1) On prison, and life: The secret of life in federal prison is do the time you've got easy and don't leave hating. We've all got sentences to serve on Earth, and we have little control over it. All you control is whether you serve your time easy or hard. If you walk through the door on the other side with a smile on your face and no regrets, then you've won. All the pain and suffering and guilt you feel doesn't add up to a damn thing in the end. It evaporates like a hang over. If you did your time on Earth easy, then you won.
2) On self-delusion: "And to sell fun, you need to have fun, or at least look like it. For a half-century, my profession has been to party. When I raise hell, the wallets of everyone nearby somehow empty into mine."
3) On the love of a good dog: "I named my firstborn daughter Satan because it suited her personality. She was deadly pretty, a well-made 100 pound black girl with a charming face and bad intentions. Though she was sweet-natured, Satan was an extra helping of evil with strangers. She was my bodyguard, best friend, and my all-time bottom bitch. A black German shepherd who would kill anyone who even sniffed at me wrong. I would trade every second I spent with any of my ex-wives to get a clone of that dog."
4) Rationalizing violence against women in the sex industry: "The pressure of managing what is basically a polygamous marriage with numerous needy females outlaws is one reason why so many pimps become violent. You just get tired, exhausted, annoyed. To be honest, most pimps only have limited reservoirs of love, reason, and attention to give. To keep order, they must resort to the 'pimp hand.'"
5) The taxonomy of prostitution: There are three kinds of prostitutes -- workers, old ladies, and bottom bitches. Workers turn tricks without forming deep bonds with their pimp. If you turn your back, she will swipe your valuables and cash them in for crack rock. The old lady is sincerely in love with her pimp. She will stick around for years and defend you against other underworld characters. Her mortal weakness is jealousy. The bottom bitch is the rarest type. She is like a female suicide bomber or kamikaze devoted to your cause. If you leave a bottom bitch home with ten million dollars case, when you get back she'll have counted and banded the cash and hustled an extra $200 to add to the pile.
6) On how not to pick up a woman: "I pulled my beautifully polished Pontiac alongside her on Bourbon Street. She was blinded by my jewels and by my good looks... As the chocolate-eyed Gypsy stopped in her tracks..., I struck a relaxed pose and threw on my most rugged, romantic voice. 'Baby, how bout some drinks?' I asked like a hunk who always gets what he wants. Well, let's just say I was lucky to have that goddamn dog in the car to protect me. This pretty little thing swung a high-caliber, double barrel scowl at me that made a murder of crows fly away from a nearby oak tree."
7) On how to hire a working girl: If you have to beat a girl, you don't want her. If you have to hook her on drugs, you don't want her. If you need to mistreat a girl to keep her, you're not good enough at being a pimp.

[Sean Randall · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you've sat in a New Orleans bar and listened to the stories of the old guy next to you who claims to have broken laws and rubbed elbows with the famous and infamous of the city, and you're pretty sure 65% of his stories are bullshit but you're too entertained to pull yourself away... this book is for you.

[Abbey · Rating 4 out of 5]

POPSUGAR 2022: a book about a “found family”

To assuage my longing for the city that owns my heart, I try to read at least one book a year that takes place in New Orleans. This was the perfect answer to that longing. Frenchy Brouilette's tale of the New Orleans underworld from the 1950s through the 80s feels like a swampy Goodfellas. I don't doubt that many of the things that are regaled in this book happened, but I also don't doubt that there is a bit of embellishment. Tall tale or full truth or somewhere in between, this is a fun read.

There are some amber-hued nights in New Orleans when you find yourself sitting in an old bar, and you find yourself sitting next to someone who smells like Marlboros and Jack Daniels and Italian cologne, and will tell you tales from their unbelievable life for as long as you'll sit and listen. Sometimes there's a wayward brass band playing sleepy swingy notes. Sometimes the sun will come up, and the story still isn't over. That's what this book feels like.

[thelittlefalconer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. New Orleans is one of the most colorful books I've read. From the descriptions of New Orleans in the 50's, 60's to today, to the shady characters like Frenchy, Farish Cody and Norma Wallace... the big easy comes alive on the pages. Mr. New Orleans is about a kid named Frenchy, born in a small town in Louisiana, who comes to the big City looking for excitement. What he finds is a number of disreputable characters, makes a lot of friends, and becomes a pimp. Many of his friends are New Orleans mafia and there is even a chapter about their connection (in Frenchy's opinion) of the Kennedy Assassination. The crazy thing about this book is that it is a true story. Frenchy is still alive and apparently still a pimp down in New Orleans. I would highly recommend this book to any New Orleans fans, mafia buffs, and anyone who likes a colorful story and a few laughs.

[Brad Justice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to my brother for getting this to me and to a friend for pointing it out/recommending it.

I really enjoyed this tale, and while it is classified as Non-fiction; well, you can't bullshit a bullshitter.

But, as the great sage and eminent author once said, "it is the tale, not he who tales it". So while I might question the veracity of Mr. New Orleans and his tale, I did enjoy the story.

Plus, there are some great quotes in it, from Frenchy and others:

"I'd say that I'm a lover, not a fighter, but generally I'm just too lazy to bother with either. Both are hard work. I'm more of a drinker."

"Maturity is something that comes, if ever, with age. I'm still waiting for it to arrive. It appears to be takin' its sweet ass time."

"I wish to inform you that I possess in the highest degree every vice of a gentleman!"