Italian-American writer, Dr. J. Michael Niotta, looks at the West Coast you won’t find in the palm tree infested brochures. The crime historian and author of 4 nonfiction titles has appeared on Paramount+, Showtime, Disney+, and the History and Travel Channels and has lectured at the Las Vegas Mob Museum, the Adventurers’ Club of Los Angeles, and more. Niotta has also delivered programs on the Italian enemy alien situation stateside during WWII for the Order of Sons & Daughters of Italy in America (OSDIA) and the San Diego Central Library’s Rebellious Miss Breed program.
J. Michael with Geoff Schumacher, VP of Programs & Exhibits at the Las Vegas Mob Museum, 2022
As the eldest great grandson of West Coast boss Jack Dragna (“Perhaps the only classic ‘godfather’ that the city has ever known,” Los Angeles Times) and a blood relative of Placido Rizzotto (a trade union labor leader kidnapped and murdered in Corleone for opposing the mafia in 1948), organized crime has long been a field of study. More than a quarter century of research and interview spill heavily into his work, and has even influenced his mixed media art.
Placido Rizzotto – Jack Dragna
J. Michael on set for Mafia Spies with Creative Chaos VMG Co-Founders Ilan Arboleda and Tom Donahue, Big Bad Sound, Lincoln Heights, Los Angeles, 2023
Although Niotta holds a business doctorate (PhD), a Masters in Human Behavior, and an A.S. in Information Systems Technology, His time behind a desk failed to severe his blue collar. The son of a Teamster and Beautician has worked as a plumber, mobile diesel mechanic, dive bar doorman, Warehouseman, and furniture mover. And as an Iraqi Freedom Veteran with more than 24 years of enlisted service, it’s no wonder a working class mindset and dialect feeds so directly into his prose. Bleak yet witty, Niotta’s narrative displays a cynically funny way of looking at life and recapping history.
Cup of Joe at Musso & Frank’s, Hollywood – Derby Classic Photo
J. Michael is the founder and president of the El Rey Beer Club, a nonprofit social club paying tribute to his great grandfather’s Bay Area brewery of the 1930s. he and his fellow club members can be found brewing, Bottling, and Canning year round at Citizen Brewers in San Diego. Niotta is also a co-founder of the Los Angeles Mafia Facebook group, of which he is still an Admin. In years prior, he served as Editor in Chief and Columnist of two custom culture publications and had the distinct pleasure of publishing works by Dan Fante, Arthur Nersesian, S.A. Griffin, and others.
Recreating Great Grandpa George Niotta’s Gold Age Beer with the El Rey Beer Club at Citizen Brewers, San Diego
Niotta in His first TV appearance with fellow Mafia researcher Richard Warner, Travel Channel
Niotta first gained notoriety as a musician performing under the stage name “Highway J,” and was lucky enough to share bills with such Influential acts as Social Distortion, Face to Face, Swingin’ Utters, Deadbolt, the Ghastly Ones, Mad Sin, and More. Before Filling in on Upright Bass for Rip Carson or touring Europe and the Southwest United States with SoCal “neo” Rockabilly act, Hard Fall Hearts, he played electric bass for several garage and punk bands.
On Stage with HARD FALL HEARTS at Ink N Iron, Long Beach, CA
Niotta was Also among the first cohort of The Rosie Network’s Service 2 CEO entrepreneur program and a Longtime member of the Conquistadors Car Club of San Diego.
He is a devoted husband and father who now resides in Southern Nevada with his family.
J. Michael Niotta PhD | Official Site 