House Party Tonight  chronicles the career of saxophonist Don Hill and The Treniers and is told in words and pictures. Co-authored by Jazzin’ Jeanne Brei and true crime author and Las Vegas mob historian, Dennis Griffin.

The Treniers, pioneers of rock and roll, were one of the longest running musical groups in history, performing continuously from 1948 through 2003. They played all across the United States from Los Angeles to Boston, Chicago, New York, Miami, Atlantic City and all points in between. But their favorite venue was Las Vegas, where they were a staple in the casino lounges for decades. A black group, early in their career many of the establishments they performed in were white-only and The Treniers had to be escorted into and out of the venue by a white person. But the discrimination of those early days didn’t stop them. They persevered and became one of the most sought after groups in America and beyond.

Legendary saxophonist Don Hill played with famous bandleaders such as Louis Armstrong and Gerald Wilson before becoming a founding member of The Treniers. He was still with the group when they finally disbanded in 2003. Today, at the age of 91, Don plays with the Speakeasy Swingers in Las Vegas and his sax continues to produce the sweet sounds it did 54 years ago.

 Don tells his remarkable story in  House Party Tonight, supplemented with dozens of photos taken over the years. This book is a must read for anyone interested in rock and roll or black entertainment history.

The book can be ordered through Houdini Publishing at http://www.houdini.com/books/702-house-party-tonight-the-career-of-legendary-saxophonist-don-hill.html

Dennis N. Griffin

Dennis Griffin retired in 1994, after a 20-year career in investigations and law enforcement in New York State.  He wrote his first novel,The Morgue, in 1996.

Griffin’s debut in non-fiction, Policing Las Vegas – A History of Law Enforcement in Southern Nevada, was released in April 2005. It covers the evolution of law enforcement in Las Vegas and Clark County from the city’s establishment in 1905. His second non-fiction, The Battle for Las Vegas – The Law versus the Mob, tells the story of the Tony Spilotro era in Las Vegas from 1971 thru 1986. It was released in July 2006 and was a Computer Times Editor’s Selection in October 2006. His third non-fiction, released in July 2007, was CULLOTTA, the biography of former Chicago and Las Vegas mobster Frank Cullotta. His latest effort is Surviving The Mob, the biography of former Gambino crime family associate Andrew DiDionato, which hit store shelves in January 2011.

Dennis is host of the popular radio show Crime Wire and is a regular contributor to the blog, Time’s Up!. He also serves as a consultant to the Vegas Mob Tour and is managing partner of Bear Media Consultants.