Joe Piro was the son of an Italian Tailor who would grow up to be crowned the "King of dance" and Instructor for the Mob!. Won the 1942 Harvest Moon Ball and later opened his own Dance Studio in Manhattan and taught many famous people such as Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Margot Fonteyn, Ray Bolger, The Duke and Duchess of Windsor and Lucy Baines Johnson ( President Johnson's daughter) to dance such dances as the Jitterbug, Cha-Cha, Mambo, Twist and Watusi as well as others.

   In World War II, he served in the Coast Guard and upon his return started dancing in many nightclubs and contests as well as later becoming the main teacher at the Palladium In the 1950's. He would eventually become a board member of prestigious Friars Club.

   The "Killer" was also said to have taught such infamous people as Al Capone. Piro got his nickname from his ability to wear  down many partners over a period of hours through dancing and a "Killer" dancing style. (Not his connection to the mob as some people have said.) He was married to Lucienne and has a daughter and step son and two sisters. Joe Piro died of kidney disease in New York City hospital, he was 68 years old.