Secrets revealed:Domonic Chianese who plays Uncle Junior on HBO's The Sopranos, is a country singer in New York and Connecticut.

Well, perhaps that's a bit overstated. Dominic, here as part of the Nashville Independent Film Festival, plays guitar and sings. And he favors country music, but a kind he calls "Neopolitan Country."

"It's got a sweetness to it," he explains.

Throw in some Italian folkish songs, and you've got a one-man show that's drawing hundreds at clubs in the Northeast. It wasn't always that way, though.
The crowds really picked up after The Sopranos became popular.

"Now I got this attention," he says. "People come and say, 'You mean Uncle Junior sings?'"

Who's the guy with the funny hat and wings?

Domonic Chianese of HBO's hit series The Sopranos was here because he's in Under Hellgate Bridge, screened yesterday at the Nashville Independent Film Festival.

The cast has other well-known actors, including Frank Vincent of GoodFellas fame and Michael Rodrick of Another World fame. All three were at a private party Tuesday night at BMI.

And so was the American Airplanes pilot who flew them from New York to Nashville.

Huh?

Seems one of the film's producers sent a note to Capt. Paul Lady to say the cast was on the plane. The good captain got on the intercom system to tell fellow passengers that the famous were among them.

Then flight attendant Glynda Dimauro brought cast members a free botle of champagne.

That in turn prompted the cast to invite the flight crew to the BMI soiree. And the good captain, who showed up, was mighty impressed.

"I've had other celebrities fly with me. Garth Brooks used an alias. Elizabeth Berkely (of TV's Saved by the Bell) was (not particularly nice).

"These guys were totally approachable. Niceness begets niceness."
(The festival is being held at Green Hills Cinema 16 through Sunday. For a complete festical schedule, visit www.nashvillefilmfestival.org. For advance tickets to all festival offerings - $3.25-$6.75 - visit www.ticketweb.com or call 1-800-956-4827. Tickets also are available at the box office.)