He was called Skinny Joey since the 80s because he has a first cousin named Joey Merlino also (Yogi's son) who they called Fat Joey. The other Joey Merlino (Yogi's son) has always lived down the shore in Ventnor. There's also another Lawrence Merlino whose around my age (Yogi's Grandson) who was always down the shore I got to know through the club scene in AC, hes down in Florida now last I checked but I do not do nightclubs anymore like I did back in my 20s.

Interesting tidbit, the younger Lawrence Merlino always used to roll with Skinny Joey's oldest daughter not many people know about that he didn't have with Rita. She always lived down at the shore too in AC. I think she lives on an island in the Caribbean now last I checked, again I lost touch with that AC club scene years ago. Haven Nightclub in AC is officially RIP now!!!!! The Haven days

-Dante