Tag Archives: Music

Susan Murphy’s “GIRL GROUP: A Daughter’s Tale” A Jersey City Story about The Carmelettes All-Girl Singing Group

Opens Feb. 7th at the Loew’s Jersey City

February 7th  show is sold out -a second show is being added at a later date

JERSEY GIRLS 

 By Sally Deering

Girl Group, practicing with piano for show
‘GIRL GROUP: A Daughter’s Tale”

Before Beyoncé, and Madonna, Mariah, Aretha and the all-girl groups of the 1960s, there was The Carmelettes, a trio of teen Jersey girls from the Marion section of Jersey City who sang original pop tunes in tight harmonies. It was 1959, and the girls Angela LaPrete, Vicky Cevetello and Virginia Verga recorded two songs, “My Foolish Heart” and “Promise Me a Rose.” A year later, they cut two more records, “Aching for You” and “Something Tells Me I’m in Love.” 

 It’s a Jersey City tale that would be long forgotten if not for Susan Murphy, Angela LaPrete’s daughter, a professional singer herself who wrote a play with music about her mother’s experience in “GIRL GROUP: A Daughter’s Tale” to be presented at the Loew’s Jersey City in Journal Square – just blocks from where The Carmelettes were born – on Sat, Feb. 7 at 7 pm. (Tix $20 at www.brownpapertickets.com). A reception follows. Continue reading Susan Murphy’s “GIRL GROUP: A Daughter’s Tale” A Jersey City Story about The Carmelettes All-Girl Singing Group

THE COMEBACK KID-Everything Old is New Again when Neil Sedaka Performs at Bergen PAC in December 12th, 2014

By Sally Deering

 River View Observer Color_Neil_2012_Publicity_Shot_#1 (2)“Love Will Keep Us Together”, “Where the Boys Are”, “Breaking Up is Hard to Do” “Laughter in the Rain” – back in the day these songs swept teens off their feet and into the world of Grammy-winning singer/songwriter and international legend, Neil Sedaka.

Accompanying himself at the piano, Sedaka wrote and sang soulful love songs that made teen girls cry and filled teen boys with youthful longing for that special sweetheart. With a voice like buttercream frosting on a 7-layer cake, Sedaka’s sweet vocals keep on going and at 75, Sedaka will be back at the piano crooning his oldies and most recent recordings on Fri, Dec. 12 at the Bergen Performing Arts Center in Englewood.

Sedaka will be in the spotlight for one night only to give the audience a chance to hear a master songwriter in an intimate setting. With a look back, Sedaka will sing songs that made him famous and those he wrote that were performed by legends like Elvis, Connie Francis and the Captain and Tennille. During his 50-year career, Sedaka has sold millions of records and penned hundreds of tunes with lyricists Howard Greenfield and Phil Cody.

READ THE ENTIRE INTERVIEW CLICK MORE Continue reading THE COMEBACK KID-Everything Old is New Again when Neil Sedaka Performs at Bergen PAC in December 12th, 2014

PIANOMAN- Master Piano Tuner Aart Markenstein Keeps Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder, Tony Bennett and other Music Legends On Key

By Sally Deering

In Hoboken, on the 4th floor of the Neumann building on Observer Highway, Aart Markenstein tunes some of the most beautiful and unique pianos ever made. During his career as a professional piano tuner, Markenstein has kept the pianos of some of the world’s greatest music legends in tune. Taught by a master tuner – like Luke Skywalker learning from Yoda how to become a Jedi – Markenstein’s tunings have been considered “perfection” by music professionals.

Markenstein has worked with music legends including Beyonce, U2, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Tony Bennett, Cher, The Eagles, K.D. Lang, Cyndi Lauper, the Black Crowes, Aerosmith, James Taylor, Ringo Starr, Chuck Berry – and so many more. He tuned the keyboards for Aretha Franklin’s performance at the 53rd Inaugural Ball and when Bob Dylan played in Hoboken last year, Markenstein tuned his piano, too.

Markenstein owns his own business Aart in America Piano Company in Hoboken and his office is a large space filled with an array of pianos from a Steinway Grand to a small upright brought to Markenstein for repairs by a member of John Mellencamp’s band. Aart in America is a full-service piano company where Markenstein repairs and rents out pianos and if you’re a lucky visitor, he might even play a tune because not only is Markenstein an accomplished tuner, he’s a stellar musician.

Helping Markenstein with Aart in America Piano Company is his wife of 32 years, Eileen, who were childhood sweethearts growing up in the Marion section of Jersey City (right behind Journal Square). Continue reading PIANOMAN- Master Piano Tuner Aart Markenstein Keeps Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder, Tony Bennett and other Music Legends On Key

“Your So-Called Friends”-Local Rock Band Takes Touring Detour to Debut in New York

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your-so-called-friends-pic-2 By Sally Deering

 

 Life on the road can be an exhausting and liberating experience for any performer but for a rock band on tour, the road becomes a testing ground for new material, a venue to get the word out about the music and – with any luck – a step closer to a record deal. New York-area rock band Your So-Called Friends has been touring the East Coast, southeast and Midwest since October 2010, playing its original tunes in local clubs and with each show, tightening grooves and polishing their performance. On March 5th, Your So-Called Friends takes a break from the road to make their New York City debut at Crash Mansion on the Lower East Side. Continue reading “Your So-Called Friends”-Local Rock Band Takes Touring Detour to Debut in New York

ACCLAIMED SINGER SONGWRITER JENNIFER KNAPP CONTINUES TOUR ACROSS THE COUNTRY -Will Play Maxwells In Hoboken

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LETTING GO

FIRST ALBUM IN SEVEN YEARS

jenniferknappphoto1hirescrediteyephotographySinger songwriter Jennifer Knapp returned from a seven-year hiatus with her new album Letting Go (Gravlin/RED), released on May 11th 2010. The Grammy nominated, Dove Award winning artist is currently on a cross-country tour, which included performances at SXSW and the re-vamped Lilith Fair.

Recorded in Nashville, Letting Go was produced by Paul Moak (Mat Kearney, Martha Wainwright, and Amy Grant) and features ten intimate folk, country-tinged rock songs showcasing her astonishing straightforwardness and spirituality. 

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  Continue reading ACCLAIMED SINGER SONGWRITER JENNIFER KNAPP CONTINUES TOUR ACROSS THE COUNTRY -Will Play Maxwells In Hoboken

The 2nd Annual Village Art & Flea Market Held on Saturday May 15th Brings Out Huge Crowd

River View Observer Photographer Captures the Event on Cameramay-2010-4th-st-festivalmay-2010-4th-st-festival-7may-2010-4th-st-festival-8-painer

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On Saturday, May 15th The Village Neighborhood Association, with the support of 4th Street Arts,  hosted The 2nd Annual Village Art & Flea Market. A few thousand people came out to shop and mingle…

Taking place at the crossroads of 4th Street, Newark Avenue and Brunswick Street, the event featured an array of local artists’ works, the finest up-and-coming bands New Jersey has to offer, and delicious food from local vendors.

See more photos of the day… Continue reading The 2nd Annual Village Art & Flea Market Held on Saturday May 15th Brings Out Huge Crowd

Introducing the One and Only “Johnny Martin”

Successful  Businesman and Former Hudson County Resident Follows His Passion for Music   by Evelyn Bonilla

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Record producers will tell you that in order to make it in the music business you have to be equipped with; a good strong voice, loads of confidence and the ability to perform on the spot, and to have passion! The passion to give it all you’ve got and the drive not to stop until you get there!

Just ask Johnny Martin (aka John Marino) a singer whose drive and passion have propelled him to record his first CD, “Johnny Martin, I Will Always Love You.” Continue reading Introducing the One and Only “Johnny Martin”