SUMMER MUSIC FOR A CAUSE: GLEN BURTNIK’S BRITISH INVASION TO BENEFIT MARY’S PLACE, OCEAN GROVE. SAT JULY 30^TH PARAMOUNT THEATER ASBURY PARK   by Calvin Schwartz

Coming out of the sixties, which is defining for me, the music irreplaceable and passionate, it seems much more relevant and meaningful when sixties music coalesces with a contemporary poignant cause. It’s the perfect union for me. I spent the decade of the sixties searching. I still search. When the classic music of the decade finds a cause to give back to, there’s that magic carpet ride back to the future. Glen Burtnik’s British Invasion devotes its energy to Mary’s Place making for a perfect evening along the Jersey Shore. Once again, thanks to Sammy Boyd Productions for bringing this night together.

The British Invasion Concert will benefit Mary’s Place by the Sea located in Ocean Grove, NJ. Their mission is to serve women with cancer and support their healing: mind, body and soul. Tickets available at the Stone Pony Box Office, Paramount Theater Box Office and through TicketMaster.com

Mary’s Place by the Sea, a non-profit organization, launched their organization in 2009 with a concert at the Paramount Theatre. “Music has always been a huge part of our guests and their path to healing,” Founder Michele Gannon says, “We feel honored to have supporters come out and experience the impact music has on all of us.” This past year, Bobby Bandiera, Jon Bon Jovi, Deborah Harry, Tim McLoone, Gary US Bonds and more held their Annual Hope 8 concert for Mary’s Place, Quincy Mumford continued his tradition with a Holiday Show at the Stone Pony and now Sammy Boyd Productions & Glen Burtnik bring Mary’s Place back to the Paramount, where it all began.  “We are grateful to our amazing community for their continuous support” says Co-Founder Maria McKeon.

Marys Place by the Sea provides an innovative approach to caring for women during and after treatment. Guests are provided with unconditional care during their time of extreme need at NO COST. It is the mission of Mary’s Place by the Sea to give women with cancer a place to rest and recuperate during and after the rigors of their cancer treatments. The volunteers care for these women so they may focus on their healing gaining strength to win the battle with cancer. Guests are welcome to stay a few hours or a few days, if needed. Some of the services offered to guests are oncology massage, nutritional counseling, guided meditation, yoga, journaling, spa services and more. The first care center was opened in the summer of 2009 and they just finished building a 10-bedroom home so that they will never have to tell a woman she has to wait to receive these services. Over 5,000 women have been been guests at Mary’s Place by the Sea and have come from England to Alaska to experience the love and support. Privately held fundraisers like this are helping build the home and continue the mission to help women across the nation fight cancer.

Mary’s Place by the Sea is a nonprofit 501(c) 3 organization.      https://www.marysplacebythesea.org/missionandhistory

To watch a video to learn more about Mary’s Place please go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RpsAeOqVmw

Glen Burtnik and friends will be performing the best of the music from the British Invasion era at the Paramount Theater in Asbury Park, New Jersey. Music from legendary bands as The Kinks, Jethro Tull, Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, Petula Clark, Joe Cocker, Led Zeppelin, Mary Hopkin and more will be performed.

Burtnik continues his tradition of putting together the most talented artists, from both the local and national music scenes, to create not just a performance but a musical experience. This show will feature a special appearance by The Weeklings; performing the music of The Beatles and their own Beatle inspired songs.  Other special guests include Mark Hudson, Christine Martucci, Williams Honor, Jillian Rhys, Sal Boyd, Freedom Bremner, Neil Thomas, Fawn, Reagan Richards, Tommy Shafer, The Barefoot Strings, The Maximum Horns with more to be announced!

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Last night I had the privilege of honoring some of New Jersey’s BEST at Asbury Park’s magnificent Convention Hall Theater. My co-host Calvin Schwartz and I enjoyed greeting the honorees on the red carpet. The New Jersey Hall of Fame recognizes and celebrates Garden State Citizens for their outstanding accomplishments. I am always impressed with the diversity of over achievers that are chosen for each year’s ceremony. Year’s passed the Inductees have included Jack Nicholson, Bruce Springsteen, Dizzy Gillespie, Martha Stewart, Joyce Carol Oates, Tony Bennet, Whitney Houston, John Travolta, Dionne Warwick, Michael Douglas and Bruce Willis. And this year’s honored were equally impressive:

Class of 2015

James Fenimore Cooper – America’s National Novelist – “Last of the Mohicans”

William Fox of 20th Century Fox – His first film studio was in Fort Lee New Jersey

Lewis Katz – Founder and Director of Katz Foundation

Kool & The Gang –  “Jungle Boogie”, “Funky Stuff”, “Ladies Night”, “Celebration”

Jack H. Jacobs – Medal of Honor, McDermott Chair of Humanities, On-Air Analyst for NBC

Derek Jeter – Five Time World Series Champion, Yankees All-Time Career Leader

Frank R. Lautenberg – Represented NJ in the United States Senate for five terms.

Bernard Marcus – Co-Founder of Home Depot

Christie Rampone – FIFA Women’s World Cup Champion & 3 time Olympic Gold Medalist

Jon Stewart – Television Host of The Daily Show – winning 18 EmmyAwards

Dick Vitale – American Basketball Sportscaster & Analyst, ABC, ESPN, NCAA, Olympic Games

Carla Harris – Vice Chairman, Global Wealth Management, Managing Director and Senior Client Advisor at Morgan Stanley and Gospel Singer

The evening began with the theater booming from the tremendous sound of the Glen Burtnik Band. Soon after we were treated to a wonderful rendition of Theme from New York, New York sung by Joe Piscopo, the Hall Of Fame’s Host. Among laughter and cheers Joe Piscopo sung about New Jersey’s greatest and most memorable places to love and avoid. Throughout the evening one by one the Honorees and their families accepted the prestigious awards. All who attended the ceremony that evening could sense the great privilege that each inductee felt who stood on the stage that night.

(Special thanks to photographer: Richard Elliott Hoynes)

After a great evening in Asbury, rubbing elbows with my long-lost cousin Dick Vitale, and serenading “Ladies Night” to Kool & the Gang, I am settling down with my better half to rent the “Last of the Mohicans” in honor of New Jersey’s Hall of Fame. Looking forward to next year’s Ceremony and finding out who will be chosen from the many supremely talented Jersey Citizens. Congrats to all New Jerseys Hall of Fame Inductees and Good Luck to all the Hopefuls!

TaraJean McDonald Vitale

Journalist & Radio Host & On-Air Personality, NJDiscover

yourstrulyTJ@wordpress.com

A week or so prior to Marc Ribler and Friends, A Singer Songwriter/Classic Rock Tribute Night, appearing at McCloone’s in Asbury Park on Wednesday April 25th instead of the usual Tuesdays, I met Marc on Facebook of all places and we did the friending thing. I also asked to officially report and film his concert for NJ Discover TV. The digital age produces rapidity in response time and in the actual bonding (friending) processes. The next night we morphed from Facebook to cell phone and in our live voice communication phase, we discovered concentric circles of commonality; from ancestral homelands, spirituality, parallel universes, Ray Kurzweil and Singularity and Bob Dylan, who was one of the artists they were doing a tribute to on Wednesday. A special jetty at Belmar’s Shark River waits for a future communicative phase.

Marc is a singer songwriter, guitarist and a producer. Being a consummate groupie, I knew he sang with Carole King and Roger McGuinn and opened for Celine Dion, Michael Bolton, James Taylor and Sly and the Family Stone to name a few.Wednesday’s concert was billed as a tribute to Dylan, The Band and honoring the life of Levon Helm. Communicative chemistry is wonderful.  In addition to Marc Ribler’s amazing musical gifts, he exudes genuineness, warmth and a feeling you’ve known him all along; we finally met live without Memorex an hour before the concert. The venue at Mc Cloone’s overlooking Asbury Park’s ocean and Convention Hall from high on the second floor is purist perfect for my music absorption and appreciation. When lights later bathed Convention Hall, just beyond the rear window, in multi colors, a warm ethereal feeling evolves; maybe it’s the subliminal of a ‘working class’ rock star and son of Asbury Park’s first album scene.

Appearing with Marc this night were Jeff Kazee, John Conte and Lee Finkelstein. But in the air ducts, were particulates of notions of more of Marc’s surprise friends showing up. Suddenly Southside Johnny was on stage as one of Marc’s friends. I was just four feet and a few inches away from the stage and I was beginning to feel this heavenly notion that would sense surround me the rest of the night and take a time-released form for weeks to come. Earlier it was ‘The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down’ and I pinched my arm (I really do that for a reality check). Along came Glen Burtnik and the piece of heaven deal was sealed. A recurring theme for me as I discover: damn, how can anyone miss the talented magical concerts that Marc brings on Tuesdays; perhaps folks have powerful umbilical ties to their old 1960’s Castro convertible pull-out sofa. What I was hearing was such a gift. Then more ‘pieces of heaven’: ‘Knocking on Heaven’s Door.’ And ‘The Mighty Quinn.’  Hearing ‘The Weight’ which was so powerful, it reminded me once again that after seeing ‘Easy Rider’ in 1969 and hearing that song, I was afraid to even travel to South Jersey. All renditions sublime this heavenly night.

To complete my “little piece of heaven” journeyed experience was the auditory absorption of a few of Marc’s original songs.  He’s a songwriter, I said to myself . So when his lyrical originality flowed like an ornate fountain in front of a columned forum of collectivism, I was  innervated and moved. Movement continues into this writing. I’m  going to continue to explore Marc’s original music. And as they say in my journalistic profession; update at eleven, one day, down this incredible pastel yellow brick road I’ve found.

The rest of Marc’s friends sealed my piece of heaven: Marc Muller, Rosemary Conte, Tom Bowes, Paul Avrutin, Jake Nozek, Mary McCrink, Kristian Rex and Tony Pallagrosi whom it seems, I bump into several times a week.  Mary McCrink; her magical voice gave up, perhaps the best version of ‘The Times They Are A-Changin’ ever for me. In the finale, with all the friends singing ‘Any Day Now;’ it was easy to feel/see a special love and magic on stage. Replete with emotion, I borrowed Marc briefly after the concert and thanked him for providing “this little piece of heaven.” Rarified ethereal sound pieces in this crazy world, I thought. I also thought about finding ways to yell to folks to lose sedentary sofa sitting and come to the musical Asbury boardwalk on Tuesday evenings; like I guess I’m yelling now.

Cal Schwartz   May 4th 2012