Frank Sinatra, Sarah Vaughan, The Four Seasons, Springsteen, Whitney Houston, Bon Jovi, et al...these names come to the forefront of most discussions of the Garden State and music. These artists and many others contributed to the state's sundry soundscape.
The recording industry dawned in New Jersey. Edison invented the phonograph record in Menlo Park. The Victor Talking Machine Company in Camden hosted many of the earliest recording sessions. Hundreds of jazz recordings on Blue Note Records were made in a home studio in Englewood Cliffs. Somers Point's Tony Mart's operated from the late 40's until 1982. It heralded the advent of Rock 'n' Roll. Del Shannon, Duane Eddy and others rocked this shore bar. Here Bob Dylan checked-out Ronnie Hawkin's back-up band, recently named Levon & the Hawks. Dylan hired the Band to back him up on his historical electric tour. The rest is musical history.
Felix Cavaliere and the boys mixed soul, R&B and rock creating Good Lovin, Groovin, It's A Beautiful Mornin', People Got to be Free, and other great music. The Rascals provided the soundtrack to much of my early cruising, partying and loss of innocence along the back roads between Haddonfield and the shore. They inspired the Asbury Park sound of Springsteen, South Side Johnny, Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul and others.
This is a subjective matter and I'm sure other hold alternate theories. To those I respectfully grab my crotch and say, "Here's your alternate theory!" As ever - BB
"...down the shore everything's alright, you with your baby on a Saturday night, don't you know that all my dreams come true, when i'm walkin' down the street with you..." - Jersey Girl by Tom Waits
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