Blues legend Muddy Waters is most known for a song written by Red Foster called “Got My Mojo Working” and released on the Chess label in 1957. It became his signature song and he played it at every concert up his 1983 death at 70. But he didn’t record it first. That honor went to Cynthia Coleman of Newark whose stage name was Ann Cole.

In 1966, a vocal trio from Paterson hit the top of the charts with a cover version of a song originally recorded by The Tempos seven years earlier called “See You In September.” It hit a chord with almost everybody. The song went to #1 in numerous countries around the world. It’s since been heralded as one of the top summer songs of all-time.

Barney Josephson was born in 1902 Trenton and died in 1988 New York City. His parents were immigrants who landed here in 1900 from Latvia. When he was 36 years old, in 1938, he opened a basement nightclub in Manhattan that launched boogie-woogie and stride piano-playing nationally. Café Society, as it was known, also became the room where Billie Holiday, in 1939, introduced “Strange Fruit” to the world.

Talk about an innovator! There’s a supremely talented cat in Montclair, Steve Turre, who’s an accomplished trombone man, but, unlike all other ‘bone men, he also plays seashells like no one else in the world. Steve Turre, 75, is an American Treasure.

In 2009, ‘Jade Visions: The Life and Music of Scott LeFaro,’ by his sister Helene LaFaro-Fernandez, was published. It told the tale of an amazingly talented bass player, born in Newark, that went on to become one of the 20th Century’s most influential jazz musicians. His landmark recordings with the groundbreaking Bill Evans Trio in 1959 to 1961 are still considered state-of-the-art.

When You’re On Top, You’re `Breezin’!’ But Did Benson Sacrifice His Art? The stylish homes of Englewood Cliffs, near the George Washington Bridge in Bergen County, make for a pleasant background as photographer Bob Sorce and I make our way to the beautiful home of Mr. George Benson, guitarist, singer, family man. George is beaming. I turn on my tape recorder. Originally published in 1977.

Steve Forbert’s current album, ‘Streets Of This Town: Revisited,’ is a keeper. His voice has matured into a sandpapery rasp like an old friend you’re so glad to hear again. This interview, originally published in July of 1982, appeared in the Aquarian Weekly.

It happened just like Bruce Springsteen tells it onstage. Clarence Clemons performed at The Wonder Bar. Bruce performed at The Student Prince. The wind was blowing hard on a freezing cold night. Clarence walked slowly down the street, his sax in his hand. Bruce walked towards him. They were both in the middle of the street. “Hi, my name is Clarence.” Originally published in 1982.

Originally on newsstands nationwide, Editor Mike Greenblatt revisits his 1977 interview with Blondie lead singer Debbie Harry. Success certainly didn't come easy for the former model and Playboy Bunny. But once it came, it skyrocketed her into being a Punk Priestess.

Joe Pass was born Joseph Anthony Passalaqua in 1929 New Brunswick. Influenced early on by the singing cowboy, Gene Autry, he took guitar lessons at age nine. It’s safe to say it consumed him wholeheartedly, and he practiced oftentimes up to seven hours a day, relegating schoolwork to second-degree status. At 14, he was performing at parties with a group of like-minded kids, listening to as much Django Reinhardt, Charlie Christian, Tal Farlow and Barnie Kessel as he could. Ultimate, it would be Wes Montgomery who became his muse.

Singer-Songwriter Janis Ian, 72, who graduated from East Orange High School, started young. She began writing “Society’s Child,” a protest song equal to anything from Bob Dylan or Phil Ochs, when she was 13. But America didn’t know how profound… how newsworthy… how brilliant and how universally true the song was in depicting an inter-racial romance in 1967. Why? Because no radio station would dare touch it.

A Story of Death, Revolution, Depression, Cocaine and Theft, originally published in 1977. There’s a sense of expectancy just before a band breaks big. When it sounds that good and things are going just right, you know it and you can feel it. I can’t think of a more exciting time of life. It’s happening right now for Larry Alexander and Sandy Torano of Tornader (rhymes with raider) who are about to embark on a 26-city tour.

The first thing you hear on Phoebe Snow’s terrific Atlantic debut LP is a great wash of electric guitar. “Baby Please” by Carolyne Mas follows and then comes Rod Stewart’s “Gasoline Alley.” ‘Rock Away’ is Snow’s coming-out party. “The critics are implying that I did this rock’n’roll thing to be commercial and mainstream,” Snow says from her living room where we sit on her black couch so she can lie down and nurse her bad back. “We’ll, that’s not the only reason I did it. If I denied that, I’d be an asshole.”

After careful consideration, "The Jersey Sound" Editor Mike Greenblatt has shared some of his Newark history warts and all. He's not proud of some things, but it's the unvarnished truth.

The tale of a teenaged pot-smoking New Jersey hippie venturing into the unknown: Woodstock, a five-day adventure, the best and the worst weekend of The Jersey Sound Editor Mike Greenblatt’s life.

The day I spent Bruce Springsteen’s 29th Birthday with him…

The song “Stagger Lee” has been recorded by Fats Domino, Ike & Tina Turner, The Righteous Brothers, James Brown, Wilson Pickett, Taj Mahal, Dr. John, Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, Fabulous Thunderbirds, Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes, Huey Lewis & The News, Neil Sedaka, Nick Cave, The Black Keys and dozens of others. Keb Mo sang it in the movie Honeydripper. Lloyd Price took it to #1 in 1958.

If there’s one thing that can be said about Joe Walsh, it’s that he knows his position in the rock community and he takes it seriously. He knows thousands of kids will cling to his every word and take it as the gospel.

Wilson Pickett served as a role model for thousands of potential soul singers with his style, gruff delivery and charisma. For the last three years of the 1970s, however, the man and his music were unaccountably silent. When one reaches the height and then drops from sight, it’s natural for the rumor mill to start grinding.

This is a movie blockbuster that has yet to be made. The story of Concetta Rosemarie Franconero of Newark is filled with heartbreak, drama and violence amid some of the greatest vocal performances on record ever.