The Garden State Parkway has been known for naming its service areas for icons of the state. Among the honorees so far are novelists Toni Morrison and Judy Blume, Sinatra, Latin Legend Celia Cruz, Jon Bon Jovi, Larry Doby (the first Black baseball player to play for the American League), news anchor Connie Chung and actor James Gandolfini. Now, the Vauxhall Service Area in Union will forever be known as the Whitney Houston Service Area.

With all the hoopla surrounding the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, let us not forget that in 1979 an unknown rap act from Englewood in in Bergen County had the very first rap hit single in history, “Rapper’s Delight” by The Sugarhill Gang. ’Live At The Print Shop’ is a multi-camera, Atlanta-based YouTube monthly live concert series that debuted in 2019 with such guests as Collective Soul, Blues Traveler, Colin Hay, The Mavericks, Marc Broussard and Drivin’n’Cryin, among many others.

The revamped lineup of Pantera—with drummer Charlie Benante, 61, of Anthrax, replacing Vinnie Paul [1964-2018] and Bayonne’s own ex-Ozzy lead guitarist Zakk Wylde, 56, replacing Dimebag Darrell [1966-2004]—have announced their 2024 tour.

Jack Antonoff, from Bergenfield, was always one to put his talent and celebrity to good use. Besides being Taylor Swift’s longtime producer, his band, Bleachers, has been a mainstay of pop smarts. They performed recently at the Jack H. Skirball Center for the Performing Arts in Manhattan on December 19 at the ninth annual talent show to benefit The Ally Coalition, an organization he co-founded in 2013 to help LGBTQ kids.

The sly, insinuating funk of Bettye Lavette’s “What You Won’t Say” is a gem but it was left off the CD version of the Grammy-nominated ‘LaVette!.’ Produced by Steve Jordan, written by Randall Bramblett, accentuating the one-of-a-kind vocals of Essex County powerhouse Bettye, it is only included on the vinyl version of the album. As a public service, we present it here in all its unadorned glory.

On February 28, Christian McBride will join pop star Sting at the Ralph Pucci International Showroom in New York City for an annual school fundraiser event called “The Lowdown: Conversations With Christian.” (Past guests have included Norah Jones, Diana Krall, Laurie Anderson, John Pizzarelli and Esperanza Spalding.)

“I Will Survive” (1978) is one of the great empowerment songs of all-time. Gloria Gaynor—born in Newark 80 years ago—was 35 when she took that song to #1. What she has endured—including being cheated out of proper royalties, an ugly divorce from her manager husband of 25 years, being paralyzed from the waist down after an onstage fall, financial ruin and career devastation, is the subject of a 2024 documentary feature film, slated for released February 13.

Walter Trout’s 31st album, ‘Broken,’ will be released by the Mascot Label Group in March. It’s a star-studded affair. Beth Hart sings the title track like there’s no tomorrow.

It happened November 30 when Darlene Love performed her annual “Love For The Holidays” show at Town Hall in New York City. Out came Bruce with a special mission: to present the legendary singer with a platinum album for sales in excess of one million copies for the 1963 pioneering ‘A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector’ which introduced her “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home).”

The Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music at Monmouth University in West Long Branch will celebrate the 60th Anniversary of The Beatles coming to America on February 3.

For its 23rd year of its ongoing effort to defeat Parkinson’s Disease, ALS and PSP (Progressive Supranuclear Palsy), the Light of Day Foundation has announced its 2024 lineup

They might have started Stone Temple Pilots in California but brothers Dean and Robert DeLeo are Jersey Boys who graduated Point Pleasant High School in Ocean County. They have now announced their participation in the High Voltage Rock’n’Roll Fantasy Camp February 15-18 in Los Angeles with Nancy Wilson of Heart and Chris Slade of AC/DC.

There’s a new rock’n’roll Christmas song out there that rivals Chuck Berry’s great “Run Run Rudolph.” Tommy Byrne is a singer-songwriter from Woodbridge in Middlesex County and his “Coal For Christmas” rocks bigtime.

Recorded in a Nashville church, “Christmas Isn’t Christmas” is the first new music from Bon Jovi since the release of the band’s 15th album ‘2020.’

The Weeklings will be leaving their Asbury Park home base to travel south as they were invited to participate in the “International Beatles On The Beach Classic Rock Festival” January 24-28 on Delray Beach, Florida.

‘Free To Be Naked’ (Goliath Publishing) is the new book by Brooklyn photographer Ellen Stagg, and she will be signing, smiling and posing for pictures with readers who buy the book at the Parlor Gallery in Asbury Park on Sunday December 16 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Trixter’s Steve Brown has been in the studio co-producing Ace Frehley’s ‘10,000 Volts’ with the ex-KISS guitarist (not due until February 23.) The title track single, which he co-wrote, is out now.

Last month, metal historian Eddie Trunk hosted “Bowl For Ronnie,” a celebrity bowling party to benefit the Ronnie James Dio “Stand Up And Shout” cancer fund. It raised over $80 grand.

Livingston-born singer-songwriter-guitarist Marco Benevento can be heard on the new ‘Benefit Concert Volume #20,’ due December 8 from Evil Teen Records/Mascot Label Group.

“Xmas Eve On Venice Beach,” by Andy B.AND SoulFolk, is the latest from one of Central Jersey’s longest-lasting characters, Andy Bernstein, a.k.a. Andy B, a singer-songwriter-percussionist. He was, is, and likely will forever be, a member of Roots Rockers The VooDUDES. He labels his current sound "Garageband Americana," likening it to the summers he saw Levon & The Hawks (later The Band) down the shore.