J. Howard Duff is still singing for the song. His whole life. He started out in The Institution. They played covers, and got popular enough in the early-‘70s to open for Springsteen at Newark State College in Duff’s hometown of Union. They gigged at The Café Wha, Gildersleeves and Cheetah in Manhattan, and opened for Canned Heat, Roy Buchanan, McKendree Spring, Blackfoot and The Good Rats. David Johansen of The New York Dolls was a fan and told ‘em so.   

Sure, he could tell you about the time Meryl Streep introduced him to Paul McCartney, but West Orange sound man David Schnirman would rather talk about the sound itself. Dude’s an artist. He manipulates the levers and knobs of his complex sound board to make other artists sound their best.

They loved ‘The Jersey Sound’ documentary at Asbury Park's House of Independents, giving it a long and loud ovation during the final credits.

The June 25 private screening of ‘The Jersey Sound’ documentary at The House Of Independents in Asbury Park was a resounding success. We ate, drank, laughed, cried and finally thrilled to the finished product. No amount of words can properly convey the chemistry, drive, good vibes and work ethic of the team that Executive Producer Randy Dominguez personally put together.

It’s almost impossible to conceive an America without the noise Tommy James & The Shondells generated. Now Sony Publishing has granted him license to use whatever Beatle and Motown songs he wants to cover for use in future Hollywood films. We got the lowdown from the horse’s mouth as this thoroughbred was happy to let us know the info.

Has there ever been a more colorful, controversial figure within The Jersey Sound as Rock’n’Roll Hall Of Famer Vini “Mad Dog” Lopez, the original drummer for Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band? Now, on the precipice of Vini’s unfinished tell-all book, The Madman (his former nickname) tells it like it is, and how it should have been. Fired by Bruce in 1974, ostensibly for his explosive temper, Lopez tells a different story.

On Chick Corea’s 2-CD package, "Plays" (Concord), he needed no rhythm section, no blaring horns to make his points. His 10 fingers cascading wildly over the 88 keys of his piano creates new vistas of meaning to 300 years of compositional gems by varied composers. Corea explained the joy of making "Plays.”

In 2015, on the second evening of the largest jazz festival in the world, the downtown streets of Montreal around Place des Arts, Canada’s most sizable cultural and arts complex, are crowded with people pressed front to back taking in performances on outdoor stages. Stanley Clarke Band is performing at the Théâtre Maisonneuve. Our story begins here…

‘American Songwriter’ magazine recently likened Asbury Park singer-songwriter Jake Thistle to Jackson Browne, John Hiatt and Steve Forbert. Kid’s only 19. Between his lyrical prowess, his voice, his guitar and his messages, there’s certainly a lot to digest. We caught up with the promising star-in-the-making.

There must be something in the air or the water when it comes to kids growing up in New Jersey. The De Leo Brothers went on to form Stone Temple Pilots in California but, as younger brother Robert says, when he was attending Point Pleasant High School in Ocean County, he breathed music night and day, all kinds of music. He couldn’t get enough of it.

Originally hailing from Wichita, Kansas, Glenn Alexander has the kind of chops most guitarists would die for.

When bassist/composer/vocalist Esperanza Spalding walked up to the stage on four different occasions to pick up Grammy Awards, drummer Otis Brown III had to smile.

When people a hundred years from now read about American icons like Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger and Bruce Springsteen, they’ll most likely be reading the words of Bob Santelli.

Back when the drinking age in New Jersey was 18, clubs all over the state exploded with bands of every imaginable genre from punk to pop, disco to country, metal to funk. The Aquarian Weekly was the glue that held the scene together.

Ricky Byrd may be in the Rock’n’Roll Hall of Fame as part of Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, but he’s also been in the bands of Mott The Hoople’s Ian Hunter, The Who’s Roger Daltrey and Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes. As a solo artist, he’s put out a string of Stones/Faces-inspired rock’n’roll that never fails to satisfy.

In 1977, a quirky, funny, infectious Top 20 hit single about a stoned Jewish vegetarian hippie girl in a peasant blouse standing by the Paramus Mall waterfall captured the attention of America.

Teaneck resident Lenny White has had a lot to do with moving the music forward in his illustrious career on the drums. After hitting it off with pianist Chick Corea, the two would ultimately change the face of modern music in the band Return To Forever.

Singer, Songwriter, Keyboardist, Felix Cavaliere, 77, is in so many different Hall of Fames, you need a scorecard to figure it all out.

Rudresh Mahanthappa, 51, is the greatest living American alto saxophone player. Period.

With a style reminiscent of the late Michael Brecker, he can get funky and syncopated, yet smooth and soulful. His sax is like a human voice and, man, does it sing!