Music of New Jersey

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The American state of New Jersey has a diverse musical culture reflecting its population and history.


Contents

Official symbols [edit]

New Jersey does not have a state song.[1][2]

The square dance is "the American Folk Dance of the State of New Jersey".[3]

Native American Music [edit]

The Lenape people were the Native American groups that lived in what is now New Jersey and surrounding areas to the north, south, and west for thousands of years. Social tribal songs were often named after things such as animals, other tribes or groups, and even food. These songs were performed in groups and were usually not long. However, the performances and dancing would linger. A significant amount of this part of Lenape culture was lost as settlers moved into the region and pushed the Lenape west.

Classical and Opera Music [edit]

The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, based at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, the New Jersey State Opera, and the New Jersey Ballet are all located in the Newark area. These groups regularly travel to different venues throughout the state to give performances.

Popular music [edit]

Some of the most renowned modern popular musicians from New Jersey are Hoboken native Frank Sinatra, who was one of the most popular singers of the 20th century; and The Four Seasons (group) who had their first No. 1 hit record, "Sherry", in 1962. They were the first group to have a falsetto lead: Newark native, Frankie Valli. The popular group had many hits and held their own against the British Invasion throughout the 1960s. Frankie Valli went on to a successful solo career. The all female pop group The Shirelles were from Passaic. Connie Francis, Ricky Nelson and Lesley Gore were three other New Jersey natives who ruled the pop charts in the early '60s.[4]

Bruce Springsteen became an American icon with complex lyrical stories about teens growing up in Freehold and other economically depressed areas of New Jersey. In addition, Francis Hopkinson of Bordentown, is perhaps the first American composer. Other famous Jersey musicians include Jon Bon Jovi, The Rascals, Paper Cut, Richie Sambora, The Fugees, Whitney Houston, deSoL, My Chemical Romance, The Smithereens, David Sancious, and Kool and the Gang. George Clinton was born in Plainfield, NJ. Deborah Harry of Blondie was born in Miami, but grew up in Hawthorne, and went to college in Hackettstown. Disco and R&B singer Gloria Gaynor was born and raised in Newark. Donald Fagen of Steely Dan was born in Passaic and grew up in Fair Lawn and Kendall Park. He would later write songs about growing up in the suburbs. Joe Lynn Turner, another Garden State native, replaced Ronnie James Dio as the lead singer for Rainbow (English band), and also replaced singer Ian Gillan in Deep Purple. Dramarama formed in Wayne in 1982 and has had success with singles such as, "Anything, Anything (I'll give you)," and "Last Cigarette." The band is now based in California. Blues Traveler was formed in Princeton in 1987 and has had worldwide success.

Indie group Real Estate (band) and Cassie Ramone of the Vivian Girls are from Ridgewood. Singer Julian Lynch is also part of the Ridgewood scene. Another Bergen County indie band is The Lumineers, in which founding members are from Ramsey but are currently based in Colorado. Acclaimed alternative band Yo La Tengo are from Hoboken. Another band with great influence were The Feelies, who were from Haledon. Sleigh Bells vocalist Alexis Krauss is from Manasquan. Yeah Yeah Yeahs singer and pianist Karen O is from Englewood. Jack Antonoff of Fun grew up in Bergen County. The alternative rock band Love Among Freaks, most famously known for their songs on the Clerks soundtrack, including, "Bezerker," was also from New Jersey. Far East Movement formed in Tenafly and performed at many talent shows and concerts at Tenafly High School. James Murphy, founder and frontman of LCD Soundsystem, is from Princeton Junction. Murphy began his career as a DJ at various venues in the Trenton area. Local famous cover band The Nerds had their beginnings in Hudson County in the mid-1980s, and have since grown in popularity into a staple of the Jersey Shore music scene. Venues like The Osprey Hotel and Joe Pops have hosted The Nerds for decades. ApeFight, based in Jersey City, have had three CDs released, and can be found on the soundtrack (as the theme song) to the film, Accepted. Phish members Trey Anasatasio and Page McConnell are from New Jersey. Chris Barron of the Spin Doctors is from Princeton and would write music with John Popper of Blues Traveler. Local celebrity Floyd Vivino, (a.k.a. Uncle Floyd), was born in Paterson, and hosted a comedy variety show with music on New Jersey cable television for twenty five years.

Singer/songwriter Phoebe Snow was from Teaneck, New Jersey. Gary Wright, most famously known for his hit song, Dream Weaver, is from Cresskill, New Jersey. Singer Janis Ian grew up on a farm in Farmingdale, New Jersey. Indie rock group River City Extension is from Toms River, New Jersey. Electronic pop music group Anything Box began by playing in clubs in Passaic and Newark. Fountains of Wayne bassist Adam Schlesinger is from Montclair. The group Fountains of Wayne was named after a fountain and ornament store that was located on New Jersey State Route 23 in Wayne, New Jersey.

In 1796, William Dunlap of Perth Amboy wrote the first professional opera in the United States called, The Archers.

The phonograph record was invented by Thomas Edison in Menlo Park, and the Victor Talking Machine Company established its headquarters and plant in Camden.

Three of the state's most famous recording artists, Frank Sinatra, Dionne Warwick and Connie Francis, share the same birth date – December 12.

Jazz [edit]

In the early 20th century, Newark was an important center for jazz innovation. James P. Johnson and other pioneers helped invent stride. Other famous New Jersey jazzmen include bandleader Count Basie, saxmen Wayne Shorter and James Moody and trumpeter Woody Shaw of Newark, and trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie who lived in Englewood from 1965 until his death in 1993. Newark was also the birthplace and home of the great jazz singer Sarah Vaughan – one of jazz's most esteemed vocalists. Bill Evans was born in Plainfield and attended North Plainfield High School.

Atlantic City in the 1920s and 1930s was a world famous venue for jazz performers, as well as other music. The Paradise Club on Illinois Avenue was billed as the world's first nightclub and hosted a wide variety of famous artists.

Other well known jazz instrumentalists from the Garden State are; Al Di Meola, Nick Lucas, Joe Pass, and Bucky Pizzarelli.

Literally hundreds of Jazz albums for Blue Note Records were recorded in Alfred Lion's home studio Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.

The Red Bank Jazz & Blues Festival occurs annually.

New Jersey continues to be the place that many Jazz musicians call home such as; Steve Turre, Frank Fontaine, Wallace Roney, Tom "Bones" Malone and many others.

Folk Music [edit]

There is little information about early folk music in New Jersey. One of the more documented regions for early folk music in the colonial era is from the Pine Barrens region of southern New Jersey. It was there, in the sandy, dense forests, that the earliest settlers played musical elements of their home countries as well as sang stories of the new land they called home. Some examples ranged from Scots/Irish fiddle tunes to Yiddish and Lithuanian songs. It was in this region that stories were sung and legends like the Jersey Devil were born.

Various workshops, music development institutions, and festivals throughout New Jersey have celebrated folk music for decades. The Folk Project has hosted many folk music singers in the past years including; Richard Shindell, Bob Franke, and Odetta. The New Jersey Folk Festival is held every year at Rutgers University, celebrating a variety of artists, both nationally or locally known. The Hurdy Gurdy Folk Music Club celebrates folk music in the northern part of the state. John Dull, a Rutherford native, is a well known folk artist who has worked with a wide variety of musicians in many genres. Progressive bluegrass band Railroad Earth hails from Stillwater, New Jersey. Hunterdon County, New Jersey native Sharon Van Etten is an acclaimed singer of folk and indie rock music, performing solo as well as with many other famous artists. Another highly respected New Jersey folk artist is Meg Baird. John Gorka, a leader of the New Folk movement, was born in Edison. The variety of folk music reflects the cultural past of America and New Jersey, including stories of the widely varied ethnic groups in the state, as well as revivalist styles.

Hip-Hop [edit]

The Sugarhill Gang was born in Englewood, but grew up in New York City. They recorded the single "Rapper's Delight" which is often considered the first hip hop single.[citation needed] Other New Jersey hip hop artists & producers include Cardiak, DUS, Redman, Naughty By Nature, Ice-T, The Fugees, Queen Latifah, P.M. Dawn, Apache, Joe Budden, Outlawz, Outsidaz, Artifacts, K-Def, Akon, Johny Law, Faith Evans, Chino XL, Treach, Lords of the Underground, Jus Allah, YZ, Poor Righteous Teachers, Lakim Shabazz, Tony D, Rottin Razkals, Biz Markie, Wyclef Jean, Rah Digga and Miilkbone (from Perth Amboy, New Jersey)[5]

Hard rock and heavy metal [edit]

Skid Row is a New Jersey-based heavy-metal band formed in the mid-1980s and reached the height of its success in the early 1990s. Sebastian Bach, formerly of Skid Row, is a Canadian singer who has lived in New Jersey for almost two decades and has fronted several bands since his departure from Skid Row. Since the early 1980s, the New Jersey bands Overkill and Hades has been recording and performing thrash metal around the world. Trixter is a glam rock band also from New Jersey. Monster Magnet is a well known stoner rock/metal band from Red Bank with 8 lp's (on elektra and other labels). Ripping Corpse is a well known Thrash Metal band from Red bank which features Scott Ruth from The Beast and Erik Rutan who later joined Morbid Angel. The Dillinger Escape Plan from Morris Plains and The Number Twelve Looks Like You from Paramus were essential in solidifying the state as a forerunner of the mathcore and experimental metal scenes as well as several of the members of Candiria. New Jersey is also home to the highly acclaimed progressive power metal band Symphony X, and funeral doom metal band Evoken. Brielle native Mark Tornillo was the lead singer for New Jersey metal band T.T. Quick and is now the lead singer for the German metal band Accept. Zack Wylde, the founder of Black Label Society and guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne, was born in Bayonne and grew up in Jackson, New Jersey. Jersey City is the birthplace of both hard rock band Rye Coalition and psychedelic rock group The Black Hollies.

Music historian and broadcaster Eddie Trunk, with comedians Don Jamieson and Jim Florentine, host the television show That Metal Show on VH1 Classic which celebrates, "all things hard rock and heavy metal." All three hosts are from New Jersey and are very active in the New Jersey, as well as national, hard rock and metal scene. Trunk also hosts a nationally syndicated radio show spotlighting hard rock and metal music. New Jersey native comedian Jim Norton also hosts a show called Obsessed on Sirius XM, which focuses on hard rock and heavy metal.

An arguably significant part of the New Jersey Metal scene includes the Old Bridge Metal Militia. They were a group of the "most extreme," metal heads who lived in the township of Old Bridge, New Jersey. This group would encourage bands, who were touring the area, to stay at their homes when they were in town for a gig. Some of thses bands included Slayer, Metallica, Anvil, and Motorhead (to name a few). The militia would get these bands to play at parties in their basements. The Old Bridge Metal Militia were even immortalized in song. The Megaforce compilation Born to Metalize has a track called "One Night in Old Bridge," while Blessed Death had a song called "Knights of Old Bridge".

Punk and Hardcore [edit]

Punk rock and hardcore have played an important role in the music of New Jersey, with many contributing artists who have gained popularity. Many of these bands had their start at basement shows, primarily in New Brunswick.

Arguably the most famous and influential punk band from New Jersey is The Misfits[6] founded in 1977 in Lodi, New Jersey, by singer and songwriter Glenn Danzig, who in 1983 broke from the band and formed Samhain and in 1988 Danzig. Like the later music of the Misfits, Adrenalin O.D. is usually credited with igniting the early N.J. hardcore scene at the dawn of the 1980s. Among those early hardcore bands was Rosemary's Babies. This band was from Lodi as well, and included as drummer Eerie Von, who was to become bassist for both Samhain and Danzig. Other notable punk bands from New Jersey include hardcore punk band Hogan's Heroes[7][8] who formed in 1984, Bouncing Souls, Mucky Pup, Streetlight Manifesto, The Gaslight Anthem, Titus Andronicus, Ted Leo, Screaming Females, The Early November, Hidden in Plain View, The Wretched Ones, Senses Fail, Saves the Day, Thursday, My Chemical Romance,[9][10] Lifetime, Midtown, Patti Smith,[11][12][13] Man Overboard and Bigwig. Tom Verlaine, founder and frontman of the punk/new wave group Television (band), is from Morristown, New Jersey.

In the late 70's/early 80's the Shore Core Punk rock scene evolved at the Jersey Shore, with its epicenter in Long Branch & Asbury Park. It featured a number of bands on "Mutha Records" including Chronic Sick, Public Disturbance, Fatal Rage, The Worst, Dirge and other local bands - Mutha made "the Hot Dog House" in Asbury Park their home base. The Shore also produced the band Shrapnel which featured Dave Wyndorf, Phil Caivano of Monster Magnet and Daniel Rey Rabinowitz.

Venues and events [edit]

Audio broadcasting [edit]

Further information: List of radio stations in New Jersey

Music is broadcast in New Jersey by terrestrial radio stations, cable FM, local wire networks, satellite and the Internet.

Radio stations WFMU from Jersey City, WSOU from Seton Hall in South Orange, New Jersey (winner of awards from publications such as Friday Morning Quarterback, the College Music Journal and Album Network) and WPRB from Princeton are three of the most well known independent/college radio stations in America. Newark's WBGO is one of the country's most important independent jazz stations. WRPR in Mahwah has also gained relevance for its rock programming. WDHA-FM "The Rock of New Jersey," is located in the Dover area and has a long history of providing North Jersey with both classic and modern rock. Madison, New Jersey native Eddie Trunk worked at WDHA early in his career. WGHT Radio is located in Northern New Jersey, and is a spring board for a long list on On Air Radio Talent. WGHT formally known at WKER-AM has been broadcasting at 1500-AM since the early 1960s. Jimmy Howes is currently WGHT's morning show host and Program Director. WNNJ in Newton, New Jersey, provides rock music to the Skylands Region of the state. WMGM (FM) in Atlantic City broadcasts rock music to South Jersey.

Internet radio stations also contribute to New Jersey's music scene. For example, Blowupradio.com, an Internet station devoted to underground Jersey rock,[14] has been contributing to New Jersey's music scene since 2000.[15] Other internet radio stations in New Jersey that contribute to New Jersey's music scene include ThePenguinRocks.com and AltrokRadio.com.[15]

See also [edit]

References [edit]

  1. ^ State of New Jersey - FAQs
  2. ^ "Harmony still lacking in push for N.J. song", Jonathan Tamari, Philadelphia Inquirer, 15-Feb-2009, retrieved 11-Mar-2009
  3. ^ New Jersey State Dance, retrieved 07-Mar-2009
  4. ^ [1]
  5. ^ http://www.rapreviews.com/news/View.php?ArticleID=7285
  6. ^ The Misfits at VH1
  7. ^ * 1948-1999 Muze, Inc. Hogan's Heroes POP Artists beginning with HOD, Phonolog, 1999, p. 1.No. 7-278B Section 207
  8. ^ "Angermiller, Michelle. For The Times, August 14, 2011". Retrieved 2012-02-26. 
  9. ^ Blanks 77 Are a Punk Band
  10. ^ Blanks 77 at Radical Records
  11. ^ NPR Interview Intersections Patti Smith, Poet Laureate of Punk
  12. ^ Patti Smith Dream of Life NYT Critics' Pick Godmother of Punk, Celebrator of Life
  13. ^ Patti Smith
  14. ^ Lisa Rose (March 16, 2003). "For these Logs, the pipes are calling Indie angst and eclectic flair". The Star-Ledger. p. 1. 
  15. ^ a b "Old Bridge Internet benefit fights disease". Home News Tribune. October 15, 2010. 

Sources [edit]

  • Andrea Witting, (2007) All Grown Up The Movie, U.S. Chaos cited interview, extensive.
  • Blush, Steven (2001). American Hardcore: A Tribal History. Los Angeles, CA: Feral House. ISBN 0-922915-71-7.

External links [edit]
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