It will begin at 2 p.m. and end somewhere around 1 a.m.: The third annual Big Man’s Birthday Bash, taking place Jan. 10 at Bar Anticipation in Lake Como, is shaping to be a real epic, with dozens of musicians eager to pay tribute to the late, legendary Clarence Clemons.
The E Street Band saxophonist died in 2011 at 69, and his birthday, Jan. 11, is now officially Clarence Clemons Day in the state of New Jersey. His son, singer-songwriter-guitarist Nick Clemons, is one of the event’s co-producers, as well as one of the performers; proceeds will go to the Hometown Heroes organization, which helps people deal with homelessness, domestic violence, drug abuse and other problems.
“My father always taught me to ‘give back’ and remember the less fortunate,” said Nick Clemons in a press release. “I try to do that and Hometown Heroes does great work for those in need.”
The first Birthday Bash was at the Wonder Bar in Asbury Park, and last year’s show took place at Martell’s in Point Pleasant. Clarence Clemons’ one-time E Street bandmate, Vini Lopez, will also be among this year’s performers, as will JT Bowen, who sang lead vocals for Clemons’ Red Bank Rockers, and Norman Seldin, who hired Clemons, in his pre-E Street days, to play in his Shore band, The Joyful Noize. Others on the bill will include John Cafferty, The Rascals’ Gene Cornish and Bobby Bandiera (all in great form at the recent Hope Concert at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank) as well as JoBonanno and the Godsons of Soul and the Sensational Soul Cruisers. Actor Vincent Pastore (best known as Big Pussy Bonpensiero on “The Sopranos”) will host; a complete list of performers is below.
Tickets are $25 ($50 with dinner and a meet-and-greet included). Visit bar-a.com.
Here is the lineup of performers:
DAY:
Alex English
CJ Rare
Carnival of Shadows
Pat Guadagno and Richard Blackwell
Projex Band
Rich Meyer
Bobby Mahoney and Seventh Son
Dawg Whistle (featuring Vini Lopez and Paul Whistler)
Slim Chance
The Nick Clemons Band
Norman Seldin
Sondra Huth
Jo Wymer
Joey Stann
Sandy Mack
Layonne Holmes
(VIP DINNER/MEET AND GREET)
Taylor Tote
Tommy Byrne
NIGHT:
Killer Joe and Lido Soul
Sandy Mack
Garry Pastore
Artie Pasquale
Joey Stann
Nick Clemons/Jo Wymer
Tommy Byrne
The Eddie Testa Band
Bob Polding
Lance Larson
The Bridesmaids and Joe Arminio
Vini Lopez and Richard Blackwell
Gene Cornish with The Eddie Testa Band with Bobby Bandiera
JoBonanno and the Godsons of Soul with Sheri Gilmore, Lori Gilmore
John Cafferty
DJ “Big Nab”
Sensational Soul Cruisers with Joey Stann
“Philly Elvis” Nick Ferraro
JT Bowen
FINALE:
All-Star Jam
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