Part two in a three part series
By Carmen Marotta
From Jack Newland playing the piano in the ’40s until the final notes of the testimonial to Tony Mart’s, and the last Drink ‘n Drown in September of ’82, there were hundreds of musicians and entertainers that performed at the legendary Somers Point nightclub.
As part of the history of “The Legacy of Tony Mart,” we are compiling numerous pictures and ads that tell the Tony Mart’s story. We have put together an extensive list of more than 130 entertainers who performed in its 38 years of good times at the legendary nightclub.
We have compiled about 30 important and amusing anecdotes from some of the greatest and most musically important entertainers and groups that ever played at “The Showplace of the World,” as Tony Mart’s was called. In this Shore Local News series, we will be adding about 10 performers to our list each week.
You are invited to weigh in. Send your comments and emails to: tonymartpresents@gmail.com. We will reminisce about them in the trivia segments at our shows.
We are looking forward to having fun with this and including in the book all of the comments from friends and family, as well as former patrons.
- Joey Dee and The Starlighters
Joey Dee and The Starlighters came to Somers Point and played at the Jersey Shore, learning all about The Twist and rock ‘n’ roll before they went to the Peppermint Lounge and recorded their famous hits including “The Peppermint Twist.” Tony Mart swore they learned it all from their experience in Somers Point and Wildwood, where Chubby Checker was playing regularly.
- Dwayne Eddie and The Rebels
Along with his Oklahoma review, Dwayne Eddie became famous for his hit with the cover of Bill Doggert’s “Hockey Talk” and several other famous songs. Tony Mart himself said that no group ever drew greater crowds and they sold more drinks in the few weeks of Dwayne Eddie and The Rebels at Tony Mart’s.
- Del Shannon
Backed by The Fall Guys and headlining over Conway Twitty and Bill Haley, Del Shannon played at Tony Mart’s when “Run Away” was the No. 1 song in the country.
- Mitch Ryder and The Detroit Wheels
Mitch Ryder played several stormy engagements at Tony Mart’s. This electrifying, phenomenal rock ‘n’ roll entertainer was an avid, crazy drinker and a loud-playing rock star. He had some confrontational moments with Tony Mart and was finally thrown out with his last engagement, replacing Levon and The Hawks over Labor Day weekend in 1965, which was unceremoniously ended by Tony Mart himself, who was infamous for doing such things.
- The Female Beatles
With their tight, sequined pants, frilly sweaters and beehive hairdos, this group of all-female performers could rock The Beatles’ songs and were very entertaining. They were popular and a wild contrast to Conway Twitty, Levon & The Hawks, and The Fall Guys, with whom they appeared as co-headline attractions. Tony Mart liked them because he made money with these New York, in-your-face performers who were anything but bashful on stage, especially the big, tall, attractive blonde in the middle.
- The Kit Kats
A young, emerging rock ‘n’ roll cover band on the scene, breaking in at Tony Mart’s, they eventually played successfully all over the Jersey Shore, as well as up and down the East Coast. Their leader, “Kit,” was a sharp, savvy bandleader who led the group to a long career, becoming a strong Las Vegas lounge act with a loyal following for a long time.
- Levon & The Hawks
Of all the groups on this long list of entertainers that performed in that 38-year span, by almost every measure, Levon & The Hawks was one of the greatest. They entranced their audiences with pulsing dance music and stunned the crowds when Richard Manuel sang soul and R&B, like Ray Charles’ “Georgia on My Mind,” and James Brown’s “Please, Please, Please.”
Brought to The Mart by the encouragement of Conway Twitty after they left the famous and very popular Ronnie Hawkins, with whom they were Ronnie Hawkins and the Hawks, they were the quintessential success story, eventually becoming The Band backing Bob Dylan. They went on to become one of the greatest rock ‘n’ roll Americana bands in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. If ever one group defined and distinguished Tony Mart’s as a Jersey Shore rock ‘n’ roll institution, it was Levon & The Hawks.
- The Magic Mushrooms
In 1966, they were the first long-haired, psychedelic rockers to wear bell-bottom pants, paisley shirts, and big iron surfer crosses. They were the freaks on display and when they played The Kinks, The Stones, and their signature song, “Wild Thing” by The Troggs, they drew some of the largest crowds in the history of The Mart. People were literally lined up around the block.
- Joey Powers and The New Dimension
Joey Powers was a savvy and charismatic frontman and singer who became very popular regionally in Pennsylvania, up and down the East Coast, North Jersey, and New York. Powers had a regional hit, “Midnight Mary,” as well as making several other songs his signature including, “Just Walk Away Renee.”
In the summer of ’67 he had a great band, and he eventually went on to have an even more popular band, Powers Flower, who played The Dunes on Somers Point Boulevard as well as some of the most successful mega rock ‘n’ roll bars in the Philly/Jersey area.
He was the epitome of a great old-school frontman who could read the crowd, call the songs, and keep the room moving, which made him popular as well as valuable. The word is after leaving the stage he became a booking agent, recording studio owner, record producer, and church leader until his passing in 2017.
- Tommy Strand and The Upper Hand
The hot Southern sound of “blue-eyed soul” made this band one of the top groups in Miami, along with The Fabulous Lattimore and the incredible Wayne Cochran & the CC Riders. Tommy Strand played the better part of one season, and it still has not been determined whether his jazz giant bass player, Jaco Pastorius, played part of that time at Tony Mart’s.
These are the greatest, but there are many more bands with interesting stories that will appear in the book, “The Legend of Tony Mart’s,” which is being written now in real-time.
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Tonymart.com. Party with us live! Share your thoughts and stories about these great bands and our times together.
Let the good times roll!
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