The Legacy Concerts on the Beach in Somers Point are a standout celebration of rock ‘n’ roll history at the Jersey Shore.
Bill Haley & His Comets were playing at Tony Mart’s in the late 1950s when DJ Alan Freed had them perform in what are often cited as the first true rock ‘n’ roll shows.
Conway Twitty and Levon Helm came together playing rockabilly. In 1965, Conway played his final rock ‘n’ roll shows at Tony Mart’s before Bob Dylan brought Levon and the Hawks to Newport and Woodstock. That left Tony Mart needing a replacement — and he booked Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels to close out the season.
During that golden era, Tony Mart himself said the biggest week in gross sales came when Duane Eddy and the Rebels performed their iconic hit “Rebel Rouser.”
Years later, a young rocker named John Cafferty was inspired by Eddy’s guitar sound — music that filled the Jersey Shore, including Tony Mart’s in 1963.
In 1982, Marty Davidson, director of the classic film “The Lords of Flatbush,” asked Kenny Vance to find an artist with that “Jersey Shore sound.” Vance introduced him to John Cafferty, who would go on to write one of the most iconic cult soundtracks of all time — “Eddie and the Cruisers.”
It’s no accident that Cafferty remains one of the most dynamic rockers of our time, with a sound often compared to Springsteen’s. It’s also no coincidence that Springsteen encouraged him to write and record his latest album, “Sound of Waves,” which he’ll perform Friday, Aug. 1.
Alongside his classics — “On the Dark Side,” “Tender Years” and “Wild Summer Nights” — Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band will also perform new tracks like “Day in the Sun” and “Loveland” during a two-hour concert within shouting distance of the legendary Tony Marts.
That spirit will continue Friday, Sept. 12, when Mitch Ryder headlines the “#1 in the Nation Celebration” concert with the Tony Mart Allstars at 7 p.m.
Join us to celebrate the legacy of Jersey Shore rock. Let the good times roll!
For more information, please visit tonymart.com
