Accordionist Bruce Gassman will perform on Sunday December 9th, 2012 at the “Restore The Shore Benefit Relief Concert” at Branches, 123 Monmouth Road,West Long Branch NJ. Bruce Gassman is always generous with his time and talents sharing his music to raise funds for those less fortunate. By doing this, he also puts the accordion in the forefront entertaining and educating everyone about the great versatility of the accordion. His specialty is Rock “n Roll accordion.
Bruce receives much positive feedback due to his lively performances delighting people with his accordion renditions of popular tunes both new and old. Since there are so many needy people due to the devastation of Hurricane Sandy, Bruce’s talents are welcome during these difficult times.
The concert will feature the following entertainment: ROCK ‘N RHYTHM, SOUNDS OF THE STREET, Stormin’ Norman Seldin, Bruce Gassman, Patsy Siciliano and PS IV, Sidewalk Serenade, Clamdiggers, Selfish Profits, Ray and The Darchaes and more!
Ticket price $25.00 per-person, Cash Bar, cocktail hour 5 to 6PM. The show starts at 6:PM. All checks made payable to : Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund. This fund was set up by Governor Christie and his Wife. The Relief Fund is a registered 501(c)3 organization.
For tickets contact Steve Siciliano at rnrsteves@gmail.com or Frank DiRobella at Doowop3Nam@aol.com.
Special thanks to John Lombardo (Branches), Scott Sprengel, (Coach USA Suburban Transit), Linda DiRobella, Robert Labella (Jamm Printing), and everyone who is participating in this fund raiser to help New Jersey get back on track.
Bruce will be featured with pianist, Stormin’ Norman & the ALL STAR BAND at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ on Saturday, January 18, 2013. He will also perform with the New Jersey based APO ( Accordion Pops Orchestra) at the March 2013 MAMTG event. ( see article about Beverly Roberts Curnow in this issue), many local Jersey Shore Clubs and restaurants as well as National Accordion Events around the country in 2013. More details in future issues.
As he has done for many years, Bruce continues to perform in many of the 60 Holiday Express concert taking place throughout New Jersey during the Holiday Season
Now in its 20th season, Holiday Express is a traveling Christmas party, a from-the-heart troupe of musicians bringing music, friendship, help and hope to those too often left out in the cold at the most special time of the year. Playing far from the limelight, in sometimes desperate circumstances, and all for absolutely no pay, more than 70 of the best musicians on the Jersey Shore play more than 50 shows between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and with several dozen support staff in tow, deliver not only music, but toys, clothing, food and fun to children with cancer, people living with AIDS, the mentally ill, disadvantaged families, the isolated elderly and the desperately homeless.
The annual benefit concert at the Count Basie Theatre is a significant source of support for the all-volunteer, nonprofit, nonsectarian organization, and with more than 50 musicians and singers on the stage, playing everything from “White Christmas” to “You’re A Mean One Mr. Grinch” (with the Grinch himself in attendance) to Chuck Berry’s “Run, Run Rudolph,” the annual benefit concert is an always-sold-out season tradition in itself. Holiday Express will be collecting food donations for St. John’s Soup Kitchen in Newark.
The public performances are: Count Basie Theatre , Red Bank, NJ, on Thursday, Dec 13 at 7:30 PM. and NJPAC, Newark, NJ at 7:30 PM on Dec 20. If you are interested in attending any of the performances, please contact Bruce at accordion2bruce@gmail.com for more info. Lift your holiday spirits by hearing entertaining music. The price of the ticket will help to make someone’s holiday a happier time.
Bruce has also performed for the Light of Day concerts for the past few years. The Light of Day series of concerts, which also includes performances in Canada and several countries in Europe, raises money for the ongoing fight against Parkinson’s disease by supporting research into more effective treatments and a cure for people who suffer from Parkinson’s and other degenerative neuromuscular disorders including PSP and ALS. Bruce will perform on Friday, January 18, 2013 at The Wonder Bar in Asbury Park, NJ and on January 19, 2013 with Stormin” Norman at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park.
Light of Day’s New Jersey weekend will kick off on Thursday, Jan. 17 at The Saint at 5pm and at Asbury Lanes on Fourth Avenue, with a Rock N Bowl-a-Thon that will pair participants with celebrity bowlers for a night of fun that will also include lots of music at 7pm.
On Friday, January 18, 2013, Asbury Park’s legendary Stone Pony, the oceanfront club where Light of Day got its start 12 years ago, will feature the second annual tribute to the “Asbury Angels,” significant members of the Asbury Park music scene who have passed on and will announce its second set of inductees.
Performers who will be appearing throughout the weekend at this year’s Light of Day include Dramarama, Denny Laine (Moody Blues/Wings), Bebe Buell, The Tangiers Blues Band, Billy Hector, Bruce Gassman and ldin and the Asbury All-Stars, the Upstage Jam Band, Vini Lopez (E Street Band), Slim Chance &The Gamblers and many others to be announced over the coming weeks.
Bruce’s new CD, “CLASSIC ROCK Accordion to Bruce Volume II” will be available for the holidays. There is a “bonus track” which is a special dedication to Dick Contino. The price is $18.00 which includes shipping and handling. A wonderful CD, it would be a special holiday gift. To reserve and purchase this CD, please email Bruce: accordion2bruce@gmail.com
