Accordionist Bruce Gassman has a busy holiday season beginning this month. On November 15, he will be joining Danny White and his band at the Stone Pony for his CD release party. Bruce performs in two of the songs.

Bruce will start his 6th season with Holiday Express (their 21st season) as the only accordionist to ever perform with them. The Holiday Express mission is to deliver music, food, gifts, financial support and friendship to those with the greatest need for the gift of human kindness during the holiday season and throughout the year.

Photo on Right: Joey Petosa, Bruce Gassman, Joe Petosa

Founded in 1993, by Tim McLoone, Holiday Express works year-round to deliver music, food, gifts, and human kindness to adults and children in need, including the mentally and physically disabled, the isolated, individuals in addiction and recovery programs, the poor and the homeless, and children with serious illnesses. With a constituency of more than 15,000 throughout the metropolitan tri-state area, our priority is to serve those who are desperately in need and often forgotten.

Nearly two decades ago, a small group of volunteers visited 10 charities. From that time, and a rather uncertain beginning, the charity programs have grown to a remarkable 60, slated from mid-November through Christmas Eve and Holiday Express is now an anchor in the community.

The organization includes 100 professional singers and musicians who volunteer their time, and more than 1,300 other children and adult volunteers who work tirelessly year-round to prepare and perform the private charity programs at specialized schools, psychiatric facilities, homeless shelters and soup kitchens.

The from-the-heart troupe of musicians with several dozen support volunteers, bring music, friendship, hope and joy. These programs include a meal, gift bags, raffle prizes, face painting, crafts and the company of colorful characters including Frosty, the Grinch, Santa, and lots of Elves.

Bruce had a very busy summer, both solo performances and with the Accordion Pops Orchestra. Groups he performs with include: Zydeco/Surf Rock & Blues with HP and his Hot Takeout Band along the Jersey Shore….Club 709 and also The Ark Pub in Pt. Pleasant Beach; Langosta Lounge, the Beach Bar and the Anchor Bar, all in Asbury Park, NJ. Even the “other Bruce”, Springsteen stopped by to hear a few songs at the Beach Bar (Convention Hall) in Asbury Park early August before he left for his tour in South America. On October 20th at the Longosta Lounge in Asbury Park, Vince Martell, legendary guitarist from Vanilla Fudge joined the Hot Takeout Band for an hour long set.

Mr.Gassman’s extensive accordion background began at age 9. He performed his 
first Senior Recital at age 11 and his first guest appearance as a soloist with a symphony orchestra at age 12. In 1961, Bruce won the National Boy’s Club of America Music Scholarship Award and for the next 4 years he studied with Maestro Joseph Biviano of New York City (1961-65). Also in 1961, Bruce formed his first band, The Metrotones.

In 1962, at the age of 15, Bruce became the youngest member of the Accordion Symphony Society of NY, and at his first concert on December 2, of that year; they performed at Town Hall featuring the immortal Charles Magnante as guest soloist. Bruce also performed with the orchestra at the Singer Bowl – New York Worlds Fair on August 7, 1964.

While in college, (1965-69) and playing rock & roll, he toured the Mid-West with the Escorts, Doc & the MD’s and The Broadway Clique. Once back East, and now playing a Hammond B-3 and Fender Rhodes piano, his 1969-70 Jersey Shore rock scene experience involved performances at many area night clubs including The Pandemonium, The Student Prince and The Upstage; jamming with stars such as James Cotton and B.B. King and several future stars including Bruce Springsteen and Southside Johnny.

For the next three years, Bruce traveled throughout the North-East with the then famous cover band, Waterfront. 

Returning to his accordion roots in 1974 and with electronic accordions becoming more current, he formed The Bruce Gassman Orchestra. For the next 18 years Bruce performed at more than 2,500 private parties. In 1992 he stopped playing to focus on his family and his real estate career.

After a 15 year sabbatical, Bruce knew it was time to “get back on the field”. He attended an AAA meeting in 2007 and that started the come-back. First, Bruce joined Dan Desiderio and the Accordion Pops Orchestra; and then in 2008 became the first accordionist ever to perform with Holiday Express, a group of 100 professional musicians and 1,500 volunteers who, from Thanksgiving till Christmas, bring the gift of human kindness to those less fortunate. Each year, Holiday Express performs more than 55 shows at Developmental Centers, Psychiatric Hospitals and Children’s Special Schools.

Bruce also finds joy in performing every year for the “Light of Day Foundation”, which raises significant amounts of money for research to cure Parkinson’s disease. Bruce was also a guest performer at the “Restore The Shore” benefit concert, which is the official Charity formed by NJ Gov. Chris Christie, to help those in need after Superstorm Sandy. 



Since 2009, Bruce has presented workshops, conducted and been a featured performer at numerous accordion clubs, conventions and festivals. They include LVIAC (Las Vegas International Accordion Convention), NAAC (National Accordion Association Convention), and ATG (Accordion Teachers Guild, International, AAA (American Accordionists’ Association), MAMTG/AAMS (Mid-Atlantic Music Teachers Guild), CAA (Connecticut Accordion Club), WMAS (Washington Metropolitan Accordion Society), Leavenworth, WA Accordion Celebration, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Accordion Extravaganza and Wallace, Idaho Accordion Festival.

In just three short years, Bruce has shared a stage with such legends as the late Art Van Damme, Dick Contino, the late Frank Marocco, Tony Lovello and Peter Soave. In addition, he has performed with young stars, such as Cory Pesaturo, Sam Thomas and Michael Bridge.

You can also catch Bruce playing in Jersey Shore night clubs and at private parties. Most recently, he has been performing with the Stormin’ Norman Seldin Revue, which always features some of New Jersey’s top rock musicians and Howard Parker’s “Hot Takeout Zydeco Band”. He is also the accordionist for many of the Jersey artists’ recording.
sessions.

For further information: accordion2bruce@gmail.com