Southside, Smithereens, Martha Stewart, Jason Alexander inducted into NJ Hall of Fame
Chris JordanASBURY PARK - What’s the Jersey edge?
Southside Johnny Lyon explained it as he was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame on Sunday at the Paramount Theatre in Asbury Park.
“If we tried to play in New York City and we told them we were a New Jersey band, they would tell us we don’t want you,” Southside said. “Philadelphia, they were a little more welcoming but not that much. My parents would watch Johnny Carson and he would make jokes about New Jersey. I always wondered what was that all about, what was different about New Jersey than any other state?”
“There was a real ax to grind for me. I wanted to prove that New Jersey was as good as any other state as far as the music was concerned, and that made me stronger, more aggressive and work my (backside) off.
"So thank you New Jersey."
Jon Bon Jovi inducted Southside on Sunday.
BACKGROUND:Jon Bon Jovi to induct Southside Johnny into the New Jersey Hall of Fame
“I grew up on the sounds of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, but I always wanted to be an Asbury Juke,“ Bon Jovi said. “Those guys made Asbury Park, New Jersey the place where the impossible seemed possible.”
Southside and Bon Jovi then performed the Jukes' classic “I Don’t Want to Go Home” with the evening’s house band, led by Carl Gentry.
Other Class of 2018 inductees on Sunday included the Smithereens; TV personality Martha Stewart; “Seinfeld” star Jason Alexander; Olympic gymnast Laurie Hernandez; restaurateur, musician, philanthropist Tim McLoone; long-time Star-Ledger sports columnist Jerry Izenberg; and “Jaws” author Peter Benchley, who went in posthumously.
'RHONJ':The 3 questions Teresa and Joe Giudice need to answer on 'Unlocked' with Andy Cohen
Jim Babjak, Dennis Diken and Mike Mesaros of the Smithereens were joined by Liza DiNizio, daughter of late lead singer Pat DiNizio, on the Paramount.
Babjak read a message of appreciation from Antoinette DiNizio, the singer's mom who resides in Scotch Plains.
“It seemed like we had our own private club playing our favorite music and everybody joined in,” Mesaros said.
Mesaros also thanked the owners of two Jersey music nightclubs that are no longer open, Bobby Albert of the former Court Tavern in New Brunswick and the late John Schroeder, aka Johnny Dirt, of the former Dirt Club in Bloomfield.
The Smithereens were inducted by Garry Tallent of the E Street Band.
"I'm merely a fan who caught them during their appearances on 'The Uncle Floyd Show,'" Tallent said. "At a time when synth-pop groups were all around, I witnessed a two-guitars, bass and drum rock 'n' roll band who had obviously taken the time and effort to study the music that came before them and take it to a place that was true to it's roots but had it's own unique identity."
Stewart fondly remembered growing up in Nutley.
“I babysat for the Yankees,” Stewart said. “Yogi Berra was my favorite client.”
Stewart, inducted by TV's Dr. Mehmet Oz, also babysat Mickey Mantle’s kids.
Winifred Wesson, wife of the late Benchley, accepted on behalf of the author.
“Honey, I don’t think a book about a shark makes much sense,” Wesson said. “Thank goodness he didn’t listen to me.”
Benchley wrote the first draft of “Jaws” in Pennington.
Izenberg, who was unable to attend, was inducted by former Rutgers football coach Greg Schiano.
Izenberg gave Schiano fair warning when a negative story was coming.
"Kid, I'm going to have to kill you tomorrow," said Izenberg to Schiano after a Rutgers loss.
Whoopi Goldberg, last year's host, inducted photographer Timothy White. TV newsman Jack Ford was the host this year.
Alexander was inducted into third hour of the ceremony, which began at 7 and ended at 11 p.m.
"New Jersey has given me so much," Alexander said. "I was thinking about it back in my hotel room when this awards show began yesterday."
He cited his school days at Livingston High School and days fishing on Lake Hopatcong.
"Hopatcong being a Native American word that means Jews can't fish. I never caught a damned thing."
The former Don's Diner of Livingston also got a shout-out from Alexander.
"Where I began building this Adonis like figure I have today," said Alexander of Don's.
(Subscribe to the Asbury Park Press for the latest on the Jersey entertainment scene)
The inductees were voted in by the Hall of Fame board and by a fan vote. A red carpet in the Grand Arcade preceded the ceremony in the Paramount.
Gov. Phil Murphy and former Gov. Tom Kean made appearances.
"The Smithereens have made a huge mark," said Murphy on the red carpet prior to the ceremony. "I wish Pat DiNizio was still alive and with us. He left us too soon."
Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Darlene Love opened the show.
The Smithereens, with Marshall Crenshaw and Robin Wilson of the Gin Blossoms on vocals, performed two songs, "Blood and Roses" and "A Girl Like You," toward the end of the night.
"Come down to the front, it's a rock 'n' roll show for the next five minutes," Wilson said.
The crowd did come down and dance in front of the stage while the band played.
The Hall will be moving to the American Dream retail and amusement center at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford. There will be Hall of Fame pop-ups starting in fall 2020, and a permanent museum by 2021, officials said.
2018 Class of Inductees
ARTS AND LETTERS: Author Peter Benchley**, Pennington; sports columnist Jerry Izenberg, Neptune; “Game of Thrones” author George R. R. Martin, Bayonne; photographer Timothy White, Fort Lee.
ENTERPRISE: Businessman J. Fletcher Creamer Sr.**, Saddle River; businessman F.M. Kirby II**, Harding; restaurateur, entrepreneur Tim McLoone, Little Silver; businesswoman Mary Roebling**, Trenton; businessman Arthur F. Ryan, Newark; businesswoman/TV personality Martha Stewart*, Nutley.
PERFORMING ARTS: Actor Jason Alexander, Livingston; musician Southside Johnny Lyon, Neptune; musicians The Smithereens, Carteret, Scotch Plains.
PUBLIC SERVICE: Activist Elizabeth Allen**, Hoboken; physician, professor Victor Parsonnet, Newark.
SPORTS: Former New York Giants football player Harry Carson, Franklin Lakes; basketball player, coach Anne Donovan**, Ridgewood; gymnast Laurie Hernandez, Old Bridge; former New York Giant Bart Oates, Harding.
* Previously selected and being inducted in 2019; ** Being honored posthumously.
Contact Chris Jordan at cjordan@app.com.