By Gary Wien
originally published: 12/26/2017
The annual Light of Day concerts roll into the tri-state area in January with shows in Montclair, Asbury Park, New York City, and Philadelphia.
The concerts and the organization began as a birthday party in November 1998 at the Downtown Cafe in Red Bank, NJ to celebrate the 40th birthday of artist manager and music industry veteran Bob Benjami who had recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system.
In lieu of gifts, asked that donations be made to the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation. Over $2,000 was raised that night. Spurred by the generosity and support, Benjamin reached out to friends, including concert promoter Tony Pallagrosi and musician Joe D’Urso, and formed the Light of Day charity, taking its name from a Bruce Springsteen song.
Utilizing the power of music to raise money and awareness in its continuing battle to defeat Parkinson’s disease and related illnesses such as PSP and ALS within our lifetime, Light of Day shows are now presented on 3 continents, including North America, Europe and Australia.
Here are some of our picks:
January 5 at Outpost In The Burbs, Montclair, NJ. This North Jersey Songwriters By The Sea show is billed as a tribute to Tom Petty, the lineup includes Willie Nile, James Maddock, Jeffrey Gaines, Joe D’Urso, and Emily Grove.
January 6 at World Cafe Live in Philadelphia, PA. The LOD Philly show includes performances upstairs and downstairs.
Full bands are downstairs. The lineup includesWillie Nile & Band, Joe Grushecky & The Houserockers, Remember Jones, Ben Arnold & Band, and Joe D’Urso & Stone Caravan) while solo artists perform upstairs.
The upstairs lineup includes Jim Boggia, Graham Alexander, John Byrne, Nalani & Sarina, Vini Lopez, and Lisa Bouchelle.
January 11 at House of Independents, Asbury Park, NJ. The lineup for LOD Winterfest 2018 Kick-Off includes Dramarama, Joe D’Urso & Stone Caravan, Bobby Bandiera presenting a tribute to Tom Petty, and UK
artist Mark Wright presents “The King Sings the Boss” - an interesting look at what might have been if Elvis Presley had covered songs written by Bruce Springsteen.
January 13 at Wonder Bar in Asbury Park, NJ. The Asbury Blues show features a strong lineup from 12:30 to 6:30pm including sets by Papa John Bug & The Jam Band, Stringbean, RB3, Joe Whyte, Norman Seldin, Pam McCoy, Chuck Lambert, James Dalton, Tony Tedesco & Full Fathom 5, Karen Phillips, and Billy Walton Band.
January 13 at House of Independents, Asbury Park, NJ. The night opens with originals by Quincy Mumford and the Reason Why and then moves into a special tribute to Prince.
January 14 at Langosta Lounge, Asbury Park, NJ. Songwriters By The Sea #2 includes sets by Jersey singer-songwriters including Bruce Tunkel, Karen Mansfield, Pat Guadagno, Sam Sims/Kyle Ward, Frank Lombardi, Joshua, and Scott Elk.
Stormin’ Norman Seldin spoke with us about his set on January 13 during the Asbury Blues show. He will be presenting a tribute to the legendary Fats Domino who passed away in October.
“Fats Domino changed my total outlook on piano, vocals, and his New Orleans happy style was infectious and I had to listen over and over,” said Seldin. “He was only heard on the black r&b stations while Pat Boone or Ricky Nelson were given the top spots on radio because they were white, leaving many people were uneducated on how great this New Orleans artist really was. His first recording ever I believe was way back in 1951 with Dave Bartholomew (his life long friend, co-writer, and musician) it was called ‘The Fat Man’ and was simple rock/blues, but amazing to jam on piano with a great horn section which we’ll have at the Light of Day show.”
Seldin said he has done partial sets of Fats Domino in the past and younger audience members quickly fall in love with the music.
“Many of them were not born yet,” continued Seldin. “They say Fats sold something like 80 million records worldwide which for a time with no computers and online, which is pretty amazing! If someone had never heard Fats Domino before there are 2-3 very telling recordings. ‘Ain’t That A Shame’ (which has been recorded by many other groups), ‘I’m Walkin’ ( the great piano and in some versions that amazing New Orleans sax stuff, and of course the one that started it all ‘Blueberry Hill’ which is identified immediately by the piano intro.”
Stormin’ Norman will have a full band for the show, including Gerry Gironda (bass), Ed Dougherty (drums), Ray Johnson (guitar), Vic Cappetta (sax), Rich Taskowitz (sax) and likely will have special guests adding a third sax, trump, and trombone for some songs. In addition to celebrating the music of Fats Domino, they might include a song by some of his friends and contemporaries as well - artists like Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis.
“Fats Domino is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, was a giant at getting it all started, and also broke a color barrier!” added Seldin. “I have now been playing, performing, and still learning after 67 years and his simple happy style still drives me nuts!”
All of the Light of Day shows feature incredible artists helping to raise money for a good cause. These selections are only a fraction of the great music taking place in January at LOD. For more information on the shows or the organization visit www.lightofday.org
About the author:
Gary Wien has been covering the arts since 2001 and has had work published with Jersey Arts, Upstage Magazine, Elmore Magazine, Princeton Magazine, Backstreets and other publications. He is a three-time winner of the Asbury Music Award for Top Music Journalist and the author of
Beyond the Palace (the first book on the history of rock and roll in Asbury Park) and
Are You Listening? The Top 100 Albums of 2001-2010 by New Jersey Artists. In addition, he runs New Jersey Stage and the online radio station
The Penguin Rocks. His personal website is at
lightyscorner.com. He can be contacted at
[email protected].
Floyd Pink - Celebrating The Music Of Pink Floyd
Saturday, November 14, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJFLOYD PINK is a Pink Floyd tribute band from the New York metro area, celebrating the music of Pink Floyd.
Geoff Tate’s Operation: Mindcrime
Saturday, November 14, 2026 @ 8:00pm
Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC)
100 South Street, Morristown, NJMulti-platinum selling, Grammy nominated singer/songwriter Geoff Tate is best known for his 30-plus years as the creative and driving force behind the progressive metal band Queensryche. Since its inception with Geoff at the helm, Queensryche has sold over 20 million albums worldwide and has performed in upwards of fifty countries. Geoff is regarded as one of the most skilled vocalists in the genre with hundreds of modern, popular artists citing him and his former band as a major influence. Combining social consciousness and expertly crafted lyrics with high-energy, melodically complex music, Queensryche with Geoff Tate at the forefront became internationally recognized as the thinking man’s rock band. The band’s first three albums — their self-titled EP (1983), The Warning (1984) and Rage for Order (1986) — all hit gold status selling over 500,000 units each.
Jesse Cook
Saturday, November 14, 2026 @ 8:00pm
NJPAC - Victoria Theater
1 Center Street, Newark, NJA global artist in every sense of the term, Jesse Cook redefines music’s power to connect people across cultures and continents. The Paris-born, Toronto-raised master of the Spanish guitar weaves together flamenco, samba, jazz and world folk traditions into something spellbinding and uniquely his own. On stage, Cook radiates infectious energy — collaborating with his band to craft immersive experiences celebrated for their warmth, precision and emotional depth. With over a billion streams and views across platforms, his sound remains as relevant as it is revered.
Don Mclean & Lee Greenwood
Sunday, November 15, 2026 @ 7:00pm
Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC)
100 South Street, Morristown, NJTwo iconic singers perform their hits and celebrate America’s 250 birthday! Singer/songwriter Don McLean is best known for the classic hit “American Pie,” as well as “Vincent” and “Castles in the Air.” Country superstar Lee Greenwood has seven top charting singles, including “I.O.U,” “It Turns Me Inside Out,” and the patriotic favorite, “God Bless the U.S.A.”
Song Of The Meadowlark
Sunday, November 15, 2026 @ 2:30pm
Highland Design Farm
159 Van Dyke Road, Hopewell, NJA meditative rock odyssey weaving reimagined contemporary songs, stream-of-consciousness poetry and live painting.
EVENT PREVIEWS
NJPAC presents Jesse Cook on Saturday
(NEWARK, NJ) -- New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) presents Jesse Cook on Saturday, November 14, 2026 in the Victoria Theater at 8:00pm. A global artist in every sense of the term, Jesse Cook redefines music's power to connect people across cultures and continents.
Forte Piano Music Company presents Exquisite Contrasts: Haydn & Schubert Piano Trios
(PARAMUS, NJ) -- The Forte Piano Music Company presents a Piano Trio Concert - "Exquisite Contrasts" - Haydn & Schubert on Sunday, November 15, 2026 at 2:30pm. This program brings together two landmarks of the piano trio repertoire, revealing the evolution of the genre from the Classical era to early Romanticism.
Mahwah Museum Hosts "Les Paul from Start to Finish" with Jim Wysocki
(MAHWAH, NJ) -- Come to the Mahwah Museum on Sunday, November 15, 2026 for a discussion of a 29-year friendship, rare memorabilia, and the story behind Les Paul's home with Mahwah Mayor Jim Wysocki from his nearly three-decade friendship with legendary musician and inventor Les Paul. The event begins at 2:00pm.
Atlantic City Punk Rock Flea Market - Holiday Edition to take place on Sunday
(ATLANTIC CITY, NJ) -- You can get your holiday shopping done on Sunday, November 15, 2026 when Anchor Rock Club hosts the Atlantic City Punk Rock Flea Market - Holiday Edition. The event runs from noon to 6:00pm.
Song of the Meadowlark takes place on Sunday in Hopewell
(HOPEWELL, NJ) -- Song of the Meadowlark takes place Sunday, November 15, 2026 at Highland Design Farm. This is a meditative rock odyssey weaving reimagined contemporary songs, stream-of-consciousness poetry, and live painting. Doors are at 2:00pm, showtime is 2:30pm.
Avenel Performing Arts Center presents Chris Smither
(AVENEL, NJ) -- Chris Smither will perform at the Avenel Performing Arts Center on Wednesday, November 18, 2026 at 7:30pm. Born in Miami, during World War II, Chris Smither grew up in New Orleans where he first started playing music as a child. The son of a Tulane University professor, he was taught the rudiments of instrumentation by his uncle on his mother's ukulele.
Rufus Wainwright to Perform with Princeton "Super-Orchestra" at McCarter Theatre
(PRINCETON, NJ) -- On Thursday, November 19, 2026 at 7:30pm, GRAMMY-nominated singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright takes the McCarter stage for one night only with the Princeton Playhouse Sinfonia, a dynamic new collaborative ensemble created specifically for this concert.
Princeton Folk Music Society presents Kate Taylor
(PRINCETON, NJ) — The Princeton Folk Music Society presents Kate Taylor on Friday, November 20, 2026 in an evening of upbeat and bubbling song filled with enthusiasm and love. The concert takes place at Christ Congregation Church in Princeton. Showtime is 8:00pm. A livestream option is available as well.
Private Eyes Brings the Greatest Hits of Hall & Oates to the Strand Center for the Arts
(LAKEWOOD, NJ) -- Few musical acts defined the sound of the late 1970s and 1980s quite like Daryl Hall and John Oates. On Friday, November 20, 2026, the Strand Center for the Arts will celebrate their extraordinary catalog when Private Eyes – The Premier Tribute To Daryl Hall & John Oates takes the stage for an evening of classic pop, rock, and blue-eyed soul. Showtime is 8:00pm.
NJPAC to Celebrate Ben Vereen's 80th Birthday with All-Star Concert on November 21st
(NEWARK, NJ) -- New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) presents Ben Vereen's 80th Birthday Concert on Saturday, November 21, 2026 at 8:00pm. This special one-night only celebration is part of NJPAC’s 2026 TD James Moody Jazz Festival (November 6-22). Several of today's leading Broadway stars and vocalists unite for a spectacular birthday bash performance toasting the legendary actor/dancer/singer Ben Vereen who turns 80 on October 10, 2026.
