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Makin Waves Song of the Week: "The Death of Renee Good" by Bruce Tunkel

By Bob Makin

originally published: 01/23/2026

The Makin Waves Song of the Week is “The Death of Renee Good,” the latest single by the great Jersey singer-songwriter Bruce Tunkel. PHOTO BY JONATHAN ROSS

It may not have generated the publicity that Bruce Springsteen received dedicating "The Promised Land" to Renee Good during of Light of Day Festival, but the great Jersey singer-songwriter Bruce Tunkel has made an even more powerful statement about the Minneapolis ICE victim.

“The Death of Renee Good” is the Makin Waves Song of the Week.

As the Makin Waves Song of the Week, “The Death of Renee Good” also can be heard between 6 and 8 p.m. on Jan. 23 on “Radio Jersey” at ThePenguinRocks.com. If you miss it, you can tune in any time in the archives at The Penguin, Mixcloud and RadioJersey.net.

“This was a tough song to write because the subject matter is so painful,” Bruce said. “There's many reasons that an artist might create something. Sometimes we might share feelings. Sometimes we try to inspire. Sometimes we just want to make people dance. In this case, it's really a report on what I saw. I hope people will reflect on why this event was so antithetical to our American values and resist being gaslighted by our government.”




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The leader of Central Jersey-based SBK recording act The Red House in a younger day and now the owner Beanland Studios in Branchburg, Bruce is working on an EP, among many other things, to go alongside his 10 solo albums and latest single.

“I have a rather large collection of songs that I've written over the past two years, which I am slowly going about recording,” he said. “I may release an EP of three songs, which go together thematically. It will be called ‘World Blues.’”

Bruce often can be found playing music at Pino’s Open Mic on Wednesdays in Highland Park. He’s likely to play “The Death of Renee Good,” which also can be heard on Apple Music and Spotify.

Bob Makin has produced Makin Waves since 1988. Follow Makin Waves on Facebook and Instagram and contact Bob at [email protected].

About the author:

New Jersey Stage is proud to be the home of Bob Makin's Makin Waves column since 2017. His Song of the Week column comes out every Friday. He also writes an Album of the Month and Interview of the Month as well.




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EVENT PREVIEWS

(CARTERET, NJ) -- The Carteret Performing Arts & Events Center presents John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band on Friday, November 13, 2026 at 8:00pm. The legendary Rhode Island multi-platinum rock band began their career in 1973 and achieved mainstream success in the 1980s with the "Eddie & The Cruisers – Motion Picture Soundtrack".

Outpost in the Burbs Presents Richard Thompson with Zara Phillips in Benefit Concert for Toni's Kitchen on November 21st

(MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- Outpost in the Burbs will present an extraordinary evening of music featuring singer-songwriter and guitarist Richard Thompson with Zara Phillips on Saturday, November 21, 2026 at the First Congregational Church in Montclair. The special concert will serve as a fundraiser in support of Toni's Kitchen, the Montclair based nonprofit dedicated to combating food insecurity and related challenges in Essex County and beyond. Showtime is 8:00pm.
 

FEATURED EVENTS



Choir! Choir! Choir! Hallelujah”: An EPIC Anthems Sing-Along!

Friday, November 06, 2026 @ 8:00pm
Outpost In The Burbs
40 S Fullerton Ave, Montclair, NJ


Always Jovi with special guest, Shot of Poison

Friday, November 06, 2026 @ 7:00pm
Carteret Performing Arts & Events Center
46 Washington Ave, Carteret, NJ


Margarita Rovenskaya, piano

Friday, November 06, 2026 @ 2:00pm
Grunin Center - Bösendorfer Recital Room
1 College Drive, Toms River, NJ


Suzanne Vega - Flying with Angels

Friday, November 06, 2026 @ 8:00pm
McCarter Theatre Center (Matthews Theatre)
91 University Place, Princeton, NJ


The Chris Pinnella Big Band Project

Friday, November 06, 2026 @ 7:00pm
Grunin Center - Main Stage
1 College Drive, Toms River, NJ


Shemekia Copeland with special guest JB Barnes Blues Band

Friday, November 06, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJ


 

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