Before he was belting out Love Shack, Roam — and if you’re really cool, you
remember, Rock Lobster — B-52s front man Fred Schneider was just a Jersey boy
going to shows at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank.
“I grew up in Oceanport, my father worked at the Red Bank Register, and I went to
many shows at the theatre in the 60’s with my best friend Adrian,” he said. “It was
always a thrill for me when I performed in New Jersey.”
This Friday, Schneider and bandmate Kate Pierson (also a Jerseyan) will be added to
the Walk of Fame at the Count Basie Center for the Arts.
Pierson and Schneider will be inducted during a special ceremony at noon, one day
ahead of The B-52s’ concert at ParkStage in Freehold on July 11. Dramarama, also
performing at that concert, will be presented with a commemorative plaque at the show.
Tickets for the concert are available at parkstage.org.
Launched during the Basie Center’s Centennial Celebration, the Walk of Fame honors
artists who have performed at the Basie Center, made an indelible impact on culture
and whose contributions reflect the enduring power of the arts. Permanent keystones
along Monmouth Street celebrate performers whose artistry has helped define the Basie
Center’s first century while inspiring generations of audiences and artists.
Basie Center CEO Adam Philipson said the organization was thrilled to honor its latest
members.
“The Walk of Fame celebrates artists whose performances have become part of the
Basie Center’s story and whose influence continues to resonate far beyond our stages,”
he said. “Kate Pierson, Fred Schneider and Dramarama have each had an important
impact on music and culture, and we’re proud to recognize their extraordinary
contributions by welcoming them onto the Basie Center Walk of Fame and then
celebrating with an incredible concert at ParkStage on Saturday.”
For more than five decades, The B-52s have been one of popular music’s most
distinctive and influential bands. Their unmistakable blend of new wave, rock and pop
has helped the band sell more than 20 million records worldwide while earning multiple
Grammy Award nominations.
Pierson said she was just as thrilled.
“I grew up in the Garden State — though with all the incredible music that has come
from New Jersey, maybe it should be known as the Rock Garden State,” she said.
“Along with Count Basie, Bruce Springsteen, Debbie Harry, Patti Smith, Sarah
Vaughan, Queen Latifah, and so many more greats all have New Jersey roots.
“Fred and I are so thrilled to be honored by the Count Basie Center For The Arts and
included in such august company. “I grew up in Weehawken and Rutherford, but I also
spent summers on my aunt and uncle’s farm in Blairstown and at my grandmother’s
house near Lake Erskine.
“So, my New Jersey was city energy, farms, countryside, lakes, and beaches — not
always what people expect. Rock on, New Jersey. I’m proud to be from here.”
The Basie Center will also welcome Dramarama to its Walk of Fame during the
ParkStage concert, where the band will be presented with its commemorative Walk of
Fame plaque.
Formed in Wayne, Dramarama has spent nearly five decades building a devoted
following with its unmistakable sound and energetic live performances. The band’s
influence continues to resonate with audiences across generations, making it a fitting
addition to the Basie Center’s Walk of Fame.
“It’s a magnificent honor to be inducted into the Count Basie Center Walk of Fame,
though we must admit, we’re a bit stunned,” John Easdale, lead vocalist and founding
member of Dramarama, said.
“We’re just guys from the Garden State who’ve known each other since we were kids,
who are amazed that after almost five decades we still get to make music together, and
who are so immensely grateful to the countless and varied artists and institutions–like
the Basie Center–that inspire, encourage and help kids from anywhere, even Wayne,
New Jersey, feel like we have a place in the Arts.
“Thank you to anyone who has ever listened to Dramarama, whether you liked us or
not; we appreciate that you took the time to give us a chance.”
