It was an epic night in an epic year for Red Bank’s 100-year-old Count Basie Center for the Arts Friday: two music legends bestowed with sidewalk immortality before simultaneous sets performed before adoring crowds.
The Count Basie Center for the Arts honored artists Darlene Love and The Smithereens by inducting them onto its Walk of Fame during special ceremonies before their respective shows.
Launched earlier this year as part of the Basie Center’s Centennial Celebration, the Walk of Fame honors artists who have performed at the historic Red Bank venue, made an indelible impact on culture, and whose contributions reflect the enduring power of the arts. The first two inductees, William “Count” Basie and Jon Bon Jovi, received the honors in September.
Love’s career spans more than 60 years. She has been a backup singer to more than 200 well-known musicians.
Darlene Love accepts her Walk of Fame plaque flanked by Count Basie Center trustee Robin Klein (left) and COO Izzy Sackowitz (Photo courtesy of the Count Basie Center for the Arts)
As a lead singer, her Billboard hits include: He’s A Rebel, The Boy I’m Gonna Marry, Wait ‘Til My Bobby Gets Home, He’s Sure the Boy I Love and the #1 holiday classic Christmas Baby Please Come Home, a song that she performed annually on The Late Show With David Letterman for 29 years.
She was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2011. In addition to other performances at the Basie Center, she has brought her holiday show to the historic stage 14 times, including Friday nights show at the Center’s Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre.
“The Walk of Fame is a permanent tribute to the artists who have helped shape the Basie Center’s identity over the last hundred years,” said Adam Philipson, President and CEO of the Count Basie Center for the Arts. “As we celebrate our Centennial, honoring Darlene Love and The Smithereens reflects both the legacy of this institution and the enduring impact of artists who continue to inspire audiences across generations.”
The Smithereens, formed in Carteret, have an unmistakable sound that’s a mix of rock, pop, and punk.
Smithereens founders (left to right) Jim Babjak and Dennis Diken with bassist Severo Jornacion backstage at Friday’s show. (Photo courtesy of the Count Basie Center for the Arts)
In the 1980s, the band was a popular fixture on MTV and they had numerous appearances on The Tonight Show, Late Night and Saturday Night Live. Their music remains a vital part of the American rock canon and a point of pride for New Jersey’s cultural history. After lead singer and founding member Pat DiNizio passed away in 2017, the band performed a memorial concert at the BasieCenter to raise money for a scholarship in DiNizio’s name.
“We are truly honored to be included on the Count Basie Center for the Arts Walk of Fame,” said Dennis Diken of The Smithereens. “It’s especially meaningful to be recognized in our home state. I’m so grateful that I was bitten by the music bug at a tender age and to have found Jim, Mike, and Pat. Together we forged a joyful noise that lifted the spirits of our listeners and our collective dream came true. Thank you, NJ, for giving us the steel to see it through.”
“I am truly humbled by this honor and don’t take being awarded the Walk of Fame for granted,” said Jim Babjak of The Smithereens. “I’m also grateful that along with Dennis, Mike, and Pat, we were able to bring happiness and joy to so many people through our passion for music. Thank you, Count Basie Center for the Arts, for honoring us and inspiring the next generation of artists. Long live live music!”
As part of the evening’s celebration, the Basie Center also awarded the Pat DiNizio Musical Performance Scholarship before their sold out show at The Vogel. The scholarship helps make music education accessible to young people studying through the Basie Center’s Turner Academy of the Arts and other affiliated programs. This year’s recipients were Paloma Donohue from Red Bank Regional High School and Chloe Schneider from Marlboro High School.
“Nights like these capture what the Basie Center is all about – honoring artists who have shaped our history, while investing in the next generation through opportunities like the Pat DiNizio Musical Performance Scholarship,” said Jeremy Grunin, Chair of the Count Basie Center Board of Trustees. “The Walk of Fame reflects the legacy built on our stages, and the scholarship ensures that legacy continues.”
The Basie Center’s Centennial Celebration commemorates the venue’s impact on arts, culture and community over the last 100 years.
redbankgreen editor Brian Donohue may be reached via email at [email protected] or by calling or texting 848-331-8331.
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