My devotion to Jukes music can be related to the song title of "Comin' Back."

Growing up, I was lucky enough to have a great Professor for Intro to Folk & Rock N Roll music. He was none other than my neighbor Vince Scelsa, aka Bayonne Butch. He was my CCD teacher while he attended Fordham University and he blended Catechism with Folk and Rock N Roll music.

During the summers in the mid 70's I was working for General Motors on the night shift. On weekends I'd drive down to the beach at Avon By the Sea and sunbathe and fish on the inlet bordering Belmar. After 5 o'clock I'd drive or walk to Asbury Park. I remember Vince mentioning a band Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes on WNEW-FM. I'd saunter in and stay for their first set. They blew me away. Being on 3rd shift many a time I blew off work and stayed for the final set. So generally Thursday, Friday, and Saturday I was in Asbury except for softball games and tournaments.

While in college in Pennsylvania, I'd bring my Jukes music to parties and only the students from Jersey knew of them. I then started to listen to Steely Dan and Hall & Oates. Playing softball and helping coach AAU basketball now became a priority so, my devotion to Jukes music took a step back. Then in the late 70's when General Motors had layoffs my co-workers and teammates would head to the beaches of Belmar, Long Branch or Seaside Heights. Now my memory is a little foggy, but one time at Seaside Heights after leaving Marucas Pizzeria, we headed North on the boardwalk and what do I hear???? You got it, the Juke Horns!!! My friends wanted to go elsewhere, but I stood my ground. I think we were at the Chatterbox. My friends were a mix of hard rockers and disco dancers. The thing that sticks out most in my mind was how they raved that the most beautiful girls were in the Jukes audience. Let's just say I never had a problem enticing them seeing the Jukes again. I was there for the music and my friends were there for the girls.

In the 80's, softball and the courting of my future wife, Cathy, became a priority, with occasional jaunts to the Capitol and the Pony. Getting married, buying a house, and starting a family now came to the forefront of my life. Coaching Little League Baseball, and playing softball and being a Scout leader took up my time till the year 2000.

I've got a great wife who's a nurse who's also a converted Jukes fan. She's one of the first persons out there dancing in the aisles. One year I thought for sure she was going to get arrested in Rahway when a cop told her to sit down multiple times. Eventually Southside pleaded with the police to let the fans dance and they relented. I convinced my wife's nursing buddies to visit the Ocean Place Spa & Resort in Long Branch for some R & R. Lo and behold I spot a poster of the Jukes playing on New Year's Eve there. I booked the room and we had a great time and brunched with the Jukes New Years Day.

I took my devotion up another notch after talking to a former softball teammate and town resident named Kevin also . In all respects he's a greater fan than I am. He mentioned to me about the website and another page unfolded. Now I've had the privilege to converse and be blown away by more knowledgeable fans than myself. Earlier I parodied my affinity to the Jukes to Little Steven's "Comin' Back" or Carly Simon's "Coming Around Again". The bottom line is that Southside's voice and devotion to his craft and recruiting such awesome musicians keeps me wanting more. Collectively their performances whether live or on vinyl help me cope with the ups and downs of everyday life. Now as our sons are getting older I welcome the empty nest. I'll cajole Cathy into accompanying me to as many shows as possible in the Tri- State area.

Sincerely,
Kevin "CelticChef"