Tony Mart's closed in 1982, but the Somers Point club will be remembered at a special show this Saturday at Stumpo's.
"I knew we had to do a reunion some day, and I just realized that it's been 25 years!" says Carmen Marotta, whose family owned the Tony Mart's club in Somers Point for decades. The Bay Avenue institution that once boasted seven bars inside, as well as season after summer season of national pop and rock acts, go-go girls and Jersey Shore revelry, closed in 1982, but Marotta has put together an evening of entertainment that will recall the classic good times had at the club.
Down the road a bit from the original Tony Mart's spot -- where the idle Club Ice now sits -- Stumpo's Italian Grill will host the "25th Anniversary Celebration of Eddie & The Cruisers and the Last Summer - 1982" with a special event this Saturday night, Sept. 8, from 6:30pm to midnight. Local performer Bob Campanell and his band, which features guitarist Danny Eyer, will highlight an interesting line-up of music that will include songs associated with the legendary club. Special guests, who will take part in a live jam session, include renowned Zydeco musician Terrance Simien, as well as young local blues guitarist Patrick Droney and his band, and singer-songwriter (and AC Weekly managing editor) Jeff Schwachter, who'll do a set of songs associated with Bob Dylan and the Hawks. It was at Tony Mart's in the summer of 1965 when Dylan himself phoned the Bay Avenue club to ask the Hawks (later known as the Band) to become his backing group. "The music at Tony Mart's paralleled the evolution of popular music in America," says Marotta, who is currently working on a book about his family's club. Other acts that played the club were Conway Twitty and Mitch Ryder. Portions of the movie Eddie & the Cruisers were also filmed there.
The 25th Anniversary Celebration of Tony Mart's will take place on Saturday, Sept. 8, at Stumpo's Italian Grill, 101 E. Maryland Ave., Somers Point, from 6:30pm-midnight. $10 admission; $25 includes a T-shirt. Call 653-6069 for more information.
“Bistro” just might be the overused, misunderstood word currently popularized in the gastronomic world. By original definition, the term refers to a French neighborhood place, casually offering hearty portions at modest prices in a comforting, home-like atmosphere.
Levon and the Hawks were about to hit the stage when the band’s bass player, Rick Danko, seemed to be missing. When Frye discovered that Danko was in an Ocean City jail — busted for smoking marijuana — he had the sergeant of police in Somers Point, Lyn Bader, contact the Ocean City Police Department and persuade them to let Danko come to Tony Mart’s so the band could perform.
“The location was the key. A beautiful backdrop of the bay, with all types of boats cruising past, and the Ocean City skyline [across the bay].”
This year’s Atlantic City “Thunder Over the Boardwalk” Air Show will tie into the series with seven outstanding bands performing Monday through Wednesday, Aug. 15-17, including about six hours of music beyond when the air show ends (around 3:30pm) Wednesday.
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1. Ed Bassplayer Magnatones said... on Jun 30, 2009 at 01:04AM
“I played with the Magnatones, as the headline act, and the Classics, as a the side band at Tony' Marts in 61 and 63. Levon and the Hawks were on the main stage. They were a great group of guys. I recall their version of Eliza Jane. Garth Hudson was a cool man with great talent. We shared many roast beef sandwhichs across the street at Coaches Corner. I recall while we were there folk legend John Hammond came and sat in with the Hawks. The Magnatones also played at the Eemerald Room in Wildwood for 5 years. I recall Ton'ys son Carmen very cleary. He was a polite stocky young man. Also Ton'ys main manager was Pete a greying, curly-headed and hard working, no BS guy. We stayed upstairs in the famous apartment that was rented to the bands. When Isaw Eddie and the Crusers it was real scary I had a band, and a 57 Chevy convertible and played at the Club. Fortunately for me I didn't go off the causeway. bridge.”