Music of New Jersey - Popular Music

Popular Music

Some of the most renowned modern popular musicians from New Jersey are Hoboken native Frank Sinatra, who was one of the most popular singers of the 20th century; and The Four Seasons (group) who had their first No. 1 hit record, "Sherry", in 1962. They were the first group to have a falsetto lead: Newark native, Frankie Valli. The popular group had many hits and held their own against the British Invasion throughout the 1960s. Frankie Valli went on to a successful solo career. The all female pop group The Shirelles were from Passaic. Connie Francis, Ricky Nelson and Lesley Gore were three other New Jersey natives who ruled the pop charts in the early '60s.

Bruce Springsteen became an American icon with complex lyrical stories about teens growing up in Freehold and other economically depressed areas of New Jersey. In addition, Francis Hopkinson of Bordentown, is perhaps the first American composer. Other famous Jersey musicians include Jon Bon Jovi, The Rascals, Paper Cut, Richie Sambora, The Fugees, Whitney Houston, deSoL, My Chemical Romance, The Smithereens and Kool and the Gang. George Clinton was born in Plainfield, NJ. Deborah Harry of Blondie was born in Miami, but grew up in Hawthorne, and went to college in Hackettstown. Donald Fagen of Steely Dan was born in Passaic and grew up in Fair Lawn and Kendall Park. He would later write songs about growing up in the suburbs. Joe Lynn Turner, another Garden State native, replaced Ronnie James Dio as the lead singer for Rainbow. Dramarama formed in Wayne in 1982 and has had success with singles such as, "Anything, Anything" and "Last Cigarette." The band is now based in California. Blues Traveler was formed in Princeton in 1987 and has had worldwide success. Indie band Real Estate is from Ridgewood. Another Bergen County indie band is The Lumineers, who are from Ramsey but are based in Colorado. Acclaimed alternative band Yo La Tengo are from Hoboken. Another band with great influence were The Feelies, who were from Haledon. Sleigh Bells vocalist Alexis Krauss is from Manasquan. Yeah Yeah Yeahs singer and pianist Karen O is from Englewood. Famous Indie band Fun had its beginnings in the state. The alternative rock band Love Among Freaks, most famously known for their songs on the Clerks soundtrack, including, "Bezerker," was also from New Jersey. James Murphy, founder and frontman of LCD Soundsystem, is from Princeton Junction. Murphy began his career as a DJ at various venues in the Trenton area. Local famous cover band The Nerds had their beginnings in Hudson County in the mid 1980s, and have since grown in popularity into a staple of the Jersey Shore music scene. Venues like The Osprey Hotel and Joe Pops have hosted The Nerds for decades. ApeFight, based in Jersey City, have had three CDs released, and can be found on the soundtrack (as the theme song) to the film, Accepted. Phish members Trey Anasatasio and Page McConnell are from New Jersey. Members of the Spin Doctors have roots in the state. Local celebrity Floyd Vivino, (a.k.a. Uncle Floyd), was born in Paterson, and hosted a comedy variety show with music on New Jersey cable television for twenty five years.

The phonograph record was invented by Thomas Edison in Menlo Park, and the Victor Talking Machine Company established its headquarters and plant in Camden.

Three of the state's most famous recording artists, Frank Sinatra, Dionne Warwick and Connie Francis, share the same birth date – December 12.