MARSHALL CRENSHAW
Marshall Crenshaw, Robin Wilson (of The Gin Blossoms), Richard Barone, Ted Leo and Freedy Johnston will be among the musicians paying tribute to the late Smithereens frontman Pat DiNizio at “Time and Time Again: A Celebration of Pat DiNizio,” a concert taking place at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, Jan. 13 at 8 p.m.
(Jan. 12 Update: Dave Davies of The Kinks has posted on his Facebook page: “I will be doing a song or two at this event tomorrow. RIP Pat DiNizio.”)
The show was originally planned as a double bill in Citi’s Underground Garage at the Basie series, featuring The Smithereens and Patty Smyth (performing with her group, Scandal) and hosted by Steven Van Zandt. But it was transformed into a tribute following DiNizio’s Dec. 12 death. Smyth and Scandal will still perform a set of their own, and Van Zandt and Smyth will be among the singers performing with the surviving Smithereens: guitarist Jim Babjak, drummer Dennis Diken and bassists Mike Mesaros and Severo Jornacion.
Other performers will include Peter Zaremba and Keith Streng of The Fleshtones, Bebe Buell, The Grip Weeds, Kenny Margolis, Soraia, Graham Maby (of The Joe Jackson Band), John Jorgenson, Andy Burton, Ed Stasium (one of The Smithereens’ producers) and Kenny Howes, and Jim Monaghan of WDHA-FM will emcee.
The event will be streamed live at thebasie.org.
A portion of the proceeds will go towards the establishment of the Pat DiNizio Musical Performance Scholarship at the Basie’s Performing Arts Academy. Donations can also be made at countbasietheatre.org/commemorative-giving. (Select “Pat DiNizio Musical Performance Scholarship” in the dropdown menu.)
“I’m heartened and overwhelmed – though not surprised – at the outpouring of love for Pat since his passing,” said Diken in a press release. “The fact that the Basie show sold out within minutes speaks volumes and I know there will be a lot of love in the room on Saturday night as we celebrate Pat’s life and music. The DiNizio Musical Performance Scholarship offers a wonderful way to keep his spirit alive and pass along his passion for music and self-expression for generations to come and enlighten young musicians.”
There will also be a tribute to DiNizio, featuring members of his Scotchplainsmen band and others, at Crossroads in Garwood, Feb. 25.
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