When I started Driving Jersey, my friend Mike Grigaliunas from Bayonne, couldnt have been happier. A lover of all things Jersey, particularly the music of the Garden State, Mike would advise me in long, enthusiastic conversations about the rock scene, whom begat whom and so forth and so on, directing me to explore the rich, muscular and magnificent history of the music culture and community of the state. He knew so much and loved it so much that, admittedly, there were times, when I had to cut our conversations off, when I had to be on my way, which was always the hardest thing to do. He had so much joy in his heart for the subject that I felt bad having to cut his glee short. And hed always agreeably part from me with a smile and a promise to continue his story at some other time. The last time I saw Mike was at the Broadway Diner (now gone) in Red Bank. He was in town for a show at the Count Basie. After three cups of coffee and a lot of excited talk about the sounds and the scenes, Mike and I parted, again with a promise to catch up some more soon and I watched him amble west to the Basie and gone. Mike passed away, alone, at home the day after Christmas. I got the news while on the boulevard in Seaside Heights, standing outside a club with some Jersey musicians who were talking about life on the road and the happiness of coming home to play. I was struck and I thought about walking away and heading home, but then I figured there was no better place to remember my friend, my Jersey music friend, Mike G, than at a sandy backstreet club, grooving to the sweet sounds of a Jersey shore band. Fare thee well Mike...you can finish telling me that story the next time we meet...until then...keep on rockin bro.
Posted on: Mon, 29 Dec 2014 17:16:39 +0000
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