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Militia Vox headshot by Taylor Hooper scaled

Militia Vox- A Woman With No Boundaries

Militia Vox

Solo Career, Bad Penny, and Dee Snider

Militia Vox is a multi-talented artist, producer, writer, actress, and more. She has proven to the music world she is one bad-ass woman.
She has recorded, toured, and performed with some of the best in the business, including: Cyndi Lauper, Dee Snider, John Petrucci, and many more. Militia’s two recent releases were recorded with the band, Bad Penny, featuring Danny Miranda of Blue Öyster Cult, duets with Rob Halford – “Push Comes to Shove,” and  Dee Snider – “Cry Little Girl.”
Beginning her music career at eight years young with classical piano, she quickly accelerated into becoming a regional and state award-winning concert pianist, and has starred in movies, tv shows, Off-Broadway stage, European tours, and national touring rock musicals, including: Dee Snider’s “Van Helsing’s Curse,” and Sandra Bernhard’s “Everything Bad and Beautiful.”
In 2000, M claimed her rightful place as a front woman at the legendary BITCH nightat Don Hill’s in Soho NYC (as seen in the documentary “The Bitch Movie” which premiered at Wacken Open Air in 2019.)  In 2005, her hard rock/groove metal band, Swear On Your Life emerged on the scene.  SOYL released one e.p. “BURN MY CROSSES” that was deemed “offensive” and was banned at several colleges duringits first week of release. The band toured the east coast, opening for Twisted Sister, Made Out of Babies and Bella Morte.Craving more creative freedom, Militia Vox officially went solo in 2013

Judas Priestess

Besides Militia’s solo career, she has the vocal duties for the world’s only All-Female Tribute to the Metal Gods, Judas Priest, a heavy metal phenomenon! Endorsed by the metal gods themselves!
The band religiously packs houses and events with frenzied fans all over the world.  They recently headlined House of Blues at Mandalay Bay on the world-famous Las Vegas Strip and played to a sold-out crowd at their 10 year anniversary show at the legendary Stone Pony in NJ.

Video interview with Militia Vox (Part 1)

Here are links to Militia

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Jeff Kazee (Part 2 of 2)

Jeff Kazee- Part 2 of 2

Southside Johnny Bandleader

In Part one with Jeff, we discussed his influences and moving to the New Jersey area in 1993 and when he joined Rock/Soul band Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes. We also talked about meeting with guitarist G.E. Smith and saxaphonist Mark Rivera, and when G.E. took Roger Waters to a club in Long Island that Jeff was playing at. During the Covid Pandemic, Jeff created the Living Room Lounge where he was able to raise over $10,000 for the Fulfill NJ , to help folks in need.

Bon Jovi and Early Elton Trio

In Part 2, we talk to Jeff about when he auditioned for Southside Johnny and met Jon Bon Jovi and Steve Van Zandt.  We then continue when Bon Jovi asked him help out on keyboards for the bands 2003 tour This Left Feels Right Live and the Have a Nice Day Tours from 2005 until 2006. Kazee also filled in for David Bryan on keyboards and vocals for night five of Bon Jovi’s 2010 London O2 Arena residency as Bryan was attending The Tony Awards in NYC.
In 2009, Jeff joined Fab Faux drummer Rich Pagano and Asbury Juke bassist John Conte in an ongoing side project performing music selected from Elton John‘s Trio Years (’70-’72), entitled Early Elton Trio.

Video interview with Jeff Kazee Part 2

Early Elton Trio-Take Me To The Pilot

Here are links to Jeff

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Kristin Rose Kelly

Kristin Rose Kelly

Chicago-Based Artist

Kristin is a self-taught, rock guitarist, singer, and songwriter, born and raised in the Chicago area. Kristin developed her style as soon as she had her hands on her first guitar at age 12, and has been playing and singing since. Kristin’s influences are Fleetwood Mac, Heart, Led Zeppelin, and Queen, to name a few. She has auditioned on American Idol and Nashville Star, but would rather play with her band any day. She had an Emmy nomination in 2011 for the intro theme to the Herman the Jester television show. Her debut album, Pantyhose, was released in 2017. Kristin says of the album’s title, her “female rock anthem,” meant to empower women and has been aired on Chicago’s Rock the Fox.  Pantyhose really shows Kristin’s talent on songs like “Rockin Muse” and “Hapi” to the acoustic ballad, “In Your Eyes.”  Touching on many views, her songs and lyrics naturally fall into place once she has the music. Kristin has supported the album by recently touring across the country and with southern Belk winner Eryn Shewell. Her other accolades include singing and writing for Al Krouse, opening for Dilana, and Isaiah Grass.

Video interview with Kristin

Kristin Playing Zeppelin

Here are links to Kristin

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Glen Burtnik (Part 2 of 2)

Glen Burtnik

Beatlemania and The Weeklings

In Part One, we spoke with Glen about his influences and learning to play bass. We also talked about his major breakthrough playing in Beatlemania.  Glen has been a member of the legendary Asbury Park music scene, and has been involved in many projects throughout his career. At many times, Beatles related. In 2015, Glen and Bob Burger formed The Weeklings, and the band released three albums with critical praise. The band performs Beatles’ songs (and songs the Beatles wrote but did not record themselves), and their own originals.

Solo Career, Song Writing, and Styx

In 1986, Glen was signed to A&M Records and released his first album, Talking In Code.  Then, in 1987 he released his follow-up album, Heroes and Zeros, featuring the single, Follow You. It was during that time that he began working with Bob Burger.
After Glen left A&M Records, Dennis DeYoung asked him to audition for his band, Styx (after Tommy Shaw left to form Damn Yankees). Glen jumped at the chance, and was hired as the second guitarist and songwriter and helped them release their new record, Edge of the Century. He stayed with them through 1991.  Glen eventually returned to Styx in 1999, playing bass.
With Glen’s successful songwriting with Styx, he continued writing for other artists, most notably, his collaboration with Patty Smyth of Scandal.  They wrote Sometime Love Just Ain’t Enough, and Patty ended up doing the duet with Don Henley, and it went to the top of the charts, reaching number one.

Video interview with Glen Burtnik (Part 2)

Sometimes Love Ain’t Enough

Here are links to Glen

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Deerfield Cay, by Nobuddy Famous/Bud Castaldi, NJ Singer/Guitarist

Buddy Sparrow- Singer/Songwriter

Nobuddy Famous/Buddy Sparrow

Mayor of Deerfield Beach Island?

Buddy Sparrow/Nobuddy Famous, is a talented singer/guitarist from New Jersey who was very active in the 1980’s and 1990’s with his band, Direct Touch. Direct Touch was a popular local act in the New Jersey club circuit, and released several albums that received radio airplay. During the late 1990’s, Bud moved to Deerfield Beach, Florida. He continued to write songs and perform, and he was involved with several bands that also played his original music. In the early 2000’s, Bud decided to go under the moniker Nobuddy Famous, releasing an album in 2016 called “Deerfield Cay” to help support the Surfers for Autism, as well as getting the Deerfield Beach area’s attention. The album was produced by Tom Root in his home studio in New Jersey. Buddy is working on the follow-up to Deerfield Cay, to be released in 2020

Trailer video of the interview with Buddy Sparrow

Full Interview

If you would like to be involved with this great organization, please click the link below to their website.

Below is the video of “Freedom Ride,” a song from the Deerfield Cay album. This song is dedicated to the children that have autism, as well as the organization, Surfers for Autism. “It really is an amazing, beautiful thing to see these kids surf on surfboards and their symptoms disappear,” said Bud.

“Freedom Ride” — Buddy Sparrow and Surfers For Autism

Here are links to other items of interest related to Buddy Sparrow

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Deerfield Cay, by Nobuddy Famous/Bud Castaldi, NJ Singer/Guitarist

Deerfield Cay

Album Notes
This album is dedicated to the island I call Deerfield Cay and the great people who cherish her. I fell in love with this place many years ago and wrote all of these songs in and around these beautiful beaches. – Track 1 – Deerfield Cay – It’s the barrier island extending from the lighthouse at Hillsboro Inlet north to the Boca Raton Inlet. When you come over the Hillsboro Bridge from the mainland you can feel your worries melt away. There are no “big shots” here and no-one judges another for their possessions. – Track 2 – Freedom Ride – The ocean is alive with every energy within it and is in constant flux with the gravitational energy of every heavenly body everywhere. It’s healing power is yet untold. Freedom ride was written for Surfer’s For Autism helping autistic children therapeutically by putting them on a surfboard. I was so amazed to see these children lose their symptoms while surfing that I had to write a song for the amazing parents, surfers and volunteers, ( who I call angels,) making this possible. – Track 3 – Silly Stupid Humans – Did you ever wonder what God, Moses, Jesus or Mohammed might say if they came to you in a dream? This song shreds the mask of absurdities the way only pure sarcasm can. It’s not meant to offend; just to reveal and after all… it’s only a dream… – Track 4 – Just How It Feels – Life on the water is a beautiful thing, especially when you have someone special to appreciate it with. Days on the water have been some of the most precious moments I have spent in my life. To feel the heave of the Gulfstream with no land in sight or to witness the stars on a clear night unobstructed by man-made light with someone special is beyond compare and I wish it for everyone. – Track 5 – Nobuddy Famous funk Jam – No matter what kind of day You had, Jim Murphy and the boys can cheer you up. This song was written for the band and the fans that make it all happen. Jammin’ by the ocean is our favorite gig and it doesn’t take much to spark a party on the Cay! – Track 6 – You Think Too Much – So often we are overwhelmed by the illusions of need thrust upon us by others who confuse need with greed. Our true needs are but few. We can count our true physical needs on one hand and our spiritual and emotional needs on the other. If our needs number more than 10 we can credit the remainder for the stress in our lives. To have enough is to be truly rich; to need more than enough is simply a contradiction. – Track 7 – Girls Want Money – A satirical commentary on the token economy often substituted for love during courtships and marriages whereby a money giver subjugates another for greed and ego while the other abandons morality for the want of things they do not need to feed their greed and ego. It’s really a set of business transactions, but maybe that’s why we call it a marriage contract! – Track 8 – Falseness – If we kill do we not steal life? If we steal do we not lie of ownership? If we lie do we not steal truth? Isn’t the prime root of all of sin “Falseness?” Isn’t the prime root of all goodness “Truth?” If one lies; do they not simply create the truth that they are attempting to be false? Must we judge our own sin by the edited words of humans long past while our creator’s original manuscript is scribed in every heart? – Track 9 – If You Were My Girl – The days on Deerfield Cay are beautiful but with the pier lit up and the warm salty southeast wind blowing through moonlit palms; the nights are equally so. I can’t tell you anymore about this song except that it was one of those nights.
Credits: This album was made possible by these individuals who gave of their time and talents free of charge that others might benefit. T. Root – Audio Engineer Buddy Sparrow – Lead Vox, Songwriter, Acoustic Guitar Jim Murphy – Bass Harmony Vox – Jennifer Troyan, Brenda Taylor, Rachel Castaldi, Vanessa Fernandez, Electric Guitars – Steve Takimoto, Jeff Hofelson, Dan Glenn Murray Caplinger – Bass (Just How It Feels) Front Album Photo – Ben Hicks

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Glen Burtnik- A True Beatles Fan- (Part 1 of 2)

Glen Burtnik

A New Jersey Musical Gem

Glen Burtnik said to me during our interview, “I didn’t go to college, I went to Beatlemania.” I have to say that is a pretty cool line, as not everyone can say that for sure. Before Beatlemania, Glen grew up in the North Brunswick area of New Jersey and has since been a member of the Asbury Park music scene.

Beatlemania, Solo Career, and Styx

In 1978, Glen auditioned for the musical, Beatlemania. He auditioned for the Paul McCartney role and won.
Glen was signed to A&M Records in 1986, and released his first album, Talking In Code, and his follow up in 1987 with, Heroes and Zeros, which featured the single, Follow You. It was during that time, that he began working with Bob Burger.
After Glen left A&M Records, Dennis DeYoung asked him to audition for his band, Styx after Tommy Shaw left to form Damn Yankees. Glen jumped at the chance, and no sooner he was then in the band, and was hired as the second guitarist and songwriter.
Styx, with Glen, released their new record, Edge of the Century, which was released in 1990, and a tour through 1991. Even though the album went Gold, the band was dropped and Glen went back to New Jersey. Glen eventually returned to Styx in 1999, playing bass, when original bassist Chuck Panozzo could not.  He went on to record Cyclorama with Styx in 2003.

Song Writing and The Weeklings

With Glen’s successful songwriting with Styx, he carried on writing for other artists most notably, his collaboration with Patty Smyth of Scandal.  They wrote Sometime Love Just Ain’t Enough, and Patty ended up doing the duet with Don Henley, that went to the top of the charts, reaching number one.
Glen has been involved in many projects throughout his career, at many times Beatles related. In 2015, Glen and Bob Burger formed The Weeklings, and the band has released three albums with critical praise. The band performs Beatles’ songs (and songs the Beatles wrote but did not record themselves) and their own originals.

Video interview with Glen Burtnik (Part 1)

The Weeklings Video of the Song “3”

Here are links to Glen

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CC Coletti- Meat Loaf, Solo Career & Janis Joplin Tribute

CC Coletti – Vocalist

CC Coletti Band

CC, a New Jersey native, started singing and creating music at a young age. Her main influences are: Janis Joplin, Robert Plant, and Aretha Franklin. CC has two solo releases, Woodstock Lane, released in 2008, and her sophomore release, Let It All Hang Out in 2013. In addition to her second solo release in 2013, she recorded Bring It On Home with Chesky Records, a modern play on Led Zeppelin songs. Her latest release is a single with Anthony Krizan, called Crazy.

The CC Coletti Band has been the opening act for: The Doobie Brothers, Meat Loaf, The Outlaws, Brett Michaels, The Smithereens, South Side Johnny and The Asbury Jukes, and more.

Experience Janis

In 2009, CC put together “Experience Janis,” a tribute  to Janis Joplin.  The first song she learned to sing was, Me and Bobby McGee, so it came naturally for her to form the band. The success of “Experience Janis” has grown enough where the demand requires them to play theaters.

Meat Loaf 2003-2011

CC Coletti (Carolyn Coletti Jablonski) is known worldwide as a background vocalist with rock and roll legend, Meat Loaf and his Neverland Express World Tours from 2003 through 2011. CC can be heard on the Bat Out Of Hell Live With The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra CD/DVD and 3 Bats Live DVD.

Video interview with CC Coletti

“Mercedes Benz” Video

Here are links to other things related to CC

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