TC here! While New Jersey is usually known for a specific group of musicians associated with the Garden State, we had a bunch that were signed to record deals, and unfortunately never quite saw the fame and recognition they deserved.
The 80’s and 90’s were an interesting time of hit or miss and success was not always indicative of talent.
WDHA played ALL of the bands on this list back in the day! As we support our talented New Jersey brothers and sisters and remember the artists that should have been…….

• American Angel

  How Can I Miss You

  This band should have been BIG! Founded and fronted by Rocco Fury, Formed in South Jersey in the late 80’s, Their driving rock (almost) Power Ballad “How Can I Miss You” was a great late 80’s jam!
  The band ran into issues with their record company, but has continued to pop up doing shows from time to time and this song still holds up as a Jersey 80’s classic!

• From Good Homes

  A WDHA favorite back in the 1900’s …..I will start buy saying these guys did have success, but they were early leaders of the organic, rootsy rock revolution that was born in the early 90’s that eventually evolved into the “Jam Band” genre.

  Super talented, they release an indie record before signing to RCA and are still a source of pride for the New Jersey Music scene! I remember a ton of great WDHA shows with this talented group of gents back in the day.

  Cool Me Down

• Saraya

  Out of Bergen County and led by Sandi Saraya, Sandi was touted as the “Female Bon Jovi” .

  Unfortunately, issues with their record company, and the fact that women were NOT invited into the 80’s hard rock pool to swim plus the birth of grunge forced the band into early retirement.

  Love Has Taken It’s Toll

• Mr. Reality

  Gordon, Pete and Rob were an fantastic NJ Power Trio and I remember rocking this one on DHA back in the day.

  Killer harmonies, awesome songwriting, and they were GREAT looking! How were these guys not bigger? Playing the clubs and then signed to Capitol records, Gordon Brown is now in the awesome country band “Williams Honor” and I remember seeing these guys at so many Jersey clubs and loving them!

  In My Yard

• Prophet

  The kings of the New Jersey club scene in the 1980’s , Prophet was an amazing NJ band.

  Super talented musicians, club shows that were arena worthy, a few lead vocalists and a record deal with  Megaforce, these guys should have been HUGE.

  Everything You Are

   

• T.T. Quick

  New Jersey Metal LEGENDS! T.T Quick were born in the shore club scene and became metal heroes to a legion of New Jersey metal kids, ME included!
  Signed to Megaforce Records in the 80’s along with Metallica, Overkill and Antrax, their MEATL OF HONOR record is iconic. Mark Tornillo would go on to join Accept in 2009 and guitarist Dave DiPietro is a NJ guitar legend who inspired both Dave “Snake” Sabo and Zakk Wylde – (both discussed dave’s influence on Reconnect With Rockers webisoides)

  Go For The Throat

• The Whirling Dervishes

  Fun, early alternative, new wave, punk out of Westfield, these guys were signed to A&M records and had some super cool poppy alt tunes and never quite got out of the N.J. club scene. But they are still legendary every holiday season with their version of “You’re A Mean One Mr. Grinch” , and still pop up from time to time doing shows.

  Strange and Wonderful

   

   

• Fiona

  My girl FIONA! Fiona Flanagan out of Phillipsburg, I LOVED her 1985 debut and the song “Talk To Me” which almost made it to the top ten on the Billboard charts in 85 and had a rocking, sexy hook! And the lead track “Hang Your Heart On Me” was 80’s perfection.

  Fiona went on to record a second record “Beyond The Pale” which had another great tune “Living In A Boys World” -The song almost seems self explanatory as there wasn’t much room for the ladies of the 80’s in rock which still pisses me off. Fiona has put out a few more records that are really solid and also appeared in Miami Vice and starred with Bob Dylan in the movie “Hearts Of Fire” and of course had a late 80’s hit with Kip Winger called “You’re Sexing Me” …(not SEXTING lol)

  I received an email from Fiona about a year ago and she was excited about the Queens Of Noise show. It BLEW MY MIND! I need to get her on the show!

  Talk To Me

• Kilby Taylor

  Another North Jersey band with awesome songs and talented musicians, founded by Jim Kilby, Kilby Taylor was one of the  most requested bands when I started at WDHA!

  Fun memories of rootsy rock paying tribute to our home state!

  North Jersey Fields

   

• Glen Burtnick

  NJ mega talent Glen Burtnick had a few records out that were simply amazing.

  Heroes and Zeros is one of my favorite releases of the 1980’s and “Talking In Code” was a fantastic follow up.

  Glen had quite a bit of MTV airplay and went on to join the band Styx in the early 1990’s.

  One of the best singer/songwriters of the era. Glen is still making music. Thank God!

   

  Follow You

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