By:LAURA LANE
On a beautiful cool summer evening, as the waves churned, and salt permeated the fresh cool evening air, a crowd of people enjoyed an evening by the sea in Long Beach. As children played catch in the sand and a lone fisherman threw a line into the Atlantic, a mixed crowd of families, couples on a date, and senior citizens rocked and swayed to music that was reminiscent of the good old days of rock and roll. Toe tapping music by the spirited Stevie Blue and a band of professionals entertained the evening pleasure seekers, as the band paid tribute to the late Johnny Angel, a well known local resident and singer before his death last year.
"Johnny and I were friends seven years ago and we did
the same kind of music," Blue said. "I thought it would be a nice thing to dedicate a show to him, a memorial show."
John Kabelka was a longtime resident of Long Beach and the lead singer of the Johnny Angel Band, a band that played each summer on the boardwalk. When he was killed on August 29, 2000 in a plane crash in Lexington, Va., he had performed one of those concerts just days before. Kabelka, who was 42, was a man that had not only been a consummate entertainer--being a singer and songwriter as well as playing guitar, drums, bass, and keyboard--but also an athlete. A onetime Long Beach High School football star, upon graduation he tried to excel at boxing, and surpassed people's expectations by going to the finals of the New York Golden Gloves. He also had acquired bit roles on television and in movies and a physical fitness nut, was involved in making an exercise boxing video at the time of his death. When Kabelka died, Long Beach lost a resident with much promise.
"I really liked him," said Blue. "He was a real character."
Last Thursday, Blue clad in a black suite, bright red t-shirt, and white socks performed some fancy footwork as he sang his heart out for the assembled crowd. A songwriter as well, the band not only performed songs by the greats like Elvis, but also played a few Blue
originals. Accompanying him, were a band of professionals led by the great Bill Turner, former lead guitarist with Bill Haley and the Comets, the Guthrie Brothers from Nashville, Phil Salanger twinkling the ivories on piano, Eric Kanutasen on bass guitar and Ray Torelli on drums.
As the music played into the night audience members old and young alike danced and clapped their hands smiling, as they appeared to be having the time of their life. Some said Kabelka would have had a blast.
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July Summer Concerts
12 North Shore Pops Concert Band Neptune Boulevard 8 - 10 p.m.
14 American Concert Band National Boulevard 8 - 10 p.m.
17 Risky Business New York Avenue 8 - 10 p.m.
19 LI Banjo Neptune Boulevard 8 - 10 p.m.
21 Alexander
