Part of what makes Christmas so much fun is when children unwrap their presents under the tree and they have no idea what's under the colorful paper. The Hope Concert, which Bobby Bandiera presented at the Count Basie Theater, starting in 2003, was akin to an adult Christmas gift.
The benefit shows, which ran through 2018, were unpredictable. Music fans had some idea of who would perform but the conclusion was shrouded in mystery. Would Bruce Springsteen show up and close out the last 45-minutes of the show as an unannounced guest? Who would Bandiera book to perform at the annual charity event?
"It was an amazing experience," Banderia said while calling from his Ocean Township home. "I can't believe I had a part in raising $3 million with The Hope Concert."
The inspiration for the Hope Concerts emanated from a desire to support children's charities and community organizations in Ocean Township. The ten Hope Concerts were wonderful altruistic events.
Part of what made The Hope Concerts so special was that they were loose living room scenes. The banter between Ocean Grove's Southside Johnny Lyon and Asbury Park's adopted son, Gary U.S. Bonds was often hilarious and extemporaneous. Lyon and Bonds were the Martin and Lewis of the Hope Concerts. The tandem was always unpredictable and irreverent.
But the true highlights from Lyon and Bonds were their musical performances. "Quarter to Three" and "This Little Girl," featured passionate vocals from Bonds and Lyon's playful "I Don't Want to Go Home" raised the roof.
There were so many memorable Hope Concert moments. A few hours prior to the Hope Concert in 2011, there were reports that Jon Bon Jovi had passed away.
"If I'm dead then heaven looks like New Jersey," Bon Jovi said while flashing his mega-watt smile at the start of the concert."
Bon Jovi then detailed how each of his family members phones blew up when the rumor hit friends and family. "I might not look that good but I'm not dead," Bon Jovi cracked.
The special guests over the years were extraordinary. Bandiera performed with Deborah Harry, Ben E. King, John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band and of course there is the aforementioned Boss.
Springsteen would tear the house down delivering Christmas tunes and covers while jamming with the house band. It wasn't a given that Springsteen would show even though there was always hope that he would perform.
"I remember there was some rich guy from Rumson sitting up front during one of the shows and when it was evident that Bruce wasn't going to perform that night he said, "I didn't pay $400 dollars to see Bobby Bandiera.' They kicked him out."
Bon Jovi, was almost always present at Hope Concerts and Bandiera, who was a touring member of his band from 2005 to 2015, tips his cap.
"We were friends at that time," Bandiera said. "God bless him for anything he's done with the Hope Concert and with his philanthropic approach with these soup kitchens (JBJ Soup Kitchens in Red Bank and Toms River) but as far as his music goes, its take it or leave it for me."
Bandiera, 71, is less than thrilled about the treatment he received in Bon Jovi's band. "I love him for giving me a hand in my career but I earned every cent when I performed with him," Bandiera said. "Jon wasn't putting a guy on stage that sucked. His band didn't want me there. (Guitarist) Richie (Sambora) definitely didn't want me there. It was tough."
But it was easy for Bandiera and Bon Jovi when it came to the Hope Concert. And then there was Bandiera and Southside Johnny Lyon. Bandiera was a part of Lyon's Jukes from 1986-2010.
"it was a love/hate relationship," Bandiera said. "But it was great overall. I have so many wonderful memories with John Lyon. I remember when we did a co-bill with George Thorogood at Madison Square Garden and we did a co-bill with Roy Orbison on the Intrepid. Roy was such a sweetheart of a guy. I knocked on his dressing room door with my mother and said, 'Roy, this is one of your biggest fans!" And my mom was like a 16-year old. She said to Roy, 'Can I touch your arm?' I was like, 'Mom!"
A few years before Bandiera joined the Jukes he befriended Springsteen in 1981. "I was performing at the Stone Pony and Bruce comes up to me and says, 'Hi, Bob,' and I said, 'You're Bruce," Bandiera said. "And he said, 'Yeah!' That was the start of it There's no one like Bruce. Performing with him at the Hope Concerts was pure euphoria. Everybody knows him. Everybody loves him. Everybody knows his achievements. He's a smart guy, who is a giving person. As a musician, he writes what everyone can relate to. A lot of people don't love what he says but that's on them. He's my friend and he's a unique and incredible musician."
Bandiera still does benefit shows in the area during the Christmas season but the Hope Concerts are over and it's fine. Bandiera did so much heavy lifting and has much to be proud of while generating millions for a great cause.
"I had to help people," Bandiera said. "I was compelled to help since I found that my son was afflicted (with schizophrenia.) There are so many people like him that need help. I devoted much of my time to raise money for people and we did ten shows and raised a lot of money."
During the final Hope Concert in 2018, a highlight reel was played and it choked up Bandiera and thrilled the crowd. "That blew me away," Bandiera said. "They said it (the Hope Concert) was all about me but I said that it wasn't all about me and it wasn't about them (the musicians on the Basie stage). It was all about you (the audience), is what I said. It was a great experience performing and even a better experience helping so many people."
The Hope Concerts are history but Bandiera will take part in a Christmas show with La Bamba aka Richie Rosenberg December 6 at the Vogel. Bandiera hopes fans will come out for the "Holiday Hurrah" concert.
"Join us," Bandiera said. "We need Christmas now more than ever!"
Like it has been for so many of Bandiera's peers, it all started in Asbury Park. Bandiera remembers what it was like when he was slugging it out on the Jersey shore circuit during the early '70s.
"It was so different than it is now," Bandiera said. "There was the Stone Pony back in the day and the Wonder Bar. They're still here but so much has changed. It's great how Asbury Park has been built up from nothing. I cut my teeth there. Asbury Park will always be in my heart."
The same goes for Red Bank since those shows, which would have never happened without Bandiera, touched so many people. "Those were such good times and it just shows you what can happen when people get together and try to make a difference to help others. I'm just so fortunate to be part of a community like this. There's no place like it."
La Bamba's Holiday Hurrah is slated for December 6 at the Vogel, 99 Monmouth St., Red Bank.
Tickets are $39.50, $83.85 and $97.85. Show time is 4 p.m. For more information, (732) 842-9000,www.thebasie.org
"I was performing at the Stone Pony and Bruce (Springsteen) comes up to me and says, 'Hi, Bob,' and I said, 'You're Bruce,' And he said, 'Yeah!' That was the start of it."
"God bless him (Jon Bon Jovi) for anything he's done with the Hope Concert and with his philanthropic approach."
"it was a love/hate relationship (with Southside Johnny Lyon). But it was great overall. I have so many wonderful memories."