ARL Roots Review 55 - BB's Royal Memorial

Thoughtfully, Arlene Schar, violinist and American Roots Live All-Star; Hellertown, PA, circulated a mother's day card among ARL 55 participants on the first of Bernie's Memorial nights Thursday at the Rail in Bound Brook, NJ.

Then, Friday, she "over-nighted" the mother's day card full of our signatures and well wishes to BB's mom with my phone number on the back.

As Arlene had hoped would happen, Bernie's mom got the card on Saturday and decided to come to 55 for the second night of the Royal Memorial for her son on Sunday.

Before the second show, as the Rail filled with players, friends and fans my cell phone rang.

Mrs. B arrived that night, driven by Bernie's good friend Dawn, just as the evening's music was starting. She appreciated all of the talented, dedicated players who showed up on both nights in her son's honor, and so do I.

They came from near and far.

Just off his tour of Holland and England, our friend Jake Walker came in from New York City on Thursday to join 28 other performers at the Royal Memorial.

On Sunday, it was our friend the King of the Rust Belt Blues; Mike Dugan from Allentown, PA with bass player and ARL All-Star Rob Fraser joining 21 others to play and pay tribute.

Yes, the hottest players in the area made it to our stage to honor BB. And though he has left the building and his stool sits empty on our stage, Bernie Brausewetter will remain in our hearts and our minds and our ears.

Many special thanks to all who took part in American Roots Live 55; John Powers, JR Bradfield, Len DePiano, Mimi Nowak, Johnny Charles, Jamo Flynn, Billy K, Nancy Coletti, Arlene Schar, Ed Pampani, Sonny Young, Jimmy Somma, Jake Walker, Mike Carrol, Jake Jar el, Bob Del Roso, Bones Sanford, Roy Macnamara, Snakeman Runyan, Chris Porto, Randy Marinelli, Carlo Trentacosta, Jack Powers, Mike Caruso, Dennis Macarone, Vern Mobley, Arne Englund, Robert Zee, Alan Rogoff, Metal Bob, Aaron, Ramir, Gavin Lawrence, Freddie Macarone, Ron Michaels, Rusty, Walter Foot, Bob Giglio, Mike Dugan, Rob Fraser, Tony Goncalves, Chris O'Sullivan, Chet Smith, Cal Ritchie, Big Nancy, Richard Skelly, Russ Allison, Susan, Noah, Dawn and of course Mrs. Brausewetter. (Pic with Bernie below.)












Remember, it was on the morning of Bernie's passing, April 15th, that the sky started crying and flooded 7 feet of water into downtown Bound Brook. It rained for three days putting the Rail and hundreds of other businesses and residents out of commission, including American Roots Live for three weeks.

ARL wants to help the Bound Brook Area Chamber of Commerce to help those businesses and the historic Bound Brook Theater back on their feet. Please watch this page and your email inbox for information about upcoming fund raising events including an American Roots Live spear-headed Spirit Festival downtown in July.

It all starts with a Somerset Patriots baseball game Monday, May 21 at Commerce Ballpark in Bridgewater, NJ.

Purchasing tickets for that game (and the fun activities prior to the game) from the Bound Brook Area Chamber of Commerce will assure the monies go to the downtown folks affected and will greatly help the efforts of restoration undertaken by so many.

To attend the game and festivities for the sake of the cause, please call Mafalda at Versatile Printing for tickets. Her phone number is 908 489-4753 and tell her Nasty Ned told you to call.

I'd like to see you at the ballpark on Monday as the Somerset Patriots celebrate their tenth season while helping Bound Brook, in a game against the Bridgeport Bluefish.

Thank you.

Keeping it real,

Ned