It was just last Tuesday (December 12) when Smithereens lead Pat DiNizio died at the age of 62 but the band and Stephen Van Zandt have already organized a tribute concert.
The January 13 show at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, NJ was already on the books as a Little Steven’s Underground Garage show with the Smithereens and Patty Smyth and Scandal but the title has now been changed to “Time and Time Again: A Celebration of the Life of Pat DiNizio”.
A series of guest vocalists will sit in DiNizio’s spot during the evening including E-Street Band and Disciples of Soul mamber Van Zandt who posted the announcement today (December 18):
Last week, we lost one of New Jersey’s kindest and mightiest musical icons.
To many, Pat DiNizio wasn’t just a consummate performer, singer, songwriter and front man of The Smithereens — he was a son, a father, a bandmate and a friend.
Days earlier, the Count Basie Theatre and E-Street Band guitarist / Rock and Roll Hall Of Famer Steven Van Zandt had announced a first-of-its-kind Smithereens performance to roll out the Basie’s new, open-floor club concert configuration – an atmosphere tailor-fit for a memorable night of rock.
In that vein, the show will go on.
“I was set to host this Smithereens and Patty Smyth and Scandal show as part of Citi’s Underground Garage at the Basie series,” Van Zandt said. “With the sudden, tragic passing of Pat DiNizio, I think it’s appropriate that we take this moment to pay tribute to him. I will be honored to sing a few of his songs with the band, and I’m asking any friends of mine if they can make themselves available for a song or two. We’ll see who’s around and announce them shortly.”
A portion of ticket sales will go towards the establishment of the PAT DiNIZIO MUSICAL PERFORMANCE SCHOLARSHIP at the Basie’s Performing Arts Academy. The Basie Academy is home to rock, vocal, jazz and classical music programs.
