INFORMATION FOR
--Event benefits the William Paterson Music Department Scholarship Fund
A musical tribute to the early years of MTV, featuring performances by a band of William Paterson University music students, along with special guest Darryl McDaniels of Run DMC and Grammy Award-winning songwriter and William Paterson alumnus Rob Fusari, will be held on Friday, March 24, 2017 at 7:30 p.m. in the Shea Center for Performing Arts at William Paterson University in Wayne. Original MTV VJ Mark Goodman will serve as emcee.
The event, “I Want My ‘80s: The Best of MTV’s Early Years,” will feature music of the 1980s by artists such as Whitney Houston, Prince, Bruce Springsteen, Journey, Michael Jackson, and many more. Admission is $25, $20 for members of the William Paterson community and senior citizens, and $10 for all students. All proceeds will benefit the William Paterson Music Department Scholarship Fund.
Darryl McDaniels, considered one of the pioneers of hip-hop culture, will join the band for several Run-DMC classics, including “Tricky.” McDaniels is one of the founding members of Run DMC, a multi-platinum music group that has sold more than 30 million singles and albums worldwide. The group was the first rap group to earn a gold album, the first to earn a platinum album, the first to go multi-platinum, the first to have their videos played on MTV, the first to appear on American Bandstand and Saturday Night Live, and the first rap band to grace the cover of Rolling Stone and Spin.
Rob Fusari, who serves as musical director, joins the bands on keyboards and piano. A Grammy Award winning, multi-platinum music producer, songwriter, music executive, and artist, he has worked with stars such as Lady Gaga, Destiny’s Child, and the Backstreet Boys. He is a 2008 graduate of William Paterson.
For more than 30 years, Mark Goodman has been one of the most recognizable and respected personalities in the music business. As one of the original five MTV VJ's, Goodman interviewed iconic artists including Madonna, Paul McCartney and Bruce Springsteen. After years in terrestrial radio, Goodman joined SiriusXM to host on “80s on 8.” He is also heard on on VOLUME's daily show “Debatable.”
The band will be comprised of William Paterson music students Bobby Mahoney, lead guitar and vocals; Zack Smith, lead guitar; Emily Case, guitar; Jon Caplan, keyboards and vocals; Billy Smolen, bass; Liam Kerekes, drums and percussion; Ariana Gates, vocals; Sara Schulmann, vocals; Kristina Rigamonti, vocals; Chrissie Limos, vocals; Xander Fiedler, vocals; and Omar Kaba, vocals. David Kirk Philp, assistant professor of music, will join the group on drums, percussion, and vocals.
For additional information or reservations, please contact William Paterson University’s Shea Center Box Office at boxoffice@wpunj.edu, call 973.720.2371 or visit www.wp-presents.org.
03-09-17
