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Reflections of The Man We Called “Johnny Jazz”

There is something to be said about authenticity and Ralph Gatta had it. Gatta, whose family’s business, Johnny’s Jazz Market, was a staple in the Red Bank community for over 60 years, lost his battle with cancer on Dec. 17, 2011.

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Reflections of The Man We Called Johnny Jazz

There is something to be said about authenticity and Ralph Gatta had it. Gatta, whose family’s business, Johnny’s Jazz Market, was a staple in the Red Bank community for over 60 years, lost his battle with cancer on Dec. 17, 2011. He will be sorely missed.

Reflections of Johnny Jazz

I first met Johnny Jazz, when I moved to Red Bank over 20 years ago and from the first time I ever stepped foot in his store, he was someone I fell madly in love with, because he was authentic. He was true to who he was and more importantly non judgmental.

That’s what I loved about him. He kept it REAL. The other important factor was his love of jazz. While serving up slab bacon and sausage, ham hocks and collards, he also served you a healthy dose of all that jazz. For a person who touts herself as being a history buff, what I learned about the jazz from Gatta’s heyday, compelled me to create a short documentary on him.

When visiting Gatta at his store and even when he got sick, as his diligent student I would sit there with pen and pad taking notes from this great jazz historian. He could have easily stepped onto any college campus and taught a master’s course in Jazz History. He loved Charlie Parker.

That he could turn this simple market into a landmark museum of jazz history was pretty incredible to me. He told me during one of my visits with him while he was sick that he was going to “jazz heaven” to be with all his friends and I believe that he is there and as he would say: “swingin’ like mad.” Gatta loved the community of Red Bank and took tremendous pride in serving the people. I am a better person for having known him. I love you Ralph and what’s so good about that is that you knew it.

Rest in peace Johnny Jazz.

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Gilda Rogers is a writer, journalist, professor, business owner, and the Executive director of T. Thomas Cultural Center.

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1 Comment

1 Comment

  1. Jazz Lover

    January 7, 2012 at 8:59 am

    He seems to have been an amazing human being!  Thanks for sharing!

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Black Excellence

Inside the 17th Annual ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood® Awards

Hosted by Clifford “Method Man” Smith, the star studded event premiered March 15, exclusively on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN).

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17th Annual ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Awards
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 07: (L-R) Danielle Brooks, Nkechi Okoro Carroll, and Kathryn Busby attend the 2024 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards Ceremony at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on March 07, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Robin L Marshall/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

Get a look inside the 17th Annual ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Awards.

Hosted by Clifford “Method Man” Smith, the star studded event premiered March 15, exclusively on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN).

About ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Awards

The ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood honors women who are making their undeniable mark in film and television and amplifies their strides in defining what it means to be a Black woman in Hollywood.

Honorees

This year’s honorees and entertainment industry trailblazers include Academy Award nominated actress & Grammy Award winner, Danielle Brooks, six-time Grammy nominated singer and leading-actress Halle Bailey, acclaimed screenwriter and showrunner of All American, All American: Homecoming and Found, Nkechi Okoro Carroll, and industry powerhouse & President of Original Programming for STARZ, Kathryn Busby.

Check out some photo highlights inside the 17th ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Awards

For more, please visit http://www.essence.com/bwih2024


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Culture

U.S. Virgin Islands Announces the Performance Line-up for St. Thomas Carnival Village Featuring Shaggy, Sizzla, Patrice Roberts, and Machel Montano

The Village will be headlined by Caribbean superstars Shaggy, Patrice Roberts, Sizzla Kalonji, Kes, and Machel Montano, who will kick off the six-night free Village concerts on Monday, April 29.

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St. Thomas Carnival Village

The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism and Division of Festivals has announced the performance line-up for the 72nd Annual St. Thomas Carnival Village.

72nd Annual St. Thomas Carnival Village

The Village will be headlined by Caribbean superstars Shaggy, Patrice Roberts, Sizzla Kalonji, Kes, and Machel Montano, who will kick off the six-night free Village concerts on Monday, April 29.

“The anticipation around this year’s St. Thomas Carnival is at an all-time high, and the Village night performers reflect the continued influence and growth of our territory’s three carnivals,” exclaims USVI Department of Tourism Commissioner Joseph Boschulte.

Center Stage

Adam O, Rudy Live, Temisha, Karnage, Blind Earz, VIO International, and Spectrum Band are among the performers who will take center stage to represent the U.S. Virgin Islands.

“Every year, our goal is to pay homage to the vast Virgin Islands and Caribbean culture that is at the cornerstone of these annual celebrations for natives and visitors alike,” added USVI Division of Festivals Director Ian Turnbull.

Haitian kompa band VAYB and Dominican salsa orchestra Chiquito Team Band will provide a cross-cultural immersion of sound, highlighting the diverse musical interests of Virgin Islands residents.

First-time performers

Rounding out the village are a few first-time performers in the territory, including TeeJay, Jada Kingdom, and Kollision Band, and returning favorites Edwin Yearwood and Krosfyah, and Grandmasters.

Kids Night Out Village Night

This year, the Division of Festivals will host its first Kids Night Out Village Night, with activities including the Toddlers Derby, Best Dressed Doll, and performances by TMK and OTB.

More information on 72nd Annual St. Thomas Carnival Village

For up-to-date information about the 72nd Annual St. Thomas Carnival, visit https://www.instagram.com/usvifestivals/.


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Culture

Online romances get a dose of reality in OWN’S all-new love & relationship series ‘The Never Ever Mets’ 

Hosted by Ta’Rhonda Jones, this 10-episode series features seven couples who have been virtually dating for some time and believe they may have found lasting love – only they have never met each other in person.

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The Never Ever Mets Series TV Show

OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network has announced an all-new relationship series that takes online dating into the real world, The Never Ever Mets.

About The Never Ever Mets Series

Hosted by Ta’Rhonda Jones, this 10-episode series features seven couples who have been virtually dating for some time and believe they may have found lasting love – only they have never met each other in person! Now, they’re meeting face-to-face for the very first time and sharing a house together for three weeks to see if their internet love can survive off the screen and in real life.

Synopsis

As all seven couples convene under the same roof, dating in person rather than through their computers or phones quickly proves to be the biggest challenge yet.

While many couples have been years in the making, some quickly find the in-person relationship is not what they anticipated.

To test the strength of their love connections, the group participates in a series of fun and flirty relationship activities, couples therapy and for some, a trip to the “boom boom room.” But visits from discerning loved ones, meddling opinions and tension from others in the house challenge their bonds even further. At the end of their stay, some will go home together…and some will be signing off for good.

Premiere

The series premieres on Friday, April 19 at 8pm ET/PT, on the OWN Network.

Check out the trailer below:


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