Some people say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. If that is true then New Jersey’s own Jody Joseph will be honoring two revered icons of rock and roll to the highest degree on Jan 23 when she presents “One Diva … One Legend … One Woman” at New York City’s Gramercy Theater.
Musical entertainer Jody Joseph will bring her show “One Diva … One Legend … One Woman” to New York City on Jan. 23. The theatrical performance and concert honoring Stevie Nicks and Janis Joplin will be presented at the Gramercy Theater. During the theatrical performance Joseph appears to transform herself into Fleetwood Mac vocalist Stevie Nicks and rock legend Janis Joplin. She then reverts to herself to close the show.
More than 900 people saw her perform the show at the Paramount Theater in Asbury Park in May 2009. “One Diva … One Legend … One Woman” was so well received that concert promoter Live Nation took notice and sought Joseph out for placement at the New York venue.
John D’Esposito, vice president and talent buyer for Live Nation, said, “Jody is one of the most driven and hard working artists. Her vision and concept for this show are a reflection of how talented she is.”
In “One Diva … One Legend … One Woman” Joseph, a Metuchen native who now resides in Monmouth County, draws upon her 30 years of experience as a musician to immerse herself and her audience into the persona and aura of Nicks and Joplin using more than just vocal talent to do so.
With the aid of costumes, props and stage settings that include a 200-pound chandelier and a bank of long windows created for the Nicks segment by Joseph’s husband, Chris Siedlecki, Joseph transforms the stage and herself both visually and vocally.
As “One Diva,” Joseph draws the audience into the mystical and ethereal vibe of Stevie Nicks. Then as Nicks disappears, Janis Joplin boldly emerges as “One Legend” when Joseph takes center stage as the rebellious hard rocker.
Coincidentally, Joplin’s 67th birthday would have been Jan. 19.
As “One Woman,” Joseph returns to herself to give the audience a glimpse of the entertainer who brought them on this journey as she and her band perform a set of the classic rock and original bluesy tunes her fans have enjoyed for years.
The Jody Joseph Band, formerly called Jody Joseph and the Average Joes, has been entertaining at venues from one end of the Garden State to the other and beyond for nine years. The current members of the band are Jon “Huey” Tatlow of Long Branch, musical director, bass; Jon “Rockin” Rotman of Fair Haven, drums; B Jay Willis of Farmingdale, lead guitar; Billy Siegel of Flemington, keyboards; Gary Tripps of Rahway, sax; and Steve Brown of Howell, percussion.
Kyle McCarthy of Middletown and Candice Theinert of South Brunswick are the background vocalists for the theatrical performance.
Joseph, who comes from a musical background with relatives such as first cousin Jon Bon Jovi and opera singer Mario Lanza, said, “I’ve been performing since high school in duos and trios and I made a decision that the last leg of my musical ven- ture on stage would be my biggest, so nine years ago I brought in a band and started Jody Joseph and the Average Joes.”
Last year Joseph was the recipient of the Living Legend Award for lifetime achievement of excellence at the Asbury Music Awards presentation. Other performers who have received that award include Bruce Springsteen, Max Weinberg and Jon Bon Jovi.
To date Joseph has released three CDs and is currently recording her forth.
In addition to her band and backing vocalists, Joseph credits many people for their contributions to make this vision a reality, including her husband, Chris, costume designer Debbie Goodhue of Oceanport, makeup artist Glenda D’Ambrisi of Long Branch, hair designer Dayna Frick of Red Bank, personal assistant Lois Chick of Highlands, and Nan Leonard/Nanette Leonard Public Relations.
Joseph is especially grateful to the show’s co-creator Renee Ludwig of Jackson who noticed the audience’s reaction to Joseph when she performed the frequently requested songs of Nicks and Joplin during the Jody Joseph Band’s sets at local venues and pointed out to Joseph that they were on to something special.
“Renee suggested a theatrical performance,” said Joseph. “She didn’t say (it should be a) tribute. Because I don’t want to lose myself, I decided to come out as myself as well, and we put together ‘One Diva … One Legend … One Woman.’
“They (Nicks and Joplin) are both such different performers, it was strange because they are polar opposites. I had to study them at length. It became scary at one point because I felt like parts of them were becoming parts of me.”
On stage or off stage, music is Joseph’s passion and she passes that on to her students at Jody Joseph Music, Tinton Falls, where she has cultivated talent through singing, songwriting, guitar and music theory lessons for 15 years.
Some of her students will be invited to perform with the Jody Joseph Band at 8 p.m. Jan. 15 at the Colts Neck Inn, Route 537, Colts Neck.
When she is not on tour, performing or teaching, Joseph gives back to her community through philanthropic causes to prevent teen suicide, Parkinson’s disease, cancer, animal abuse and many others.
Famed concert promoter Sid Bernstein called Joseph, “a magnificent performer,” and said, “She is absolutely a must see.”
Joseph, in costume as Joplin, will perform with her band on WNBC-TV’s “Sunday Today in NY.” The show will air Jan. 17 from 6-8:30 a.m.
In addition, “One Diva … One Legend … One Woman” is slated to be performed at Brookdale Community College, Lincroft, on Sept. 24.
Tickets for “One Diva … One Legend … One Woman” at the Gramercy Theater, 127 E. 23 St., New York, are $25 for general admission. Doors open at 7 p.m. Jan. 23. For more information, visit the Internet website at www.jodyjoseph.net or www.livenation.com.
For reservations for the Jody Joseph Band at the Colts Neck Inn, call 732-462- 0383 or www.coltsneckinn.com.