Musicians make holiday music for Katrina relief

Musicians make holiday music for Katrina relief


Katie Provinzano thinks people should buy the new holiday compact disc recorded by Ed Austin and Friends for one reason.

"It's for a good cause because it's helping people. That's what church is all about, and that's what this CD is all about — helping people who are less fortunate than us," said Katie, who is 13 and lives in Point Pleasant.

Katie's voice is one of dozens on the "Just One Wish. . ." compact disc that Point Pleasant musician Ed Staunton, whose professional name is Ed Austin, created as a way to raise money for the American Red Cross for hurricane relief.

Katie and the other members of the Children's Choir at St. Peter's Church in Point Pleasant Beach were asked by Staunton to lend their voices to the effort. Staunton is a familiar face at St. Peter's where he has taught religious education to sixth-graders in the church's catechism program for the past eight years.

Nineteen of the 25-member children's choir were present during the regular Friday afternoon rehearsal in the church choir loft when Staunton recorded them singing "Happy Birthday, Jesus."

The children range in age from 4 to 14, said Cathy Brophy, Point Pleasant, who has directed the children's choir for the past three years.

During a rehearsal on Dec. 2, the children, wearing their green St. Peter's choir sweatshirts, sang their debut CD song and rehearsed other traditional holiday songs, including "Do You Hear What I Hear?" which they will sing at the 5 p.m. Christmas Eve Mass in church.

Emer O'Mahoney, Point Pleasant, who is the music director at the church, played the organ for the children as they sang. And O'Mahoney, who has a lilting soprano voice, also sang a song for the CD as well.

"I wanted to bring that touch of innocence to the CD from the children," said Staunton. "And Emer just has that beautiful Irish brogue in her voice."

The CD also includes the local teen jazz and blues band Outside the Box, whom Staunton recorded while they performed "Merry, Merry Christmas" at Brick Elks Lodge No. 2151. The band features guitarist and vocalist Jeff Cafone, 16, of Lavallette, keyboardist Mark Masefield, 15, of Brick, and drummer Matt Wade and bass player Warren Thieleman, both 16 and of Point Pleasant.

"They're amazing musicians. I had hired them to play at the Seafood Festival in September (in Point Pleasant Beach), and they stole the show," Staunton said.

The other musicians on the CD are those with whom Staunton has worked for years, and many perform at the Broadway Bar and Grill.

"Lori (Ratta of Brick) is a bartender at the Broadway, and she does a rendition of "Merry Christmas, Darling' on the CD," Staunton said.

Also lending their voices to the effort were Bubba (Glenn Chrzan of Brick), Shad Woolley of Spring Lake, and Harry Filkin of Brielle, among others. And, there is a Beach Boy-like version of "Little St. Nick" by Staunton and friends.

Staunton said he was moved to create the CD as a fund-raising tool after seeing the images of Hurricane Katrina on television just after Labor Day.

"It was personal for me because I was living in Point Pleasant Beach during the nor' easter of 1992, and I was flooded out of my house on Ocean Avenue. I had to be rescued by the National Guard," he recalled.

"I remember how I felt then, but this hurricane and flooding of the Gulf Coast was far worse," he said.

So, Staunton called all his musician friends and got to work recording much of the CD in his home studio.

This isn't the first time many of the same musicians got together to raise money for a good cause. Earlier efforts included "The Light," which was recorded for the dedication of the Fisherman's Memorial in Point Pleasant Beach in 2000 and "United We Sing," created to benefit families who lost loved ones in the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

The newest CD includes 13 selections ranging from traditional tunes like "Jingle Bell Rock" and "White Christmas" to Staunton's electric guitar version of "Here Comes Santa Claus" and Outside the Box's bluesy, soulful "Merry, Merry Christmas."