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July 23, 2004

"Peter Pan" is Featured Film in Free Outdoor Music-and-Movie Series

Concertgoers attending Sewaren Summerfest this Thursday will get more than the usual free music, movies and food. They'll get to see one of early rock 'n' roll's superstars still in his shouting, crooning, high-stepping prime.

J.T. Carter, lead singer of the original 1950s' Crests, will perform with his new group - J.T. & The Former Crests. The current lineup features Carter's wife, Leona, on keyboards and vocals, and veteran rock drummer Harvey James heading a sizzling 3-piece rhythm section

Carter is the sole performing member of the original Crests, the doo-wop ensemble that recorded classic teen anthems "Sixteen Candles", "Step By Step", "Six Nights A Week", "Angels Listened In" and "Trouble in Paradise". Trained as a youth by the New York City Metropolitan Opera Company, J.T. still retains a stellar four-octave vocal range. In addition to his legendary work with the Crests, he has performed with The Drifters and Five Satins and was a featured performer in the Dirty Dancing Tour of Europe.

Middlesex County residents can experience the glory days of doo-wop on July 29 at Alvin P. Williams Memorial Park in Sewaren, as Woodbridge Township and the Middlesex County Board of Chosen Freeholders present the third of three free music-and-movie pairings at Sewaren Summerfest.

The music begins at 6:30 p.m. followed by the feature film showing at 8:30 p.m. Free food and refreshments are provided by Royal Albert's Palace.

"Our music-and-movies series has had two great weeks," says Woodbridge Mayor Frank G. Pelzman. "For a performer with such a renowned history and large following like J.T. Carter, we suggest people arrive early to secure good seats."

Peter Pan (2003) is the latest treatment of J.M. Barrie's classic novel and features Lynn Redgrave and Rachel Hurd-Wood, along with Jeremy Sumpter (starring in the new CBS series Clubhouse) and Jason Isaacs (Lucius Malfoy in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets).

Peter Pan's theme of children refusing to "grow up" has a special resonance for a pop idol like J.T. Carter who has maintained his youthful musical passion through five decades of singing about timeless teen topics.

One of the most popular of the late '50s vocal groups, the teenage Crests typically rehearsed in the New York City subway. One day the wife of a talent agent passed by, inviting them to audition. This stroke of serendipity led to their first recordings in 1957 on the Juanita label. In November, 1958, the group hit eternal gold with the Coed Records release of "Sixteen Candles", an instant classic that eventually rose to Number 2 on the national pop charts. At its peak "Sixteen Candles" was selling 25,000 records a day to become one of the most popular birthday songs since "Happy Birthday".

Sewaren Summerfest is presented in conjunction with the Mayor's Youth Advisory Committee of Woodbridge Township. Musical performers appear through the Music Performance Trust Funds arranged by Locals #204-373 and #746, American Federation of Musicians.

Sewaren Summerfest continues August 12 with a concert by jazz vocalist Sandy Sasso & Friends. Audience members are encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chair. For more information call 732-596-4048.