by Jeff Friedman
Editor’s Note: Jeff Friedman, founder and CEO of Livingston Philanthropies, Inc. (LPI) submitted this article on an upcoming fundraiser to benefit LPI, which works to aid the homeless of Essex County.
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Talk about full circle. Dave Rimelis began his life on Herbert Terrace in 1954 and attended Roosevelt/Monmouth Court, Heritage and Livingston High Schools. Now, after performing at last year’s reincarnation of the Livingston Block Dance, Dave and his band returns to Livingston on Saturday, October 14, at 7 p.m., when the Presbyterian Church of Livingston becomes the PCL Performing Arts Center for the evening.
Livingston Philanthropies, Inc. (LPI), partnering with publisher Jenny Chciuk and Livingston’s West Essex Tribune, in association with Pastor Dan Martian and the PCL Performing Arts Center, is thrilled to present its second live fundraising performance, “Dave Rimelis’s Americana.” This time it’s Dave, his band and their special brand of foot-stompin’/fiddlin’ country, bluegrass and Cajun tunes.
The show is all about Livingston neighbors helping families living below the poverty line and those somehow existing out on the streets. It’s all about empowering LPI volunteers to purchase life-sustaining (basic existence) products for those lacking the means to do so for themselves and their close ones. Diapers, formula, lotion, toiletries, sanitary products, fresh produce and fruit, family clothing and warm gloves and hats as the colder weather approaches. And more.
Aside from being raised on American folk and popular music and winning prizes in regional fiddle contests, what has Dave been doing between LHS in the early 1970s and our upcoming event? Not much, except for composing music played internationally by major symphony orchestras, performing as featured artist with major symphony orchestras and receiving an MFA in music composition and theory.
Rimelis is artist-in-residence for the New Jersey State Council on The Arts and teaching artist for the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. He is also director of Music Education for the AIDS Resource Foundation for Children in Newark. His music is featured in the film about violinist Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg “Speaking in Strings”, PBS and New Jersey Network documentaries “Summer Camp”, “It’s Red It’s Edible It Bounces”, the Mo Willems cartoon, “The Man Who Yelled,” and the feature film “She Devil.”
Now for some serious Livingston history and tradition: Dave Rimelis is the son of the late Livingston country western singer “Idaho Ed,” who appeared at the annual Livingston Block Dance during the ’50s, ’60s and into the ’70s as “Idaho Ed and the Farmer Boys.”
Please visit LPI’s website at njhomeless.com or visit the West Essex Tribune offices located next to the Livingston ShopRite to purchase tax-deductible “Americana” tickets at $40 each. Why not help profoundly poor folks while enjoying a high-energy Saturday evening right here in town?
LPI is an umbrella affiliate of HC/HY Livingston.
Photo: Musician Dave Rimelis, who grew up in Livingston, will perform country, bluegrass and Cajun music at a concert to benefit Livingston Philanthropies, Inc. The event will take place October 14 at the Presbyterian Church of Livingston.
