INTERVIEW: Felix Cavaliere, back in Jersey this week, is still a Rascal

Photo: Felix Cavaliere will bring his version of the Rascals to New Jersey for two concerts. Photo courtesy of the artist / Provided by management with permission.

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When Felix Cavaliere, the legendary singer-songwriter and organist of the Rascals, plays a concert in New Jersey, he’s essentially coming home. The native of Pelham, New York, has fond memories of playing the Garden State back in the 1960s when the Rascals began in Garfield, New Jersey, and then climbed the music charts with such tunes as “Good Lovin’,” “I’ve Been Lonely Too Long,” “Groovin'” and “A Beautiful Morning,” among others.

Now Cavaliere will take the stage Thursday, April 6 at the Bergen Performing Arts Center in Englewood, New Jersey and then Saturday, April 8 at the State Theatre in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Joining him will be original Rascal Gene Cornish, and they’re calling their trek the “Time Peace Tour,” an appropriate name because since the beginning the Rascals’ music has been all about peace and love.

“The music is pretty much still the same,” Cavaliere said in a recent phone interview. “We’re still doing the hits. We’ve added a couple things from the albums. We’e got a whole new video show, got a whole new light show. We’re trying to accommodate the young people who might be interested in coming and, of course, our fans, so we’re trying to do a revue, for want of a better word.”

Cavaliere had kind words to say about his bandmate on stage, Cornish, who plays guitar for the band, but had a health scare a few years ago.

“He’s one of these guys who has always loved performing,” Cavaliere said. “He’s always loved being on stage, and I think for him it’s a real shot in the arm. It’s really good for his health. He’s had a tough time. He kind of lights up when he gets on stage, so because of that, I really enjoy it.”

The Rascals, who were also known as the Young Rascals, have earned acclaim and numerous honors throughout their 60 years in the music industry. One of their bonafide highlights was when the band — featuring Cavaliere, Cornish, Eddie Brigati and the late Dino Danelli — was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

“The interesting thing is musicians, we’re kind of all alike,” Cavaliere said. “You complain, complain, complain until you get on stage, and then you have a blast. There’s nothing like really being on stage and entertaining and seeing people enjoy and remember and go back into their youth. There’s nothing really like it. Everybody has the same type of energy once they get on stage.”

Cavaliere was first introduced to music when he was 5 years old. His mother wanted him to take classical piano lessons because she saw talent in the young child, and Cavaliere stayed with the musical classes for eight years. He eventually transitioned from the piano to the Hammond organ, graduating (or downgrading, depending on one’s perspective) from classical to pop and rock.

“As I was growing up, as I was coming up, Alan Freed brought rock ‘n’ roll to New York City,” he said. “Wow, what an opportunity to hear everything from literally the beginning. … I heard everybody. I heard everything. It was really very enlightening, especially for a piano player to hear Ray Charles and Jerry Lee Lewis and Fats Domino and Little Richard, of course. I feel very blessed and lucky to come from where I come from.”

He added: “It was fun. It still is fun. The difference now is that the audience is a lot older. It depends on the situation. For example, we do these cruises. I do this ‘Flower Power’ cruise, and during that cruise, everybody acts exactly like they did when they were young. They go crazy. It’s always fun. There’s nothing like being accepted and enjoyed. As I say, it’s a real rush.”

By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com

Felix Cavaliere and Gene Cornish bring their Peace Time Tour Thursday, April 6 to the Bergen Performing Arts Center in Englewood, New Jersey, and Saturday, April 8 to the State Theatre in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Click here for more information and tickets to the BergenPAC show. Click here for more information and tickets to the State Theatre show.