Music, Food, Fun, Travel: Let the Good Times Roll! Live this Saturday and every Saturday at high noon on WPG 1450AM 95.5FM Listen to:  Current Podcast  - prior podcasts *System Requirements May Apply to Stream Live

Saturdays 12noon to 1pm ~ Radio WPG 1450AM or 95.5FM

One of the greatest food critics and culinary journalists in the history of southern New Jersey, Ed Hitzel, suffering a very sudden death approximately 11 years ago.

At that time, Carmen Marotta was becoming an increasingly frequent cohost on his show, TABLE FOR ONE. Consequently, The Tony Mart Family became active in producing a radio show that focused on restaurants, cooking and wine, but expanded it into the music of the Tony Mart Legacy.

With the assistance of Harry & Don Hurley, affiliated with WPG, this became a reality that has become the highest ranking Saturday afternoon talk show at 12:00pm weekly: Tony Mart Presents Music, Food, Fun, Travel: Let the Good Times Roll!

In the 10 years that have transpired since the inception of the weekly talk radio show, Tony Mart Presents has increased its production of concerts with further development of Mardi Gras On The Boardwalk, the FREE Boardwalk concert series that initiated approximately 15 years ago.

In 2025, Tony Mart Cares Inc., our nonprofit community service organization became the producers of Legacy Concerts on the Beach in Somers Point, now in its 33rd year.

Several years ago, Tony Mart Presents reintroduced The Jersey Gumbo Cookoff & Louisiana Music Festival, which has become exponentially successful in July at the beautiful tiki bar and tropical nightclub, The Point, located at 998 Bay Avenue, at the site of the former Bay Shores Nightclub, across from the original Tony Marts on the historic Somers Point bay front.

The Jersey Gumbo Cookoff & Louisiana Music Festival continues its focus featuring extensive information on favorite restaurants and eateries along with extensive information about the amazingly FREE concerts, which are produced in both Somers Point and Atlantic City as the premiere FREE headline concert series at the Jersey shore each summer.

The radio show now features detailed information and very interesting, amusing & fascinating interviews regarding the performances and the careers of the musical artists; travel to major musical events such as New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, and back in Jersey, Michael Arnone's Crawfish Festival in Sussex County. Occasionally, the show features savory details of the last of the 'real deal' Americana restaurants, BBQ's, 'road food' and traditions which we are still able to enjoy for over 45 years.

In addition to updating and encapsulating all of these activities produced by Tony Mart Presents and Tony Mart Cares Inc., the radio show has become focused on the fabulous wines of the world and the significant values offered by Circle Liquor Store, our premiere sponsor, as curated by the wine master at Circle, Chester Malloy, the First Lady of Circle Liquor, the lovely Jeanette Giemza, and Tony Marts own sommelier, Julia Stacy Reilly, AKA the 'wine goddess'.

With so much content and detail as to how to enjoy life it's no wonder that the radio show is consistently polling the #1 most listened to show our time slot by large margins!

It's all about celebrating positive good times in life! Tune in and remember that you can get the weekly broadcasts live in real time by merely clicking on WPG in the top right corner.

Let the good times roll!

It’s July and the Good Times are really Rolling! Tonight with beautiful weather on the Beach we’ll have an All-Star Americana jam band concert featuring Waynard Schiller and Dead Zep with special guest star Jayden Lehman!

The next four weeks after that, every Wednesday night, it’s an unbelievable free headline concert series at Kennedy Plaza on the Boardwalk this month starring Shemekia Copeland, Chicago’s Queen of the Blues; one of New Orleans baddest uptown, funk, bands, formerly Wolfman Washington‘s ensemble, Soul Project Nola; and on Friday, July 24th, “King George” of the Jazzfest, the legendary George Porter, Jr and his Runnin’ Pardners with his multiple crowns from the Rock ‘n’ R oll Hall of Fame, the Grammy awards and every Louisiana music award that exists!

George will co-star with John Papa Gros and his tribute to the Giants, the greatest in the history of New Orleans Music, The Meters, Dr. John, Billy Preston and the Beatles, Allen Toussaint and even our own Levon Helm!

At the peak of the summer season it will be one of the greatest living classic rock stars, Mitch Ryder, followed quickly by two time Grammy Award Winner Terrance Simien who now has his own song on the Disney ride, “The Princess and the Frog”. See the world famous Prince of the Neville Brothers family, Ivan Neville and Dumpstaphunk and one of the most important rock and soul composers in the history of the music, the living legend, Booker T Jones performing the early 60’s music from Booker T and the MG’s to all the Memphis Soul that became iconic all over the world in the Blues Brothers movies.

5 Headline Concerts to Bring World Class Rock Stars to the Somers Point Beach

Beginning this Friday, July 10th, Tony Mart Cares, will present five of the finest classic rock shows beginning with the melodic medley of Led Zeppelin and the Grateful Dead performed by Dead Zep led by Waynard Scheller, who has performed with Bob Weir and the Jerry Garcia family. The show will star young emerging Americana rock, guitarist, Jaden Lehman, who performs with Otiel, former bassist with The Allman Brothers. Jaden recently had the privilege of jamming with John Mayer and Dead & Company in one of the most famous Grateful Dead Tributes.

On July 17th, it will be another immortal evening with one of the greatest East Coast rockstars alive, John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band, who wrote the songs for the movie “ Eddie and the Cruisers”, that made Tony Marts and Somers Point famous forever.

Still the fiery rockstar, who was encouraged by no less than Bruce Springsteen, himself, to do another album of new material, Cafferty composed a fabulous contemporary rock n’ roll album with classic sounds of the East Coast and the each and entitled it “Sound of Waves”.

Concertgoers will hear great songs from that album, including “Day in the Sun”, the songs he composed for many movies, including Rocky V and the classic sounds of our life in Somers Point, “On The Dark Side”, “Tender Years”, “Wild Summer Nights” and “Boardwalk Angel”.

That night we will relive the finest music of our lives.

The entire mood changes to New Orleans R&B royalty when George Porter Jr. brings his Grammy Awards, his Lifetime Achievement Award from the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame and his funky Tribute to The Meters on July 24th, when “King George” Porter Jr. brings his crown from Jazzfest 2026 to the beach along with his Runnin’ Pardners.

The night will be complete with a fabulous piano tribute to the rock n’ roll Giants” from John “Papa” Gros as he performs the music of Dr. John, Billy Preston, The Beatles, Allen Toussaint and Levon Helm.

He has played in Somers Point only twice before, once in 1965, at Tony Marts, and once on Sept. 12, 2025 at The Legacy Concerts on the Beach in Somers Point. Mitch Ryder will return to make up for that on July 31st. Performed with our own Tony Mart Allstars, his incredible show includes 17 hits, 3 gold records, and the iconic “ Devil With The Blue Dress On”, considered one of the top 100 rock n’ roll songs of all time, along with “Good Golly Miss Molly”, “Sock It To Me Baby”, and so many more of the songs from our lives.

On August 7th the stage will be full of rock stars when The Weeklings bring their unique Beatles Tribute and Beatlesesque music as only they can perform. The Weeklings are all rock stars from the bands Styx, ELO, Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes, Max Weinberg’s Jukebox and many more.

Unbelievably, it’s all free every Friday night for the next 5 weeks at the top Outdoor Concert Venue in the USA over the last four years! But wait there’s more!

In addition to that, Legacy Concerts on the Beach in Somers Point will present, for the first time, a 90’s million selling rock star group, Deep Blue Something, known for their mega hit, “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”!

As we do get carried away, that show on Friday August 28th, will also have a co-featured performance by Slow Hands, a truly great and entertaining tribute to Eric Clapton.

This week we will have the executive chef of the American Culinary Federation, South Jersey Chef‘s Association, David Goldstein on the radio talking about all the gumbo cooks and his secret to try and take the crown this year.

Also joining us will be the world class band leader, composer, guitarist, and performer Cristian Jon Duque from Soul Project NOLA, who will literally lead the second line parade from the bay to Bay Avenue after we crown the Chef King of Gumbo 2026 at Jersey Gumbo Cookoff and Louisiana Music Festival 3 to 10:30 PM this Monday the 13th. Remember, it’s free parking and free concerts at this free festival

THE GREAT CHEFS ARE READY!! WHO WILL BE THE CHEF GUMBO KING IN 2026?

Many of the finest chefs in South Jersey are preparing their secret recipes and their strategies to win first place at the Jersey Gumbo Cookoff & Louisiana Music Festival starting 3pm on the afternoon of Monday July 13th at the breezy tropical paradise known as The Point Tiki Bar, 998 Bay Avenue, on the historic Somers Point Bayfront.

Its a free festival with free parking and over 6 hours of the finest New Orleans traditional music, rock n’ roll, Americana sounds of Dead Reckoning, And the amazing uptown funk of one of New Orleans greatest bands, Soul Project NOLA, the group that once performed with legendary Walter Wolfman” Washington. Dead Reckoning will be joined by Malcom Tent on the accordion.

For lots of traditional New Orleans music, R& B, and big time second line parades and celebrations, our own Plaid Salmon Horns will team up with Soul Project NOLA for a fun, lighthearted & diverse program of the sounds of Louisiana.

Defending his “People’s Choice “ award from last year, Executive Chef Philip Gormley from Smithville In will be returning with his luscious lobster gumbo that tastes like lobster bisque spilled into the gumbo pot and transformed it into the lobster creaminess with gumbo spice.

Once again Tony Mart Cares is honored to have the Executive Chef of the American Culinary Federation of Professional Chefs Association of South Jersey, David Goldstein, who is preparing a traditional chicken and sausage gumbo with a really interesting secret spice.

Of course the phenomenal Chef Mohammad will bring his exotic Mediterranean and Eastern flavors to the gumbo that will be noted or the total freshness and hand selected ingredients like all of the cuisine that he prepares every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at one of South Jerseys best signature restaurants, The Golden Pyramid.

Somers Point will be represented with the famous Gregory’s family from Gregory’s Restaurant & Bar, one of Jersey Shore’s finest traditional restaurants.

Gregory’s is also a past “ People’s Choice “ award winner at the Jersey Gumbo Cookoff.

New this year from the bay front is the exciting, innovative, and wonderfully friendly Cooke from the Northend Grill just around the corner from the William Morrow Beach, known for their excellent BBQ, fabulous breakfast, and lots of smoky flavors, this will be a tough new competitor with a BBQ accent to the gumbo.

From as far as Wildwood Crest, we will have a new competitor who is a retired surgeon and a full time foodie & culinary expert, Dr. Raymond Talucci. The good doctor is working very hard to come up with some novel surprises to threaten the all star competition!

We will continue to provide hints about the other competitions as they become available. You’ll see it on Facebook, hear it on the radio, Saturday June 11th at high noon when Tony Mart Presents Music, Food, Fun & Travel at 1450AM/ 95.5FM and tonymart.com where you’ll see more details as they evolve.

The Point Nightclub is probably the most inexpensive and best huge bar on the Jersey shore, where you can reserve a private cabana for you and your party that day while enjoying all the gumbo you care to taste and listening to world class New Orleans sounds and great cocktails, frozen libations, and lots of cold beer!!

The party will run for 3pm until at least 10pm so plan on joining us and tasting gumbo from 3-6pm, enjoying the drama of the competition and judging at 6:30 nd parting into the lovely summer evening.

This is what July is all about!

Tonight and every Friday night through September 11 experience the top outdoor concert venue in the United States at the magical and unique Legacy Concerts on the Beach in Somers Point.

Every Wednesday it will be Mardi Gras on the Boardwalk.

Starting in August, it will be Lundi Gras Monday night concerts every Monday and Mardi Gras on the Boardwalk Concerts every Wednesday.

And this Monday, July 15th on a beautiful July day right on the bay at the gorgeous Point Tiki Bar, it will be all the gumbo you can taste and all the New Orleans good time party music and our own Dead Reckoning celebrating life at the Jersey Shore New Orleans style!

Let the Good Times Roll!