By CHRIS JORDAN
STAFF WRITER
LONG HILL — A part of the local live music scene is about to find itself orphaned.
Orphan Annie's, a haven for blues, jazz, rock and R&B for the last 30 years in the Stirling section of the township, is closing Monday, co-owner Rick Romano announced.
"It's time," said Romano, who operated the club and restaurant at 1255 Valley Road with his parents Frank and Ann Romano. "My parents are elderly and they wanted to get out. It's a united decision."
Orphan Annie regulars were told of the closing last week.
"The closing feels surreal," said Warren bluesman Bob Lanza, who performs at the club on Saturday. "You don't think a place affects you that much but I've spent a lot of time there, going back to my wilder younger days."
Orphan Annie's opened for business in 1977.
"When we close it'll be a piece of history to a lot of people," Romano said. "Music wasn't the main focus right at the beginning, but we had somebody play every Friday and Saturday night and that was it. If a band was doing very good, they'd play once a month and it developed into a blues and rock 'n' roll club."
Graced by some of the biggest names in music — James Cotten, Randy Jackson of Zebra, Pat DiNizio of the Smithereens, Hubert Sumlin and members of the Spin Doctors along with local Jersey legends such as Bernie Brausewetter, Billy Hector and Nasty Ned have all performed at Orphan Annie's. The music was often spiced up by theme parties, such as the mid-winter beach party.
Incidently, Orphan Annie's is named after Ann Romano, who is not an orphan.
The younger Romano will keep active in the music scene with his Blueskids Productions music promotion group and is looking for booking opportunities at area clubs. He'll be recording Saturday night's show for a later release on the Blueskids label.
In the fall, the venue itself will become Taverna Quattrini, featuring rustic down-home Italian fare, said new owner Ilir Bitici. Bitici's family owns several restaurants in the area, including Fiorino Ristorante in Summit.
"I've been there a few times and I definitely respect what they did," said Bitici of Orphan Annie's. "When people talk about it they always have an anecdote about the place."
Bitici said he has no plans for presenting live music at Quattrini, but it will be considered once the restaurant is set up.
The final weekend at Annie's includes The Billy Hector Band on Friday ($12 admission); the Lanza-led open jam and recording on Saturday ($5) and the American Roots Live open jam with Nasty Ned and Jr. Bradfield on Sunday (free admission) for the last night of live music at the club. The Romanos and long-time bartender Sandy McCoo will say good-bye from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday.
Orphan Annie's has meant a lot to me i met many great musicians and made friends over the years it will be sad to walk out the door tonight when the music stops.
I reposted this article from the courier news online
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