This site tells the story of our band \u201cCoast to Coast\u201d from beginning to end and adds to the story and musical background of my partner and friend of 32-years, Ben Iverson, who was recording music even before the likes of Elvis Presley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I met Ben in 1976 when I was 17 years old. I was a junior at Newtown High School in Elmhurst, Queens. At that time, I took a part time job as a Produce Clerk at Walbaum\u2019s Supermarket on Northern Boulevard in Jackson Heights, Queens, where I met Ben Iverson who was the \u201cFrozen Food Manager.\u201d In between the music, this job was steady income, and he and his Wife, Diane, started a family and raised two Daughters, Tonia and Cytherea, whom I am still in contact with today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Back then, I remember going to work early just to talk to him about his musical background and his time spent in the 50\u2019s and 60\u2019s with the Ohio Doo Wop Group, \u201cThe Hornets\u201d, or better known as, \u201cBen Iverson and The Hornets.\u201d However, Ben was somewhat quiet and at a loss for words when I questioned him with regard to \u201cBen Iverson and the Nue Dey Express\u201d, as well as his short career as Manager and Songwriter for Brooklyn\u2019s own, \u201cCrown Heights Affair\u201d in the early 70\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Between the 50\u2019s and 60\u2019s, \u201cBen Iverson and The Hornets\u201d shared billing at music events with recording artists such as, The Drifter\u2019s, Bill Haley and The Comets, Pat Boone, Etta James, Mary Wells, Nancy Wilson, Jackie Wilson, Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin, Lloyd Price and Al Green. Many of these names got their start in the 50\u2019s, which Ben met at music concert events hosted by Radio Disc Jockey, Alan Freed. Alan was truly the first Concert Promoter for Doo Wop, Rhythm & Blues, and early Rock & Roll.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 1978 after Ben and I discussed getting together and composing music, I started writing poetry and expressing in writing my break up with my college girl friend, Paula Vasta. Paula\u2019s middle name was Marie, so in kidding around, I would call her \u201cPaula Marie.\u201d Ben thought my lyrics were \u201cpowerful\u201d and wanted to put them in music. Thus our first recorded 45 rpm record called \u201cPaula Marie\u201d, backed with \u201cI Want You Dear.\u201d This launched our musical partnership and within a year, the Coast to Coast Band was formed. Ben and I went on to writing two albums worth of material, which in turn gave us a lot of time and presence on stage at our live gigs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The regular Coast to Coast Band members consisted of Ben Iverson on Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitarist and Co-Executive Producer, Joe Crowley, who is known today as \u201cNew York Congressman Joe Crowley.\u201d Carl (Woody Wood) Morton on Bass Guitar, Jimmy Johnson on Keyboards. Woody and Jimmy used to hang and play rap in its early days with \u201cRun DMC\u201d in St. Albans, Queens. Lead Guitarist, Lou Jimenez, currently owns his own recording studio, Music Labs in Elmont, Long Island, www.musiclabnyc.com<\/a>. On Drums, Eddie Byam, on Alto Sax, Jay Cohen, who in the 70\u2019s used to record for \u201cGary U.S. Bonds.\u201d Gary Pevols on Trumpet. On Bone, Scott Burrows, Trumpet player, Steve Becker, whom we lost to Testicular Cancer at the age of 25, along side Neil Levine, Stan Stockley, Tom Russo and additional members that came and went that we used for live gigs and studio recordings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n