Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Chuck Darrow
Black Violin strikes a chord with genre-bending sound
Those looking for relief from the same-old, same-old in their concert-going lives are directed to the Lansdowne Theater in Lansdowne, Pennsylvania on Nov. 6. That’s when Black Violin will be weaving their singular musical magic. Violinist Kev Marcus and viola player Wil B, who met in a high school music class in their native Fort Lauderdale, Florida have been mashing up hip-hop with classical music since the early 2000s.
Still haunting rock ‘n’ roll after all these years
It’s not that Alice Cooper has been ignored or slighted in any way. The 1970s hard-rock megastar has sold some 50 million albums, and he remains a popular live attraction (if not the arena-filling act he once was). And he’s enshrined in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, which presumably confers some degree of immortality on the 78-year-old entertainer who, on Oct. 31, returns to Atlantic City for a perfectly timed performance at Tropicana Atlantic City.
Still doing that thing, 30 years later
Here we are, more than three-quarters of the way through 2026, and I have seen next -to-nothing about what should be considered a major motion-picture milestone: The 30th anniversary of “That Thing You Do!” Right off the bat, the 1996 comedy-with-music about the rise and fall of a fictional pop-rock band from Erie, Pa. in the Beatles-drenched summer of 1964 should be noteworthy in film circles; it remains the only movie written and directed by Tom Hanks (who made “TTYD” at the peak of his...
A labor of love
You would think being a member of an internationally celebrated band for more than 45 years would be enough for any musician. But David Uosikkinen is not just any musician. Instead, he’s a musician who has devoted immeasurable amounts of blood, sweat (and probably even tears) to keeping alive the decades-old legacy of music made by Philadelphia—or Philly-adjacent–artists.
From hobby to global guitar brand
Sometimes, a hobby is just that — a hobby. And sometimes a hobby winds up being a decades-old global business, like Matt Eichen’s hobby. Eichen, 64, a New York City native and longtime Cherry Hill resident, is the founder, CEO and chief designer of the Musicvox guitar line, which next year will celebrate its 30th anniversary, not that the retired oral surgeon ever had that second career on his bingo card.
A bold Atlantic City experiment comes to an end
Roughly three-and-a-quarter years after its oh-so-promising debut, “The Hook,” the groundbreaking (for Atlantic City) production show at Caesars Atlantic City is in its home stretch. On Sept. 6, the program that reportedly cost $40 million to bring to life, $36 million of which went into building out the theater known as The Hook, will cease operations, thus ending what turned out to be a failed experiment.
Stray Cats still rockin’ after roller-coaster year
You’ll forgive the members of Stray Cats if they forego the “Rock & Roll” ride on Steel Pier when they hit Ocean Casino Resort on Aug. 15. That’s because the past year or so has been quite the roller coaster ride for the Long Island-born trio that first came to fame and fortune in the early 1980s by reviving rockabilly, the late-1950s pop format that combined the twangy guitar of country music with the “big beat” of the emerging rock & roll movement.
WMMR’s rock legacy comes to life in new oral history
To the rest of the world, those four letters in that sequence are meaningless. But here in the Delaware Valley, they represent an important, one-of-a-kind strand in the region’s cultural fabric. For 58 years, the radio station that occupies the 93.3 frequency on the FM band has been a constant for local rock music fans.
Atlantic City’s timeless songbird
During the past quarter-century in Atlantic City, countless casino lounge performers have come and gone. Heck, even-casinos have come and gone in that period of time. But Beth Tinnon remains a constant. Tinnon has been the queen of the AyCee gaming-hall lounge universe since she arrived here in September, 2000 with little more than hope, as it was a suggestion, not a solid job offer, that brought the blonde, blue-eyed singer to the oceanside gambling-and-entertainment mecca.
Toto lead on dad’s shadow and Yacht Rock
Pressure is the constant companion of any professional musician. Finding and keeping gigs is a non-negotiable fact of life – at least for artists who want to eat regularly. But imagine also being the son of John Williams, one of the most revered and celebrated musical figures of the past half-century. If that’s a double whammy, you wouldn’t know it from his son Joseph’s career.
A rocker and movie stars in A.C.’s summer lineup
From an unmasked rock god to a Las Vegas-staple to two movie stars performing music, the summer 2026 casino headliner schedule boasts an interesting and diverse roster of acts. The local gaming-hall lineup includes the Gene Simmons Band, Blue Man Group and actors Billy Bob Thornton and Keanu Reeves acting out their rock star fantasies. Other notable bookings include Adam Lambert, Wu-Tang Clan, Harry Connick Jr. and a John Fogerty/Steve Winwood double bill.
Broad Street Bullies vs. the Red Army: The game that defined Philadelphia
Philadelphia has seen its share of monumental sporting events, but only once has it or anywhere else experienced what took place on the afternoon of Sunday, Jan. 11, 1976 at the Spectrum, the beloved former arena/concert venue and home of the Philadelphia Flyers in South Philly.
Penn & Teller face a magical future unafraid
For a half-century, masters of the comedy-magic universe Penn & Teller have seemingly defied the physical laws of nature with many of their gotta-see-’em-to-believe-’em feats. But so far, the loquacious Penn Jillette and his silent (onstage, that is) partner, Philly-born Teller, have yet to find a way to halt the aging process.
Get the Led Out a Zep-approved tribute band
facebook.com/GetTheLedOut Led Zeppelin tribute band Get the Led Out is on an 11-state tour that will bring it to the Scottish Rite Auditorium in Collingswood this weekend. It would be futile to try and calculate the number of “tribute” acts performing around the world today. But among them is a band that by any measurement is at the pinnacle of the tribute-act universe.
A Beach Boy and an ageless crooner in town
Any time a member of the Beach Boys takes the stage, you can be sure a jukebox of hits from the legendary band's prodigious songbook will fill the air.
South Jersey podcaster doesn't talk, he chats
A list of popular show business-focused podcasts would probably fill much of this space. It's far easier to name those emanating from Marlton, including "CooperTalk." At last count, the digital chatfest hosted by resident Steve Cooper was up to 1,059 episodes, with no end on the horizon. The segments cover a wide swath of the entertainment world including film, TV and especially pop music.
A magician's way to fame
Talk about magic: Have you heard the one about how a somewhat cheesy dragon costume turned an admittedly unpleasant young man into a superstar comedy-magician? That, in a nutshell, is the tale of John van der Put - universally known as Piff the Magic Dragon - who will play a sold-out performance on Friday. Feb. 27, at Rivers Casino Philadelphia. A career begins Like most of his fellow prestidigitators, the 45-year-old London native discovered magic at a young age.
Danza brings his 'early showbiz' act to Tropicana
In some ways, actor-entertainer Tony Danza was born too late. While the 74-year-old native of Brooklyn earned fame and fortune in two classic TV sitcoms - "Taxi" and "Who's The Boss?" - between the late 1970s and early '90s, there's a large part of him that belongs to earlier generations of show business.
Trevelise talks his way into unusual career path
Decades can pass before some people find their calling in life. Steve Trevelise is definitely not one of them. He is the longtime weeknight host on Trenton-based WKXW-FM - branded as New Jersey 101.5 - the radio powerhouse whose signal covers a large swath of the Garden State, as well as most of Philadelphia and two of its neighboring counties, Montgomery and Bucks. The station often sets its political agenda.
Which one of these four doesn't belong: Police Chief Clancy Wiggum, Tavern owner Moe Szyslak, nuclear-plant worker Carl Carlson or Bruce Springsteen? If you guessed Springsteen, you're wrong. But it's a trick question: All four have been voiced by veteran actor Hank Azaria.
Mixmaster to the stars DJ Cassidy is bringing a heaping helping of hip-hop history to Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City. Cassidy - who has provided the soundtrack for parties hosted by such A-plus listers as Oprah Winfrey, Michelle and Barack Obama and Jeff Bezos (at the Amazon founder's Venice wedding) - will host "Pass the Mic Live!" on Sunday, Aug. 17. It's a sold-out evening of old-school rap featuring such early artists as Big Daddy Kane; KRS-One; Rakim; and the team of Doug E.
Kuro at Hard Rock springs into seasonal celebration
The Casino File By Chuck Darrow Kuro, the Asian-focused dining room at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City, is going all-in on an annual seasonal occurrence that generally flies under the radar in this neck of the woods—the blooming of cherry blossom trees that is always one of the first signs that spring has sprung. Last Friday evening, the dining room officially kicked off its second annual Cherry Blossom Festival, which runs through Mother’s Day (May 11).
Remembering when the Taj Mahal’s poker room was AC’s biggest deal
By Chuck Darrow As we entered Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena for Smokey Robinson’s recent performance, I only half-sarcastically suggested to my friend, Howard, that we were standing on hallowed ground. That’s because the large vestibule/security checkpoint area was, for 23 years, the poker room of the Trump Taj Mahal Casino-Resort. On June 25, 1993, Atlantic City’s legal- gaming industry entered a new era with the introduction of poker.
Zac Brown Band, Cypress Hill and Seinfeld among the spring’s casino headliners
By Chuck Darrow It’s shaping up to be a pretty interesting spring in the theaters and arenas of Atlantic City’s gambling dens as the second quarter of 2025 is bringing with it a surprisingly strong headliner schedule.
At Hard Rock, Smokey proves he still has the fire
The Casino File By Chuck Darrow There are some eight billion folks in the world for whom I feel sorry. That’s because they weren’t at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City last Saturday night to see Smokey Robinson at Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena. The 85-year-old pop-music immortal—whom no less an authority than Bob Dylan once described as “America’s greatest living poet”–thrilled and delighted the virtually sold-out crowd with a program of songs that covered his legendary 60-plus-year career.
At Hard Rock, live music is a full-time gig
The Casino File By Chuck Darrow Earlier, we took a look at the overall entertainment strategy at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino with an emphasis on the year’s headliner programming. But big-name, big-ticket shows are actually more of the dessert at the massive adult playpen that sits on the Boardwalk opposite Steel Pier. The meat-and-potatoes part of the sonic meal Hard Rock serves up is what the folks there call “365 Live”—as in live music 365 days a year.
Carmine’s: Not your typical casino Italian restaurant
The Casino File By Chuck Darrow On the surface, it’s easy to perceive Carmine’s as just another pricey casino dining room geared to the high-roller and special-occasion crowds. But to equate the 20-year-old Italian eatery with such premium spots as Capriccio at Resorts Casino-Hotel, Il Mulino New York at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City and Il Verdi, which like Carmine’s is part of the sprawling Tropicana Atlantic City complex, would be a mistake.
Almost Queen: tribute band royalty
The Casino File By Chuck Darrow It would be a daunting, if not impossible, task to quantify every musical outfit out there whose act is limited to the performance of songs by a single, specific artist. It’s a lot easier to identify those who qualify as the best-of-the-best: They’re the groups who perform nationally (and internationally) and command performance fees large enough to provide full-time employment for their members.
Remembering when two future comedy legends spent time in A.C.
By Chuck Darrow The discussion of Atlantic City’s important role in the careers of immortal entertainers usually begins with the summer, 1946 pairing of the then-unknown Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis at the storied 500 Club on Missouri Avenue. While that may be the most dramatic and indelible tale, it is hardly the only one. From the end of the 19th century, Our Town has been a key part of the nation’s entertainment ecosystem.
AC casinos look for a big Super Bowl win
The Casino File By Chuck Darrow This Sunday—a.k.a. Super Bowl Sunday—is professional sports’ single-biggest day of the year. And it’s not too shabby for Atlantic City’s nine casinos either. As a matter of fact, it’s pretty darn important. That’s because it has historically been a major revenue source for the local gaming industry.
Harrah’s Casino Resort a cure for the mid-winter blues
The Casino File By Chuck Darrow Last Wednesday while the region was experiencing its coldest weather in years, my brother and his wife left for a seven-day getaway to Puerto Rico, where the high temperatures were consistently in the low-80s. I only mention it because circumstances (financial and otherwise) prohibited me from making a similar trip.
Ossu at Tropicana: No Garces? No problem!
The Casino File By Chuck Darrow Any restaurant conceived and operated by uber-chef Jose Garces would be a tough act to follow. But Ossu Asian Tavern at Tropicana Atlantic City—which began life as Garces’ Okatshe—hardly pales in comparison. Instead, a much-needed exterior change and a broadening of culinary scope have helped make Ossu a linchpin of the Trop’s wide-ranging dining scene.
Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band keeps ‘the party going’
The Casino File By Chuck Darrow From the sounds of it, there didn’t appear to be much of a choice for Jimmy Buffett’s venerable backing unit, The Coral Reefer Band, when the beloved singer-songwriter-hospitality-industry-mogul breathed his last on Sept. 1, 2023: Calling it quits just wasn’t an option.
Tradition is Capriccio’s ‘secret sauce’
The Casino File By Chuck Darrow It doesn’t have a big-time celebrity-chef overlord pushing the boundaries of contemporary cuisine. Nor does it have sleek, cutting-edge décor, or a hip-and-happening reputation. But Capriccio inside Resorts Casino-Hotel does boast a timelessness—from its Roman-inspired, mural-bedecked interior design to its traditional, Italian-focused menu–that makes it easy to understand why it is the longest-running restaurant of Atlantic City’s legal-casino era.
Remembering when Bader Field helped birth the Aviation Age
By Chuck Darrow Each day, an untold number of folks drive past the all-but-abandoned tract of land that sits at the intersection of Albany and West End avenues. It’s quite likely most of these people don’t give a second thought about what is the largest undeveloped tract of land in Atlantic City—as well as a landmark of inestimable historic value that played a key role in the development of air travel in the United States and beyond.
Peter Gabriel-era Genesis alive and well thanks to The Musical Box
By Chuck Darrow These days, anyone who keeps tabs on casino entertainment bookings knows you can’t swing a bass guitar without hitting a tribute band: Hardly a week goes by when there isn’t at least one such outfit playing a local casino. But The Musical Box stands apart from the pack, and not only because it’s among the oldest of musical mimics.
All-star band brings King Crimson salute to Tropicana
By Chuck Darrow If there is one word that captures the gaming industry’s fundamental marketing strategy, it’s “mainstream.” Being a volume business, casinos need to appeal to the widest audience possible. That’s why gaming halls primarily host top-selling acts. But on Dec.
Remembering when The Quarter changed the AC casino landscape
By Chuck Darrow It would be almost criminally negligent if we allowed the 20th anniversary of one of Atlantic City’s most significant casino-era landmarks to pass without mention. In November, 2004, the ribbon was cut at The Quarter—the Havana-in-the-1950s-themed retail, dining and entertainment complex that is part of Tropicana Atlantic City.
It’s beginning to look—and sound— a lot like Christmas in the casinos - Shore Local Newsmagazine
By Chuck Darrow It seems like it was just a few weeks ago that we were getting ready for the summer season. But the sad (well, for some, anyway) fact is that it’s just a matter of weeks before we welcome the New Year. And that means it’s time for our town’s casinos to rev up the Yuletide programming in their showrooms. This year’s holiday-entertainment smorgasbord is certainly eclectic enough, as it encompasses everything from traditional musical presentations to LGBQT-facing programs.
Hard Rock introduces NJ’s first AI-driven massage units
By Chuck Darrow Gaming-industry innovation is generally found in places like the hotel check-in desk, casino floor, showroom or restaurants. But Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City is breaking ground in its Rock Spa & Salon and fitness center. The pop-music-themed pleasure dome recently introduced a pair of mechanized, AI-based massage units. Dubbed “Spa Betty” and “Fit Betty,” the robots are the first such machines in New Jersey, and two of only a handful found anywhere.
Remembering when the Comedy Stop kept AC laughing
By Chuck Darrow Atlantic City’s century-plus as a show business capital has resulted in numerous venues that, while long-gone, remain part of Our Town’s collective culture and consciousness.
David Spade talks podcasts, ‘Snake Oil’ and Chris Farley biopic
By Chuck Darrow You may best know David Spade from his TV work in “Saturday Night Live” and “Just Shoot Me,” from such film comedies as “Joe Dirt” and “Tommy Boy,” or as a standup comic. But these days, he can also claim stardom in the podcast universe.
The Jacksons return to the stage at Hard Rock
By Chuck Darrow The Jackson siblings’ you-can’t-make-this-stuff-up story runs the gamut from the highest of highs (the Jackson 5’s turn-of-the-’70s run of hit singles; Janet Jackson’s decades of mega-stardom; baby brother Michael’s culture-changing solo career) to the lowest of lows (the physical and emotional abuse by their father-manager, Joe Jackson; Michael’s child-molestation scandal and his anesthesia-overdose death at age 50 in 2009).
Marlon Wayans wants to cancel ‘cancel culture’
By Chuck Darrow If you’re looking for laughs, Caesars Atlantic City is the place to be Friday evening. But if you tend to be, shall we say, sensitive, about certain subjects, then probably not. “There’s no space for fear in comedy. How do you be funny if you’re scared?” asked multi-hyphenate Marlon Wayans, who recently called to beat the drum for his appearance tomorrow at the midtown pleasure dome. “The first thing you learn in comedy is, you don’t let the audience dictate your thoughts.
Park Place Prime a prime place
By Chuck Darrow In days of yore, Prime Place, the steakhouse at what used to be called Bally’s Park Place (now Bally’s Atantic City) was a personal favorite. One reason was the wonderful view that encompassed, among other sites, the Boardwalk, Brighton Park, Claridge Hotel-Casino (now the Claridge Hotel) and the gone-but-never-forgotten Sands Hotel & Casino. Another was what I truly believe was the greatest salad bar ever devised by humankind.
Ocean makes sure its players get the picture
By Chuck Darrow The capturing and maintenance of premium customers—commonly known as “high rollers”—is among most casino’s top priorities.
Remembering when the Sands was the hot spot in AC
By Chuck Darrow It was, if memory serves, breezy, crisp and clear in Atlantic City the evening of Oct. 18, 2007. What would have normally been a sparsely populated section of midtown was instead filled with people eager to watch a local landmark be reduced to a dust-swirling pile of rubble in a matter of seconds. And at 9:37 p.m., that’s exactly what they saw as the Sands Hotel & Casino passed into memory.
Fall lineup includes Ross, Mathis and Mulaney
Fall is generally when the region’s casinos downshift on their headliner-entertainment offerings after the summer season. And while there are no current super-duper-stars on the performance menu, there is a nice variety of noteworthy entertainers heading our way as the 2024 calendar sheds its remaining pages. Below is a look at some of them. Please note that, except where noted, tickets to the shows listed herein are available at ticketmaster.com. Kountry Wayne: Oct.
No seasonal let down for AC casino entertainment
By Chuck Darrow One metric of calculating the success of Atlantic City’s casino industry is the year-to-year revenue totals. This column doesn’t concern itself with such mundane matters, but we will use that chronological measuring stick to point out that this autumn’s entertainment schedule represents something of an upgrade compared to the talent roster in the fourth quarter of 2023.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Chuck
Contact Chuck, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack