Salvation

Salvation was formed in 1969 when New Jersey booking agent Jack Fisher merged 2 bands which were clients of his. A band out of Miami called the Miami Kids was losing their drummer and Jack recommended Arnett. Arnett, from New Jersey, had been working with a band called Max. They were a group which was concentrating on mostly original material with hopes of a recording contract and had already played as the opening group for the Allman Brothers Band. Max broke up after their guitar player quit with little notice. When Jack Fisher Asked Arnett to join the Miami Kids he agreed to do so only if the Kids also hired Max's lead singer Denis who was from St. Petersburg, Florida. The Miami Kids then had a new drummer and 2 lead singers Chuck and Denis. They played the entire summer at the Osprey Hotel in Manasquan, New Jersey and were a real hit with the fans. At the end of the summer however several of the band members decided to return to Miami, Florida which meant that Chuck, Denis and Arnett were now looking for a new backup group. They immediately contacted a New Jersey keyboard, guitar and bass player Russ Hope. Russ had been a member of Max. They also hired a New Jersey guitarist Freddie Cole as well as a trumpet and bass man Bobby Jay from New Jersey. It turns out that Denis also played the trombone so the band now had a horn section. Freddie was replaced eventually by the hottest guitar man in the New Jersey area Lenny Molinari. Another member was added at that same time. He was Louie Pietz from New Jersey. Louie was a talented musician who played the saxophone, flute, keyboards and bass guitar. The band was now really set and could play any kind of music and play it like no other band in the New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania area. They recorded a song "Tomorrow is the first day of the rest of my life" from the Broadway show Salvation and decided to rename the band Salvation. The rest is history. Salvation Summer (Their only LP) was released on Poverty label in 1975. They also recorded "Overnight Success" on Elektra label in 1977. Salvation went on to become the hottest band to ever perform in the area. They had a massive fan following and played the Jersey Shore at the Osprey Hotel for a total of 10 summers. There were lines more than a block long trying to squeeze in the see these super talented guys. The also had a similar following at Hunter Mountain ski area in upstate New York. Salvation played Ft. Lauderdale, Florida for spring break every year and had waiting lines there as well. They played at nightclubs all over New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania the rest of each year. They are still legends in the New Jersey area more than 35 years later.