Puchi Colon is a Christian salsa musician who graduated from Trenton High school. His music abilities were nurtured by fellow Trenton High graduate and musician and educator Ted Plunkett. Artist website Allmusic discography

Russell Chell is the Hamilton, New Jersey-born guitarist for the popular Brooklyn-based band, The Skins. He is a 2010  graduate of Hamilton High School and attended Mercer County Community College as a music major. He joined The Skins in 2012.  In its November 17, 2016 issue Rolling Stone listed the Skins as one of “10 […]

Tom Littwin is a jazz bassist who has worked with such notable artists as Richie Cole, Gerald Veasley and Clifford Adams in addition to leading his own trio. He performs regularly at local venues, including Trenton’s Candlelight club.  During the fall of 2016, he was a student researcher on the Trenton Makes Music project.   […]

Alphonso Romero Jones II is a musician and actor best known for his starring role in the Broadway musical, The Lion King, from 2009-11, when he was still in elementary school. In addition to his theater roles, his credits include television commercials, print ads and voice-over work. In addition to his professional work, Jones is […]

Charles Laurita is a Hamilton, New Jersey native who leads “The Mischief,” a band that describes its music as a fusion of alternative rock and funk. In November 2015, Laurita gave an interview to Trenton Makes Music student researchers Will Franklin and Kurt Gruninger in which he describes the challenges he and his bandmates face […]

Craig Mack is a former rapper best known for the 1994 single, “Flava in Ya Ear.”  According to multiple sources, he was born in Trenton, New Jersey  in 1971, although the exact dates vary. He grew up in Brentwood Long Island, and began recording with Bad Boy Records in 1988.  But it was Flava in Ya […]

Grant Livingston is the Trenton-born bassist for the Willingboro, New Jersey gospel band, Delivered 

Warren Vaughn was a jazz pianist and vocalist whose talent was evident even in his youth in Trenton. While he was still a student at the New Lincoln School, he was chosen to accompany Paul Robeson in concert. Vaughn became  popular supper club performer in venues throughout the continental US and Puerto Rico. Here is […]

William “Bill” Lacy (1927-2015) was an Army musician, jazz club owner and the leader of the Bill Lacy Quartet. He also played trumpet and flugelhorn in a number of local ensembles, such as the Philadelphia Clef Club orchestra. According to his widow, Elizabeth, Bill grew up in a working class family who lived in  a […]

Anthony “Tony” Emedio DeNicola (September 2, 1927 – September 2, 2006) was a jazz drummer and educator best known for his work with Harry James, Clark Terry and Kenny Davern.  The Lawrenceville native was also a professor at The College of New Jersey and the founder of College’s Jazz Ensemble. According to one obituary, DeNicola’s […]