James Taylor, Carly Simon and Carole King tribute show coming to Carteret, Red Bank

They don't make songs like that anymore.

But Lisa Sherman and her crew are still singing them. Hear the classics made famous by James Taylor, Carly Simon and Carole King in a "Taylor, Simon, King: A Celebration of Three American Troubadours," on Friday, Jan. 21, at the new Carteret Performing Arts and Events Center, and on Saturday, March 19, at the Vogel Theatre in the Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank.

Singers Byron Smith and Mary McCrink join Sherman on vocals in the multi-media production.

"Some of the music is so recognizable that we're finding audiences singing along wildly with us so that the lead singer is just holding the mic and the whole place is singing 'You've Got a Friend'," said producer Franke Previte of "Dirty Dancing" fame.

The Taylor, Simon and King connection goes back to the early 1970s in Southern California, where the three were part of a fertile singer-songwriter movement that flowered with rich sounds and profound musical statements.

Taylor and Simon were King had previously established herself as a Brill Building songwriting ace whose classics include "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" and "Up on the Roof," written with husband Gerry Goffin.

"When you have recognizable music that has touched a core of so many people for so many years, you've created this iconic standard of music with three incredible songwriters," said Previte, who's written a few iconic songs himself, including "(I've Had) The Time of My Life."

It certainly seems like we're in a Troubadour moment. King and Taylor recently starred in "Carole King & James Taylor: Just Call Out My Name" on CNN.

"It's a musical vacation for your mind," said Previte, husband of Sherman (they live in Oceanport). "You can stop thinking about what's going on in the world and what's going on around us and for that two hours, two and a half hours, you're in a different zone. You're in a comfort zone of when times were good."

You'll even find out who Simon wrote "You're So Vain" about.

Band members include ace Jersey players Gary Oleyar, Ralph Notaro, Tommy Labella, Lance Stark, Buddy Allen, Todd Sherman and Sam Sherman.

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The late BethAnne Clayton was in an earlier version of show before she passed away in 2020.

"It's really incredible to watch the audience hear these songs and reminisce," Previte said. "It's a Baby Boomers night out. It really is."

"Taylor, Simon, King: A Celebration of Three American Troubadours," 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 21, Carteret Performing Arts and Events Center, 46 Washington St., Carteret. $35 to $45. carteretpac.com.

The Salt Water Well

What's a "Salt Water Well"?

It's a place where luxurious sounds awash the listener with tuneful crescendos, layered excursions and trippy reverbed-out guitars. You'll want to go back, if you can figure out if it was all a dream or not.

"The Salt Water Well" is the latest from Woodbridge's indie upstarts Owel. It's due Friday, Jan 21. A record release show scheduled for Friday at the House of Independents in Asbury Park has been postponed to March 26. Fire is Motion, Range Life and Christian Sparacio are also on the bill.

Owel will be playing an hour set with old tunes and new ones, too. There will be new merch and vinyl copies of the new album for sale. Visit www.owelband.com for more info.

Owel with Fire is Motion, Range Life and Christian Sparacio, 8 p.m. March 26, House of Independents, 572 Cookman Ave, Asbury Park. $15. houseofindependents.com.

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Chris Jordan, a Jersey Shore native, covers entertainment and features for the USA Today Network New Jersey. Contact him at @chrisfhjordan; cjordan@app.com.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: James Taylor, Carly Simon, Carole King tribute show coming to NJ