MASCARI MASCARA

Red Mascara, who's been lobbying lawmakers to make his song the official state song since the early 1960s, is shown in this 1998 file photo. A trio of lawmakers is seeking to make his first of five official state songs

(AP file photo)

TRENTON — The issue has stymied New Jersey politicians for decades. It's taken more than 50 years of intense lobbying, sweat and tears. It has pitted lawmaker against lawmaker, governor against Legislature, North Jersey against South Jersey.



But a three lawmakers from different corners of the state have hammered out a bipartisan deal that they hope will solve this longtime problem facing New Jersey:



Its lack of a state song.



On Monday, state Sens. Michael Doherty (R-Warren), Richard Codey (D-Essex), and Jeff Van Drew (D-Cape May) — who have not always been in sync on the state song — came together to propose a bill (S2438) that would create not one, but five different tunes New Jerseyans could officially call their own.



"I've been told from all the players involved that there seems to be a mutual agreement that these are going to move forward, so it's positive," said Doherty.



The songs do not include any by Bruce Springsteen. None by Jon Bon Jovi or Whitney Houston. Even Frank Sinatra doesn't make the cut.



The first song listed in the bill is Red Mascara's "I'm from New Jersey," which would be the only one actually called the "state song."



Mascara, a 92-year-old Phillipsburg resident, has been lobbying in the Statehouse to make his song the state's song since the early 1960s, and in 1972 saw it get as far as the desk of Gov. William Cahill, who vetoed it.



A rival song, "New Jersey My Home" by Patrick Finley, would be the "state anthem."



" In New Jersey," with lyrics inspired by a class of Bridgewater fourth-graders nearly 20 years ago, would be the "state children's song."



" New Jersey, U.S.A," by Nelson Trout, would be the "state ballad.'



And "Be Proud to be in New Jersey," by Mark and Ellen Winter, would be the "state popular song."



In a phone interview, Mascara wasn't supremely confident this compromise would finally make his song official. But he was hopeful.



"I needed a spark. And this seems to be the only spark I can get. I hope it works," he said.



Mascara's effort has gotten a recent boost from Delran High School students who have joined his crusade. And there's a documentary in the works about Mascara's struggle by Teaneck filmmaker Daniel Goodman.



"It seems as though I had trouble getting it out of committee with it the way it was because there are others trying to get theirs passed," Mascara said. "And all the people involved seemed to think it was the best. So I'm willing to give it a try. Although the other bills are still there."



"This is far from the most important issue of the day and we are not expending a great deal of time on that," he added. "But it is symptomatic of the problems of New Jersey that simply having a state song, which every other state in the union has, has up to date been an unattainable goal."



If Mascara sounds a bit skeptical, he's got good reason. Not only did he see Cahill veto his song, there have been lots of other false starts over the decades. According to Mascara's website, legislation to make it official has passed the Assembly six times and the Senate three times — but it only made it to the governor's desk once.



And Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester), who decides what goes up for a vote in the upper house, as of right now isn't looking forward to five state songs.



"If there's a desire to pick a state song, Red Mascara's has been out there for many years — many years before me," he said. "No criticism of whatever anyone else is doing, but they need to pick one if we're going to do one."



And a spokesman for Sweeney's counterpart in the lower house, Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto (D-Hudson) also indicated that he's not rushing to vote on five state songs.



"The Speaker appreciates all the various efforts to create a state song, but it's not something atop his legislative agenda at this moment," said the spokesman, Tom Hester Jr.



According to Peter Mazzei, head librarian of OLS, the last significant action on any state song was in 2000 and 2001, when Senate and Assembly committees each approved resolutions to create three state songs, including Mascara's. But the full houses never voted on them, Mazzei said.



Other times, lawmakers have attempted to make state songs out of those written by the Garden State's most famous musicians. Mascara said the Assembly in 1980 passed a resolution to make Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run" the state song. The song – which is really about escaping from a New Jersey town – never passed the Senate.



Codey – who with 40 years in the Legislature is the longest serving state lawmaker in New Jersey history – has seen many ideas for state songs come and go.



"It's too bad we can't come up with a song that inspires the pride we'd like to see after all this time," Codey said.



What about Mascara's song?



"People would say it's not the best they've ever heard," Codey said. "But there's a lot of sentiment that this guy has been at it for over 50 years. That in and of itself is Jersey spirit."

Matt Friedman may be reached at mfriedman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattFriedmanSL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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