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Welcome to the SALections!

August 2026

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This month's SALections is dedicated to the

BEST WEDDING BAND in SOUTH JERSEY //

and the winner is //

The SALections BEST WEDDING BAND IN SOUTH JERSEY is The EXCEPTIONS

Lets start at the begining, which is 1970 So let that wash around in your brain. They're now playing weddings for kids of parents, they have done weddings for more than 50 years. WOW! What a legacy?

Philadelphia has such a rich musical history with Fabian, Mario Lanza, Bobby Rydell, Jerry Blavat and Bandstand all a part of our musical roots. The Sound of Philadelphia (TSOP) developed by Gamble, Huff and Thom Bell, Boys to Men, Patti Labelle, Jill Scott, the Philadelphia Orchestra and the best selling R&B duo of all time, Hall and Oates to name just a few.

So, when it comes to the best wedding band in South Jersey and there are a lot of good ones, we looked at musicianship, performance and does the band captivate the crowd.

With those guidelines it was pretty easy to find the clear-cut winner. They have a long history having begun in 1970 and are still tearing the house down today wherever they play.

The beginning for THE EXCEPTIONS dates back to January 1970 when Ray Romano, a 13 year old guiter player from the Northeast asked a sax player named Joe if he wanted to start a band and it grew from there as Ray and Joe hung out after trying out for the Polish American String Band.

The Bands big break came in the late 70’s when they became the house band at Rosewood caterers and the band performed at 120 weddings a year.

Phil Valentino started the band in the early seventies. Phil was an attorney with a passion for music and a vision for the band. He played the keyboard and mapped out the early course for The Exceptions to make their mark from the get-go.

Many members of the band have played together for decades. Five members of the band performed together for 35 years. Bill Trimble (46 years), Phil Valentino (41 years), Gary Briglio, Joey Gonzalez & Don McNeill, all over 35 years.

Here is a look at the band over the years. Let's begin with 2019 at the Lobby Bar in the Hard Rock.

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The Exceptions at the Hard Rock - 2019

Onto the deck at the Golden Nuggets in the same year - first with Build Me Up Buttercup - then an all-time

favorite summer song from Spiral Staircase. Notice where their horn section is - they are not afraid to go into

the crowd and get right on the dance floor.

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The Exceptions on the deck in 2019

Their amazing horn section is front and center here at the Buck Hotel.

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The Exceptions at the Buck Hotel

They have been known to fill up the dance floor as they did at this wedding in 2022.

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I wanna dance with somebody

And yes, The Exceptions, can keep you hanging on.

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Keep Me Hanging On

The Current Band features two lead singers - Ali, with a masters in music from Temple has a powerhouse voice.

July 4th, 2026 in Ventnor, NJ

Nate Butler is the male lead singer with a soulful voice and both of the band's lead singers can work the crowd.

Nate with Sugar Pie

The rest of the Band members include: Matt DiMarino on the keyboard, Al Demier on the bass, Stefan Hojnacki on guitar, John A on the trombone, Bill Conn on the sax, Dylan Anderson on the trumpet, PJ Keiter also plays trumpet and Chris Scamby, the current longest band member at 26 years.

Together, The Exceptions are a joy to watch. It's clear that they love what they do and as a band they are hitting on all cylinders.

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Conga Line at a December 2022 Wedding

If you are looking for a wedding band that will bring the house down, fill up your dance floor and show your guests a night to remember, well then there is no one better than the Exceptions.

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The Exceptions

More than 50 years and still killing every performance. You can see the Exceptions on the Deck at the Golden Nugget on Sundays in July and August. They will be at the point on Saturday, August 8th and back in Ventnor on Wednesday, August 26th.

If you want to see the Band, you can see their upcoming schedule right here:

​https://exceptions.com/exceptions-schedule/​

Special thanks to Bobby Sacco for his insight on the Band's history and CONGRATULATIONS TO

THE EXCEPTIONS

The Best Wedding Band in South Jersey. Here is one more look at them working their way thru the crowd in Ventnor in a thrilling 4th of July performance at the shore.

The Exceptions with Love Train

As for The Exceptions and as the band says- Keep on Rocking, cause You Only Rock Once!

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Playlist PLUS

There are some great tracks this summer and here are a few of the standouts. For starters, there is Sienna Spiro

with a vibe that is tough to beat. She is totally captivating and her band rocks. This is Sienna with a song from

The Devil Wears Prada 2 - which is known as MATERIAL LOVER.

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Sienna Spiro

Love this Brit who hails from Liverpool. This is MT Jones with I'D BE LYING.

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MT Jones

And her album, THE ART OF LOVING is just plain great. She won the Grammy for best new Artist among a very

talented field and it was very deserving - the absolute hottest female artists out there today is none other than

OLIVIA DEAN. This is Olivia with "SO EASY TO FALL IN LOVE"

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GRAMMY WINNER FOR BEST NEW ARTIST - OLIVIA DEAN

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Did Philly lose it's mind on Friday, July 24th? Absofreakinglutley.

It's not often that one of the absolute bests in the game makes a bold decision like LeBron did to join the Sixers.

No doubt that Philly will show LeBron massive love

and it's timely to step back to 1985 and call on Sade

because Philly, "YOUR LOVE IS KING"

Everybody wants him &, KING JAMES comes to Philly!

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Sade - Your Love is KING -1985 - Live Aid

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Keith Urban just released his 13^th studio album, FLOW STATE and it’s a collection of ten cover songs and one original.

This Country Superstar in his 27^th year has a ton of hardware in his den – four Grammy’s // 15 Academy of Country

Music Awards // 13 CMA Awards // and the hits are a long list // Kiss a Girl // Somebody Like You // I’m In //

You’ll Think of Me // Blue Ain’t Your Color // We Were Us // You Look Good in My Shirt // Stupid Boy // The Fighter //

we could go on and on.

His Honey dripping Australian voice now taking on a group of songs we all know so well.

The tracks include on Flow State include // Summer Breeze – Seals & Croft // Baby Come Back – Player //

On and On – Stephen Bishop // and // Just The Two of Us – Bill Withers // to name just a few.

Here’s a taste of Robbie Dupree’s, Steal Away.

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There is one original song on Flow State and Keith wrote this 6 years ago with Sean Small, Sam Sumser and Breland.

For “ We Go Back,” he had a particular singer in mind for the chorus. This guy has worked with Kenny Loggins,

The Doobie Brothers, The Dukes of September, Patti Labelle and so many more.

Keith debuted, “We Go Back” at the CMA Fest in Nashville last month and it was a home run featuring the one and

only, Michael McDonald.

​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QS6oq7LZkPM&list=RDQS6oq7LZkPM&start_radio=1​

Keith knows a thing or two about collaborating – working with Carrie Underwood on “The Fighter” //

Miranda Lambert on “We Were Us” // Lainey Wilson on “Go Home with U” // and “Highway Don’t Care”

with Tim McGraw & Taylor Swift.

You’ll find John Mayer on Flow State along with Jimi Westbrook, Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman & Phillip Sweet,

better known as Little Big Town singing background vocals.

So why did Flow State surface now // well the timing could not be more perfect // the Album came from a desire

for excapism from the stress and divisiveness out there today and it could not come at a better time. Keith found

that playing the songs put him in a joyous “Flow State” of creativity, hence the album title.

A world renown guitarist, Keith puts his spin on Yacht Rock with an original song featuring Michael McDonald.

FLOW STATE is an enthusiastic TWO THUMBS UP as the songs can carry us through the summer humming

along to each one of them.

Just another blockbuster from this Country Superstar who has no limit to his talents.

Keith Urban performs in Atlantic City at the Hard Rock, Friday, August 21^st and Saturday, August 22^nd in two can’t miss shows.

#KeithUrban #FlowState #TWO4tuesday #SALections

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Whenever you wanna make an entrance

THIS IS THE WAY TO DO IT:

Morris Day & the Time

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If you want a little Romance / never a bad idea to call on

THE WHISPERS

Just call on the Twins - Walter and Scotty Scott.

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And Let's never forget guys

You gotta

Treat her like a LADY

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Friday, August 7th - The Bank will be jam packed as the Phillies

put CHASE "WORLD FxxKING CHAMPIONS" UTLEY into their WALL OF FAME.

Chase's first hit as Phillie is a Grand Slam // Harry Kallas - Chase Utley - You are the Man!

Utley backward flip to first playing second.

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Chase Utley highlights

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THANK YOU – GRAZIE – MERCI – OBRIGADO

That wraps up the August 2026 Edition of the SALections featuring the best wedding band in South Jersey.

The SALections is proud to sponsor the Fabulous South Philly String Band.

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Special thanks to Barb Berlin, a great friend and my former weekend news anchor & work wife in Richmond for her amazing proofreading skills. Thank you Barb!

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#TheBestWeddingBandinSouthJersey #TheExceptions

#OlivaDean #MTJones #SiennaSipro #KeithUrban #TheTEMPTATIONS

#MorrisDayandtheTime #TheWHISPERS #LebronJamestoPHILLY

#ChaseUtley #SALectionsAugust2026

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#SALections #Humor, #SaxSolos, #Concerts, #CinemaLou, #Gratitude, #GivingThanks, #PlacestoVisit, #BarbBerlin, #Heroes, #OldPhotos, #Gratitude, #DayTrips, #Promises, #FavoriteDishes, #MomentsThatTakeOurBreathAway, #AcousticandAcapella #RETROfriday #PlaylistPlus #TWO4tuesday

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Website ​www.SALectionsofthemonth.com​
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