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Senior Living December 2017
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Rising star
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A talented, concrete surfing emcee from Ewing is taking the area’s hip hop scene by storm. On one recent Tuesday night—the official night for open jams at bars in this area— Grizzie Ray is at Championship Bar on Chambers Street in Trenton, and the stage is set. The funky stage lights beam down, casting a purple shadow on the rotating band. There are no cover songs allowed, so the jam night drummer is improvising a beat. The bassist and guitarist sync up their rhythm, and someone else is tapping electric piano keys. They’ve just settled into a spontaneously composed hard edge funk tune when Grizzie, a young man from Ewing, grabs the microphone. Grizzie Ray, born Gregory Peterson, first began rapping at age 15 while living in Atlanta. He still calls it, “down South.” This was between 2005 and 2010 during the Outkast days. His freestyle skills are impressive, and he works the stage like a seasoned pro. He’s sure of himself, and for his first time on this stage seems to embrace the Champs jam night concept: “let’s get weird.” See GRIZZIE RAY, Page 8
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HISTORIC WALKING & BUS TOURS + CANNON FIRING BATTLE REENACTMENTS + THE COLONIAL BALL CONCERTS + KIDS ACTIVITIES + MUSKET DEMOS
Creating a vocal DOWNTOWN TRENTON WWW. PATRIOTSWEEK. COM ensemble was a long-time goal for Chaequan Anderson
Hip-hop artist Grizzie Ray making a name for himself in the area rap scene By Kellie c. MuRPHy
Fulfilling a dream +
By WenDy GOlDBeRG In just over a year, the fledgling Glassbrook Vocal Ensemble is not only finding its voice, but its voices are getting heard. In an area that boasts many established musical groups, Glassbrook grew from a cadre of like-minded singers who wanted Long-time Blue Devils football coach Drew Besler commands the field during a to stay together after college to 2016 game at Hamilton High School West. Besler is leaving EHS after taking a job make beautiful music, and to offer it to the community. as an assistant principal in another district. (File photo by Martin Griff.) For co-founder and artistic director Chaequan Anderson, a Ewing resident, Glassbrook is the fruition of a dream. During college at Westminster Choir College of Rider University, he says, “We fantasized about forming a professional ensemble in New Jersey.” During his day job teaching at a private school in Trenton was hard,” said Besler, who has years in the Ewing family to he thought, “There’s got to be By Justin Feil been head football coach since focus on his own growing fam- a way to bring this to the comDrew Besler had a difficult 2012 and a coach with the pro- ily and a new career opportu- munity.” He refers to the early nity. He and his wife have three rehearsals to a “garage choral time getting the words out to gram since 2003. “I’ve only been with those kids children under 7 years old. His group.” tell the Ewing High School footLike a garage band, the thenfor four years, but some of them new post will allow him more ball team that he was leaving. unknown ensemble was waiting His announcement that he I coached and taught their broth- time at home in Shamong. “I missed Halloween,” Besler to be discovered. Almost all the was departing to become assis- ers and cousins,” he said. “When tant principal at Helen A. Fort I told them, you feel like you’re said. “I know it’s Halloween singers are area music educaMiddle School in Pemberton telling every kid that you coached for a 6-year-old, but I don’t tors, teachers and church soloremember my dad ever missing ists, with experience singing came on top of the Blue Devils that it’s the end of an era. in groups such as Philadelphia “I’ve been there 16 years and Halloween. finding out that they were one “It’s one of those things Symphonic Choir, The Virginia spot from making the playoffs it’s all I know. It was pretty emothis year, just missing being one tional for me, it was difficult to where I love the Ewing kids Chorale, Mendelsohn Club chotell them and look them in the and the community and it was rus, Philadelphia Gay Men’s Choof the 16 playoff teams. a really hard decision, but it’s rus, Cornell University Glee Club “The whole decision to leave eye and say, ‘I’m leaving.’” Besler is leaving after many was hard. Telling those kids See BESLER, Page 6 See GLASSBROOK, Page 16
Besler steps down from EHS football program
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