Brick too booked up for Jay and the Americans BRICK TOWNSHIP - The manager of the latest incarnation of Jay and the Americans says there won't be any repeats of off-color remarks like those made by the group's former lead singer at SummerFest last year. "We are a family-friendly act," said manager Todd Biederman. "There is no cursing. It's all about enjoying the music." The group e-mailed a letter to the editor to the Bulletin recently after a SummerFest story that included references to the remarks made by the lead singer. That lead singer, billed as Jay Black but legally known as David Blatt, is no longer with the group, Biederman said. "He is for mature audiences only," he said. Biederman and his father purchased the name Jay and the Americans last fall, after Blatt filed for bankruptcy. "I bought the name in bankruptcy court," Biederman said. "Jay Black is prohibited from using those names anymore." The new Jay and "best yet" is Jay Reincke, he said. But it's too late for the group at this year's SummerFest and probably future SummerFests, said Township Administrator Scott M. Pezarras. "For this year, I don't think we have any reason to call on Jay and the Americans," Pezarras said. Township officials decided earlier this year to cut back on the number of "doo-wop" nights and provide more of a mix of entertainment. "We are actually not going to be seeking that type of entertainment anymore," Pezarras said. "They are only doing one night of oldies." A country-and-western night is on tap for this year's SummerFest, along with a children's night featuring singer Tom Chapin and a classic rock night, Pezarras said. SummerFest during the years Joseph C. Scarpelli was mayor was heavy on the doo-wop. Too heavy for some council members, like Councilwoman Ruthanne Scaturro. And unlike past years, the job for coordinating SummerFest went out to bid. Council President Stephen C. Acropolis said officials were advised the contract should have gone out to bid before, because of the scope of the contract. The total cost for SummerFest 2007 is $148,460, down from $176,303 in 2006, Pezarras said. "We got an additional grant that took care of all the advertising," he said. "We actually cut that from the budget." SummerFest consisted of nine shows a season during most of the Scarpelli years. But the GOP-dominated council elected in 2003 decided the event wasn't as free as it was billed and trimmed the number of shows to five. Scarpelli resigned on Dec. 8. He pleaded guilty in federal court on Jan. 8 to accepting bribes from an unnamed developer. He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 29. - Patricia A. Miller