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Six degrees of Richie Sambora

Published in the Asbury Park Press 5/14/04
By KATHY DZIELAK
Entertainment Editor
When it comes to six degrees of separation, Kevin Bacon has nothing on Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora.

Never was that more apparent than last Thursday, when the Central Jersey-raised Sambora returned to the area to accept an honorary doctor of humane letters degree from Kean University, presented during commencement ceremonies at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel.

Later that night at the Holiday Inn Select in Clinton, Sambora reunited with old friends, fans and familiar faces from Charley's Uncle in East Brunswick, where the guitarist performed regularly in the late '70s/early '80s before hooking up with what would become the mega-group Bon Jovi.

Thursday night's invitation-only show served as a CD-release party for "Shark Frenzy," featuring early work performed by Sambora and former bandmates Bruce Foster, Jody Giambellucca, Steve Mosely and Tim Rudolph. The event was coordinated by former Charley's Uncle manager Kevin Maxfield, now food and beverage director for the Holiday Inn Select.

Back in the day, it was Maxfield who had booked a young Sambora at the East Brunswick restaurant for as many as three or four nights a week. "I booked him as a single, a duo and a band," recalled Maxfield. "And he still thanks me to this day."

Sambora again demonstrated his gratitude to longtime supporters Thursday with a life-affirming set that included Beatles tunes and a couple of Bon Jovi songs. He good-naturedly signed autographs and posed for photographs before heading back to the West Coast and his wife, actress Heather Locklear.

"I have to go home," said a smiling, sweat-drenched Sambora after the show. "My little daughter's in a play tomorrow. She's the star of 'Peter Rabbit.' "