In 1978, singer-songwriter Chip Mergott performed in concert at the Watchung Arts Center. Chip was backed by the members of the local band Bittersweet, including bassist Alan LeBoeuf.Almost 40 years later, the two Watchung Hills Regional High School alumni returned to the Arts Center as a duo, for a performance held on Saturday, September 23. In the intervening years, each of these artists has had a successful career as a musician.
(above left) Chip Mergott, a former resident of Watchung, was discovered by Bonnie Raitt, and subsequently signed to a major label early in his career. Raitt has described Chip as “one of my favorite songwriters.” He is currently promoting his 18th release for Notebook Records, one of the country’s longest running independent labels, which he founded. His “Mergott Music Minute” is currently heard on WDVR, WPRB (“Music You Can’t Hear on the Radio”), among other stations, and is a weekly feature in The Bucks County Herald. He’s been teaching music privately in Hunterdon County, NJ and Bucks County, PA for over 20 years, and has recently authored his first book “How to Play the Guitar in One Hour.”
(above right) Warren native Alan LeBoeuf was the original “Paul McCartney” in the 1977 Broadway production of Beatlemania, a role he performed for two years. Following that show, he was the bass player and vocalist for the Central New Jersey band “Bittersweet”. In the early ‘80’s “Bittersweet” relocated to Nashville as “Baillie and the Boys” where they gained recognition as songwriters and accomplished session players, with clients including Marie Osmond, Dan Seals and Randy Travis, as well as having several Top 10 country singles in their own right. In 1988, Alan left the band to tour with “Legends in Concert” and “Beatlemania”, reuniting with the group ten years later. He continued performing and recording with “Baillie and the Boys”, as well as having a career as a solo artist and backing vocalist.
