By Sara Paul
It was 1962 and a young musician driving through the countryside with his bandmates was enjoying a blissful auditory moment: listening to their very own tune on the radio.
Guitarist and songwriter for Jay and the Americans and 40-year Warwick resident, Marty Kupersmith recalls the excitement: “It was great driving to a job and hearing ‘She Cried’ on the radio… what a gas… and it was really great when the deejay said ‘I wanna play this one again because I like it so much.’”
Kupersmith, who went by the last name Sanders as his stage name, has played with Jay and the Americans since 1962. He has collaborated with such big names as Joan Jett and made the charts with hits like “Come a Little Bit Closer” (1964) and “Caramia” (1965). The groups oldies recording of “This Magic Moment” (original by The Drifters) was a top ten album in 1969.
Jay and the Americans was inducted in the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2002. Many years and two Jays later, Marty continues his passion, playing with the band of the same name at local venues.
Snake Catching
Not limited to the big stage, these days the self-proclaimed “Warwickian” toggles between music and, yes, the delicate art of snake catching.
Kupersmith is, in fact, the go-to-reptile-guy for the Warwick Police Department when there is word of a slithery trespasser. For four decades, he has been summoned to aid in the catch and release of pesky reptiles sneaking around unsuspecting Orange County domiciles.
As he was always interested in reptiles, Kupersmith joined the New York Herpetological Society, when it existed, meeting regularly at the Museum of Natural History.
Outside of the city in the gentle forests, he says, “I got to know the woods and the local herpetofauna, like timber rattlesnakes who were the first symbol of our country. They are generally peaceful animals… I’ve gone hiking, and they were just sunning themselves… very docile creatures.”
A Brush with Venom
While the music biz was not without some celebrity bumps, snake chasing also has its occupational hazards. Just a few years ago, in 2019, Marty had a tough time with a small, yet temperamental, rattler.
It was a quiet evening in Greenwood Lake when Marty was summoned to trap a rattle snake. He carted it home and planned to release it in a safe wooded area. However, heavy rains delayed his plans, and the snake resided with him for over two weeks.
When he and a friend finally released the snake, there were some serious complications. Amidst a wicked backdrop of heavy rain, merciless bugs, and a hefty asthma attack, Marty forged through a remote wooded area. Unfortunately, the planned release did not go as planned and Marty was bitten on his left index finger. As the numbness set in, Marty faced the inevitable realty: he had been envenomated.
After being treated at St. Anthony Community Hospital, which did supply an anti-venom, Marty was transferred to a hospital in the Bronx and released the next day.
Growing Up in the City
Rewind to the 1940s, born in Brooklyn, NY, Kupersmith retells of the good ole days of stickball, stoop life, and true comrades, particularly his bicycle.
“Honestly, my bike was my best friend… I took it everywhere,” remembers Kupersmith, who grew up in the Bensonhurst and Borough Park neighborhoods.
Those days, singing, writing and playing guitar mattered most, and Kupersmith curiously wandered the cement jungle looking for like-minded kids. When a local record arranger showed interest in the teen musicians, Jay and the Americans took off.
It was the 60s, and Marty did his duty by serving his country in the U.S. Army Reserves. When he returned home, his band was a hit.
Music During COVID
Kupersmith is a forever songwriter, with roots and inspirations from as deep as Hank Williams and Ray Wiley Hubbard to Chris Stapleton and Kid Rock. As much as he is grateful for and enjoys the success of Jay and the Americans, his passion for another form of music has him referring to the success as “golden handcuffs.”
“I knew what I had to do, and yet, it kept me from doing what I really loved. I’m frustrated right now, but I’m happy. I kind of reinvented myself during Covid… I’m out there… I’m doing it… I should be performing but we’ll get back to it,” said Kupersmith, who is planning a trip to Santa Fe, NM as he works on his fifth album with mostly original songs.
With restrictions due to COVID-19 and technology pushing the music industry to new limits, Kupersmith is in symphony with the times. He utilizes the latest tools like MP3s, YouTube, Spotify, and iTunes. His style is perhaps uncategorizable, however he describes it as a kind of Americana country eclectic.
The Important Stuff
When Kupersmith ponders a lifetime of good and bad times, tough and tender tunes, he channels Hubbard, paraphrasing as such: “As long as I keep my gratitude higher than my expectations, I’m having a good day.”
He reflects on the recent pandemic commenting that, “Sometimes things can be hard, and sometimes things get me down. But this too shall pass. We may not get back to where it was and things will stay changed, and for an older guy like me it’s hard to accept but younger people go with the flow.”
To find out more about Kupersmith and his performances, you can search Marty Kupersmith on social and music media.
Marty Kupersmith is currently the Warwick Police Department’s snake catching contact. He is pictured here with a rattle snake he captured on a Warwick property.
Marty Kupersmith (second from the left) with Jay & the Americans in Paris in 1966.
Marty Kupersmith (far right) with the new Jay & the Americans playing in Las Vegas recently.
