The life and legacy of Edward Thomas Decker will be honored with KUDOS: A Celebration of Life in Honor of Edward Decker on Sunday, March 16, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. at the Hackensack Performing Arts Center (HACPAC). Ed’s friends and admirers are welcome to attend.
A beloved musician, business owner, and community leader, Edward Decker touched countless lives through his passion for music, his unwavering dedication to his family and friends, and his leadership in Hackensack’s revitalization and performing arts efforts. His extraordinary life will be commemorated with an afternoon filled with music, memories, and heartfelt tributes.
This special event will feature performances by world-renowned musicians Tony DeSare, Valerie Simpson, and John Pizzarelli—a fitting tribute to Edward’s lifelong love of music and his remarkable journey as a guitarist.
Tickets & Giving
Tickets for the event $75, with proceeds supporting the HACPAC in Edward’s honor. A portion of the funds will be dedicated to supporting aspiring musicians and the local community.
Join Us
Everyone is invited to gather in celebration of his life, his contributions, and the joy he brought to so many. Though he is no longer with us, his spirit and his music will live on.
For tickets and more information, visit HACPAC.org.
KUDOS, Ed.
With Performances By:
Tony DeSare:
Named Rising Star Male Vocalist in Downbeat magazine, DeSare has lived up to this distinction by winning critical and popular acclaim for his concert performances throughout North America and abroad. From jazz clubs to Carnegie Hall to Las Vegas and headlining major symphony orchestras, DeSare has brought his fresh take on old school class around the globe. DeSare has four top ten Billboard jazz albums under his belt and has been featured on the CBS Early Show, NPR, A Prairie Home Companion, the Today Show and his music has been posted by social media celebrity juggernaut, George Takei. DeSare has also collaborated with Youtube supergroup Postmodern Jukebox. He has been a featured guest artist with over 100 symphony orchestras with some highlights including the Cleveland Orchestra, The New York Pops, The San Francisco Symphony, The Houston Symphony, the Chicago Symphony.
John Pizzarelli:
Guitarist and singer John Pizzarelli has been hailed by the Boston Globe for “reinvigorating the Great American Songbook and re-popularizing jazz.” Established as one of the prime contemporary interpreters of the Great American Songbook, Pizzarelli has expanded that repertoire by including the music of Paul McCartney, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Tom Waits, Antônio Carlos Jobim and the Beatles. In addition to being a bandleader and solo performer, Pizzarelli has been a special guest on recordings for major pop names such as Natalie Cole, Kristin Chenoweth and, of course, his father Bucky Pizzarelli. He won a Grammy Award in the Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album category as co-producer of James Taylor’s American Standard in 2021. He has performed on America’s most popular national television shows such as The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Conan, and Great Performances, as well as the talk shows of Jay Leno, David Letterman, Regis Philbin and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Valerie Simpson:
Singer and songwriter Valerie Simpson, with her husband Nikolas Ashford, penned some of the most prolific love songs of a generation. First meeting in New York City in 1964 the two realized that their music and writing styles were similar so they began to collaborate on Simpson’s personal music as well as writing songs for other artists. Together they wrote songs for a variety of artists including Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin. In 1966 they caught the attention of Berry Gordy who invited them to Motown. Auditioning a few of their songs they were offered positions as songwriters and producers.
The work of Valerie Simpson is nothing short of astonishing. With her husband, she has earned 22 gold and platinum records, 3 Grammy nominations and 50 awards from the American Society of Composers, Producers and Songwriters including the Founders Award (the highest achievement one can receive).
