Gina Leigh grew up at the Jersey Shore. As a youngster, she remembers riding her bike around Asbury Park and the boardwalk until the sun went down. She loved going to the Convention Center for the wrestling matches and was the quintessential ‘beach baby’ all summer until she grew up and became the quintessential ‘beach babe.’
The boardwalk of Ocean Grove was another home away from home where, as a youngster, she ‘hung out’ at the outdoor gazebos. The free spirited little girl would sing her heart out as people walked past her on ‘the boards.” She loved to see the smiles on their faces that her singing inspired. As a teenager, Gina additionally enjoyed the ‘boards’ of Long Branch, Sea-bright, Belmar, and of course Seaside Heights. She lived out every teenager’s dream; spending summers at the Jersey Shore.
Now that Gina is a mother herself, her youngest is 4 years old, it saddens her that the Jersey Shore has been forever altered by the devastating storm named Sandy. The storm has caused much destruction along numerous Jersey Shore destination spots and has left countless families without homes. It will take quite a while to rebuild lives and so many of the places along the Jersey Shore that were destroyed by Sandy.
The Jersey shore is a place where Gina built her hopes, dreams and where some of her fondest past memories reside. She is saddened at not being able to share those special places with her children as she reflects upon her childhood with them. Gina’s song ‘You Are Not Alone’ is her way of paying back to a special area that has now inspired her to help.
The Jersey Shore has a special magic that touched her heart so deeply while growing up, as it has touched numerous hearts who now reach out to help the rebuilding efforts any way they can. Gina’s way is her heartfelt song which she recorded in Seaside Heights, NJ, one of the more devastated areas along the shore.
Gina now works in the car business and her heart breaks when she hears the stories of so many families and friends that have been devastated by the storm. She hears from those who have lost everything and are trying to re-build their lives again from scratch and needing everything as they rebuild, including a car.
While mainstream media slows its coverage of the struggling families as time passes, Gina is reminded daily of Grace and has written and recorded a song. Her voice is her gift to the communities along the shores of Monmouth and Ocean Counties that gave her so many happy memories of childhood. This area is where she honed her musical gifts as a child and she wants to give back to the community and families of the Jersey Shore as a token of her love for the people and the area.
The mission of this recording, “Not Alone” by Gina Leigh is to bring in donations with all proceeds going to the schools that were affected by Hurricane Sandy and local charities directly involved in the relief efforts for the families of the Jersey Shore. Give your support to New Jersey by checking out Gina’s Facebook page @ The Real Jersey Gina and making a donation.
The entire Jersey Shore is honored you have chosen to share the gift of your beautiful voice in this special way. Thank you Gina Leigh!
Here is Gina’s unofficial music video http://youtu.be/AaSkhJvoDI8
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