'Gilmore Girls' star Scott Patterson comes home to South Jersey, rock band in tow

Long before he was diner owner Luke Danes on Gilmore Girls - a role he reprises come November in the four-part Netflix reboot A Year in the Life - Scott Patterson was a kid from South Jersey with a passion for rock music. Of course, diners - like Ponzio's in Cherry Hill - were also a staple of his childhood.

"Like most kids that pick up a guitar, I would sit there in my room and listen to Stones records and Jimi Hendrix records and try to play along with those guys," said Patterson, 57, who grew up in Haddonfield and went to rock shows at the Spectrum. "That's how I learned my instrument."

Lifelong friend Tom Poitras, a drum teacher at the New Jersey School of Music in Medford, can attest to Patterson's proclivity for music. Poitras lived a block from Patterson, and the two have known each other since grade school.

"Music was always a huge part of our landscape," said Poitras, also 57, who now lives in Pitman with his family. "He would just sit at my drum set and start playing beats with no lesson."

This summer, Patterson is putting his musical talents to the test with his latest endeavor: Gordon, a bluesy rock group named in honor of his late mother, Hope Gordon, who was actively involved with Haddonfield Plays and Players. She died in 2008 from Alzheimer's complications. (Gordon is also Patterson's middle name.)

"I'm crazy for the blues. It influences all of my writing," said Patterson, who has penned about 500 songs and owns multiple guitars, ranging from a Fender Stratocaster and Telecaster to a 30-year-old Yamaha acoustic six-string that he purchased at a Vancouver, British Columbia, pawnshop.

To polish his voice, Patterson worked with renowned vocal coach Gary Catona, a native of Ridley Township, Delaware County, who has assisted such stars as Whitney Houston and Andrea Bocelli with his "voice building" technique.

Patterson is "a very committed guy. He's very disciplined. He's a perfectionist," Catona said. I wouldn't be surprised if he's a big hit."

On Saturday night, Gordon - consisting of Patterson and three other guitarists - will test the Jersey Shore's musical waters at Ocean City High School's William and Nancy Hughes Performing Arts Center. The group played two shows in July in West Virginia to raise funds for flood relief.

"This is always how I wanted to come back. It's a dream come true," said Patterson, whose family vacationed for two weeks each summer in Ocean City, Sea Isle City, or Margate, but "usually Ocean City."

Giving back to charities is something that Patterson values and does frequently. Leading up to the Ocean City concert - which will support storm-relief organization Ocean City C.A.R.E. - Patterson has been traveling from New York to Philadelphia by motorcycle as part of the seventh annual Kiehl's LifeRide for amfAR, the AIDS research foundation.

Whether he's rocking a backwards baseball cap as Luke or rocking out on guitar, it's clear that Patterson, who is married and lives in Los Angeles, has not forgotten his Jersey roots.

Poitras, however, is still adjusting to his friend's fame.

"It's almost surreal. I see [Patterson] as my friend growing up. I know the world sees him with [Gilmore Girls], but I see both," he said. "Sometimes I sit there with the show on, and I have to pinch myself."

Gordon will perform at Ocean City High School's William and Nancy Hughes Performing Arts Center (Sixth and Atlantic Avenues) at 7 p.m. Saturday. There will be a preconcert VIP acoustic session with Patterson at 6 p.m. in OCHS's Community Room, as well as a postconcert VIP meet-and-greet in the same location. Concert tickets cost $20 (additional $50 for preconcert session; additional $40 for meet-and-greet). See ocnj.us/boxoffice or call 609-399-6111.

Contact Zoë Miller at 856-779-3813 or at zmiller@philly.com