by Warren Boroson 

New Jersey has had its share of famous singers. Frank Sinatra, Jon Bon Jovi, Whitney Houston, Bruce Springsteen, Paul Simon, Sarah Vaughn.

Opera singers, too. Frederica von Stade, Barbara Bonney, Richard Crooks, Dorothy Kirstin, Paul Robeson (he did occasionally sing opera). And now...James Valenti, born in Summit, who will be singing the title role in "Don Carlos" at Caramoor this month. He's already sung at the Met ("La Traviata") as well as at La Scala, Covent Garden in London, Opera national de Paris, Deutsche Opera Berlin, and many other leading opera houses all over the world.