For the last 35 years or so, music has played a huge role in the life of Roland Traynor.

After time in the U.S. Army, Traynor, 72, started a career with the Camden County Parks Department in 1972 as a laborer that developed into him serving as the architect of the county's free summer concert series, now held at Wiggins Park in Camden, Cooper River Park in Pennsauken, and at Haddon Lake Park in Haddon Heights.

He retired in 2011, but the Winslow Township resident is brought back as a consultant to help the county pull together its annual concert series. Traynor was standing by as county officials on Thursday unveiled the summer schedule of free concerts.

Artists performing in county concerts will include UB40, Arrested Development, Shelia E., Hanson and Spyro Gyra (full schedule below).

"If you can't find something to do in Camden County this summer, you're not looking," County Commission Director Louis Cappelli Jr. said at the Wiggins Park press conference. 

Traynor recalled being handed the mission to bring more people from across Camden County and elsewhere to the county-owned Wiggins Park on Camden's waterfront.

He said he stood there looking at Wiggins, with its gentle slope down to the Delaware River and striking views of Philadelphia's skyline beyond.

Entertainment and music should be the way to get people to Camden, he thought.

Traynor said he had recently been exposed to jazz music and considered a jazz series in the evenings. At first, he thought it could be called the Skyline Series, but then it hit him: Call it the Sunset Jazz Series, as it is called to this day.

"The talent just grew year after year after year," he said. 

The lawn at Wiggins was especially packed for concerts by jazz saxophonist Kenny G. and gospel singer and rapper Kirk Franklin, Traynor recalled. 

His advice? Arrive to concerts about an hour early and claim your space. At Wiggins Park, that would include planting your chairs or blanket on the lawn. Parking at the Camden Parking Authority lots is $10.

Traynor was singled out for his concert planning by County Commissioner Jeffrey L. Nash at Thursday's press conference.

It was not the first time Traynor's concert planning has drawn accolades.

At a post-pandemic Board of Commissioners meeting in June 2021, after the series started up again, Nash mentioned a Haddon Heights concert.

"Roland Traynor has done an amazing job once again," Nash said at the meeting. "He started off where he left off and that is presenting great entertainment."

Why is Traynor still active at a time when others eschew work and focus on hobbies and fun?

"The concept was I was never going to retire retire," he said.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Read more about the Camden County concert series at the county concert website.

CAMDEN COUNTY FREE CONCERT SCHEDULE

Sunset Jazz Series at Wiggins Park located at the Camden City waterfront.

All concerts are on Monday nights starting at 8 p.m.:

  • June 12 – Arrested Development
  • June 26 – Celisse
  • July 10 – Sheila E.
  • July 17 – New York City Gospel Choir
  • July 31 – Pink Martini featuring China Forbes
  • August 7 – Spyro Gyra
  • August 21 – The Urban Guerilla Orchestra

July 4, 2023, concert and festivities at Wiggins Park at the Camden City waterfront.

  • 5 p.m. – Kickoff Tri-County Symphonic Band - Salute to America & Our Veterans
  • 6:30 p.m. – Tara Hendricks
  • 8 p.m.  – UB40
  • 9:30 p.m. – Fireworks Spectacular over the Delaware River

Twilight Concert Series, at Cooper River Park in Pennsauken Township.

All concerts are on Thursdays at 8 p.m.:

  • June 1 – Ferko String Band
  • June 15 – City Rhythm Orchestra
  • June 29 – Hanson
  • July 13 – Opera Philadelphia’s Christmas in July
  • July 20 – Ruben Studdard Sings Luther Vandross
  • August 10 – Country on the Cooper Presented by 92.5 XTU 
  • August 24 – Act to be announced

Sundown Music Series at Haddon Lake Park inside the McLaughlin-Norcross Memorial Dell Concert Venue in Haddon Heights.

All concerts start at 7:30 p.m.:

  • June 7 – Mutlu/Melissa Menago
  • June 21 – Samantha Fish ft. Jesse Dayton/ Julia Pratt
  • July 12 – Travel Lanes/Cloudbelly
  • July 26 – Don McCloskey/Daphne Ellen
  • August 2 – Aimee Mann/Jonathan Coulton
  • August 16 – Calexico/Sug Daniels
  • August 30 – Gabe Dixon/Sahara Moon