Jonas Brother Drops In On 'Amazing' Pathways' Rock Band

Kevin Jonas, a member of the pop rock band the Jonas Brothers, visited Pathways' Rock Band last Tuesday and gave the group a shout-out after hearing them play a few songs for him.

 "Got to hang out with the amazing kids at Pathwayskids.org today so amazing," he wrote on Twitter.

Jonas, who's featured on the E! reality show "Married to Jonas" and is the oldest of the three brothers in the band, has more than 3 million fans following him on the website.

Pathways' Rock Band formed in 2011 and is a project of Pathways for Exceptional Children, an organization that was founded in Montville Township in 2002 and focuses on a "children teaching children" model that partners mentors with children who have various disabilities.

Pathways' Rock Band, which started practicing in founder Melinda Jennis' basement, now jams in Pathways new studio space in Boonton and performed a concert for more than 400 people at the end of April.

The band played "Born This Way," "We Will Rock You," "Proud Mary," and "Survivor" during its performance for the pop star.

Pathways said the band had a terrific time and looks forward to Jonas returning to teach them a song by the Jonas Brothers, "SOS."

The visit was arranged through Paul Martino, a member of the Pathways for Exceptional Children Board of Trustees. Martino, who owns Applied Landscape Technologies, has appeared on "Married With Jonas," helping Jonas plant a tree for privacy at his home in Denville and in a bocce ball tournament fundraiser.

He said Jonas was "blown away" by Pathways' Rock Band and wants to be a part of it.

Jessica Messina, a Montville Township High School who is a mentor in the program, said "everyone definitely knew something big was happening" when Jonas came by.

"As soon as I heard, I was like, 'What?'" she said. Messina, who plays piano, said she couldn't think of playing music for a celebrity whose music she has listened to on her iPod.

Drummer Eric DiFalco said it was a "surprise moment" when Jonas came in.

The Denville resident said he is a big fan of the Jonas Brothers and the band was shocked when he arrived, but they weren't nervous playing for him. He said Jonas really liked their music.

Mentor Zach Mendoza, a senior at Morristown High School who lives in Morris Plains, said he is very familiar with Jonas Brothers music because his two sisters listened to the band all the time.

"I'm looking forward to playing with him," the guitar player said. "Having him there was really cool, he's a nice genuine guy and said we sounded really good."

Keyboard player Matthew Chisari of Lincoln Park said it was really nice that Kevin Jonas came to the studio.

"We were all pumped up," he said. "We basically blew his mind away."