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Asbury Park African-American Music Project

Celebrating the stories of Springwood Avenue

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Asbury Park African-American Music Project Inc.
PO Box 485
Asbury Park, NJ 07712

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“Down the Avenue: Stories of Springwood Avenue”

asbury_amp

In her interview with AP-AMP, musician and educato

In her interview with AP-AMP, musician and educator Karen Lee Schwarz shares how she met Dolores ("Dee") Holland. Karen has been the music teacher at several Asbury Park schools, including Bradley Elementary, Asbury Park High School, and now at Barack Obama Elementary. 🎹
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Dee is a jazz piano player from Asbury Park who is often described as having a "wicked left hand." Dee started gigging in Asbury Park in the 1930s, and one of her last professional performances was with Karen at Restaurant Plan B in Asbury Park on New Years Eve in the early 2000s. We are lucky to have interviewed Dee, too! 🎹
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#westsidewednesday #apamp #springwoodavenue #newjersey #jersey #history #music #musician #femalemusicians #musicteacher #jazz #piano #locallegends #asburypark

Sammy Pugh, left, and Clarence Pinckney at the Lit

Sammy Pugh, left, and Clarence Pinckney at the Little Elks (on Springwood Avenue in Asbury Park) in 1956 (@asburyparkpress) 🎹 .
Don’t forget to check out our ever-growing Digital Museum, dedicated to the people, places, history, and music of Springwood Avenue! Link is in our bio! 🎶
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#westsidewednesday #apamp #asburypark #nj #newjersey #music #musicians #piano #digitalmuseum #history #musichistory #jazz #dog #collie #springwoodavenue

In these uncertain times, music is something that

In these uncertain times, music is something that can bring us joy and a sense of community. Check out our Digital Museum, which centers around the musicians and venues of Springwood Avenue. You will find troves of information on many different places and people that once graced the streets of Asbury's west side. 🎶
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Link to our Digital Museum in bio ↖️
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🎵 Music: "You'll Never Walk Alone", featuring Asbury Park's own Al Griffin on drums. Other musicians include Dayton Selby (organ) and Eddie Chamblee (saxophone) 🖤
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#westsidewednesday #apamp #asburypark #nj #digitalmuseum #jazz #drums #saxophone #organ #music #musician #band #history #springwoodavenue #passitdown @pass_it_down

Thank you @wejanetv! We love every opportunity to

Thank you @wejanetv! We love every opportunity to highlight Springwood Ave. history and we had so much fun talking with you, @ilsyjhoo & @bethtancredi 🎶
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Link to full interview in bio! ⬆️
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#repost • @wejanetv The latest episode of #WeJaneTV on @nj_on_air is here!

Http://www.njonair.com/videos/talk/asbury-park-African-American-music-program

At the close of #BlackHistoryMonth, we had the opportunity to interview @asbury_amp to celebrate the rich stories, culture and music that was born out of #SpringwoodAvenue in #AsburyPark.
@ilsyjhoo @bethtancredi @jwsouder
#music #gospel #jazz #apamp #nj #history #musichistory

We were so happy to get visibility for AP-AMP and

We were so happy to get visibility for AP-AMP and the stories of Springwood Avenue, and participate in the Asbury Park St. Patrick’s Day parade last weekend!! Thank you to @springwoodavenuerising for partnering with us on this — teamwork is everything!! 💚
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#westsidewednesday #apamp #asburypark #apnj #nj #newjersey #springwoodavenue #springwoodavenuerising #stpatricksday #parade #teamwork

AP-AMP is excited to announce a grant from the Mon

AP-AMP is excited to announce a grant from the Monmouth County Historical Commission (through funding from the New Jersey Historical Commission and the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders) to support our efforts to celebrate the stories of Springwood Ave! THANK YOU!! ✨
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#westsidewednesday #apamp #asburypark #springwoodavenue #monmouthhistoricalcommission #monmouth #nj #grateful

Thank you to @wejanetv for interviewing us yesterd

Thank you to @wejanetv for interviewing us yesterday! We had a great time talking about the music of Springwood Avenue and our organization’s current projects. 🎵🖤
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#repost • @wejanetv WeJane TV is back with New Episodes! We are ending Black History Month with an amazing interview with the African American Music Project. Tune into our FB page at @wejanetv to watch us live tonight at 6:30PM.
If you miss the live feed, the episode will be on NJ On Air next week!
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#apamp #asburypark #interview #nonprofit #wejanetv #njonair #springwoodavenue #nj

Thank you for the shout-out, NJASLA! We’re grate

Thank you for the shout-out, NJASLA! We’re grateful to have had the chance to share about the music and history of Asbury Park’s Springwood Avenue! 🖤
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repost @njasla
A little #flashbackfriday to a couple weeks ago when these four accomplished women were assembled under one conference! Aside from having their own individual sessions, these four had a panel led by our very own Jennifer Souder, the Chair of the NJASLA Diversity Initiative. The panel discussed the role of designers in cultural heritage preservation, issues related to sharing cultural heritage and history through the built environment, and the concept of place-keeping vs. place-making.

L-R: Yvonne Clayton, Majora Carter, Lauren Hood, Jennifer Souder, and June Grant .
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@nationalasla @blinkarchitecture @majoracarter @jwsouder @yvoneclayton13 #blackhistorymonth #blackhistory #thisisblackhistory #bhm #thisislandscapearchitecture #landscape #diversedesign #womenindesign #yesshecan #apamp #asburypark #springwoodavenue #womenshistorymonth #womensmonth #empoweredwomen

Mark your calendars for 3/19 at 6:30pm! AP-AMP is

Mark your calendars for 3/19 at 6:30pm! AP-AMP is honored to co-sponsor a talk titled: “A Changing Asbury Park in Context,” hosted by @wordsasburypark! Speakers include Daniel Wolff and Dr. Walter Greason. It will be held at High Voltage Cafe @highvoltagecafe in Asbury Park, NJ (808 Springwood Avenue). More details at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/daniel-wolff-walter-greason-talk-a-changing-asbury-park-in-context-tickets-94838308935?aff=ebdssbdestsearch 🌟
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Join Asbury Book Cooperative for a timely and critical conversation between two leading thinkers about Asbury Park. Both Daniel Wolff and Dr. Walter Greason shine a light on the ever-changing nature of this small, complex, and diverse city by the sea in their research. This illuminating conversation will place some of the dramatic changes in Asbury Park over the last few decades in the larger context of race and class and ask the question: who is telling the story of a changing Asbury, and to what effect?

Daniel Wolff is the author of 4th of July Asbury Park: A History of the Promised Land --widely hailed as one of the most nuanced and thorough historical accounts of Asbury Park--and the introduction to Born to Run: The Unseen Photographs by Eric Meola. He has been nominated for a Grammy and has helped produce a number of documentary films with director Jonathan Demme. His latest book is Grown-up Anger: Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie, and the Calumet Massacre of 1913.

Walter Greason is among the most prominent historians, educators, and urbanists in the world. Dr. Greason has provided anti-racism training to educators and administrators nationwide.Dr. Greason is the author of six books, including his two latest, Industrial Segregation and Cities Imagined: The African Diaspora in Media and History (both Kendall-Hunt Publishers). Dr. Greason currently writes about the racial wealth gap and the patterns of economic globalization. —
#westsidewednesday #apamp #asburypark #nj #springwoodavenue #communityevent #change #africanamericanhistory

"Springwood Avenue was like the 'Main Street' of t

"Springwood Avenue was like the 'Main Street' of the west side. People on weekends would go out, and you could walk out and stand on Springwood Avenue and you could watch everybody coming in, walking up and down. It was a fun time. As urban renewal came along, and the riots and everything, Springwood Avenue has changed. If Springwood Avenue can get back to the part where everybody wants to come down… just to be seen. That was the spot where you had to be seen - Springwood Avenue." -- Al Mitchell, Asbury Park resident 🎵
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Al Mitchell grew up on Union Avenue in Asbury Park, right around the corner from Springwood Avenue. AP-AMP was very lucky to get the chance to interview him! Thank you for sharing your stories, Al! 🎵
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Remember — tomorrow 2/20, AP-AMP will be presenting a lecture about the musical legacy of Springwood Avenue The event will be held in Freehold, NJ for the Monmouth County Historical Association. See last post and link in bio for more! ✨
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#westsidewednesday #springwoodavenue #asburypark #stories #history #historicalsociety #monmouthcounty
#beseen #apamp #nj #njhistory @springwoodavenuerising

Join us! February 20 at 6:00pm for this exhibit an

Join us! February 20 at 6:00pm for this exhibit and lecture on the Musical Legacy of Springwood Avenue. Event hosted by the Monmouth County Historical Society in Freehold. See link for more details! ✨
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The Asbury Park African-American Music Project (AP-AMP) team will share stories about the music and cultural heritage of Springwood Avenue. 🎶
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Springwood Avenue was the heart of Asbury Park's African-American community and was part of what was sometimes called the Chitlin' Circuit, a network of venues throughout the East, South, and upper Midwest regions of the United States that provided opportunities and commercial exposure for African American entertainers and artists.
Springwood Avenue was once lined with music venues, businesses, and homes and became known around the country for jazz. Venues such as the Turf Club and Orchid Lounge featured both world-class and local musicians. These venues and artists and the Springwood Ave. community were an integral part of Asbury Park's musical history and AP-AMP is working to ensure that the stories of Springwood Avenue are central to the story of Asbury Park.
Members from Springwood Avenue Rising @springwoodavenuerising, a partner project, will also share information about their events and programs designed to honor the past, celebrate the present, and prepare for the future of Springwood Avenue. 🎶
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#apamp #westsidewednesday #asburypark #springwoodavenue #nj #monmouthcounty #monmouthhistorical #history #heritage #music

AP-AMP's Yvonne Clayton and Jennifer Souder will b

AP-AMP's Yvonne Clayton and Jennifer Souder will be speaking today at the NJASLA Conference (New Jersey Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects) in Atlantic City, NJ. 🏘
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They are part of a panel that will share the importance of preserving the history and physical landscape of Springwood Avenue. The panel will discuss the role of designers in cultural heritage preservation, issues related to sharing cultural heritage and community history through the built environment. 🏘
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#apamp #panel #njasla2020 #historicpreservation #springwoodavenue #music #musichistory #culturalpreservation #asburypark #community @njasla

Big Bill’s opened in 1961, and was converted fro

Big Bill’s opened in 1961, and was converted from a former Hampton Inn. The house band was Sam Pugh’s trio. Bill Saunders was a chef in the kitchen, and served soul food such as spare ribs, onions, greens, yams, corn bread, and lard, with pound cake for dessert. From 1970-1973, community basketball games were played in the outdoor court in the parking lot. 🎶
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Memory of Big Bill’s from Cliff Johnson: “I was fortunate enough to play at [Bill’s] grand opening. That was a good gig. We stayed and played there about four or five weeks. What a time when they opened up, because everybody loved Big Bill and his brother. From that point on, all the way down to Main Street, music was everywhere.” 🎶
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Photo: @asburyparkpress 1964, from the grand re-opening of Big Bill’s. Bill Saunders in in the foreground. ✨
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The red pin on the map shows the location of Big Bill’s. 📍
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#westsidewednesday #apamp #asburypark #springwoodavenue #newjersey #nj #bigbills #cliffjohnson #memories #stories #map #neighborhood #history #jazz #music

Throwback to 1981! This the Jazz Core group, featu

Throwback to 1981! This the Jazz Core group, featuring some of Asbury Park’s local musicians. From left to right: Bill Carter (flute), Sandy Wilson (voice), and Dee Holland (keys). 🎶
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Published in Exposure Magazine @exposuremagazine in 1981. 🎶
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Photo credit: Madonna Carter Jackson 📸
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#westsidewednesday #apamp #asburypark #localtalent #music #musica #musicians #livemusic #throwback #band #history #flute #1981 #exposuremagazine #springwoodavenue #nj #njmusicscene

Springwood Avenue, Asbury Park, New Jersey... then

Springwood Avenue, Asbury Park, New Jersey... then and now. Both photographs were taken from the intersection of Springwood Avenue and Union Avenue, looking east towards Main Street. 🎶
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1️⃣ 1965. Businesses line the streets, such as Sophie’s Dress Shop, Clark’s Luncheonette, and the Savoy Ballroom, shown here. (photo: Asbury Park Press, January 10, 1965 @asburyparkpress). 🎶
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2️⃣ December 2019, almost 55 years later. 🎶
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Do you remember any businesses that were on Springwood Avenue in the 1960s? 🏘
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#westsidewednesday #apamp #asburypark #nj #njhistory #photography #springwoodavenue #business #neighborhood #monmouthcounty #newjersey #asburyparkpress #thenandnow

The Asbury Park vocal group “Special Occazzion” poses in front of Mr. Fashion’s shop in 1985. Looking sharp!! 🎶
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From left to right: Al Covington, Richard Witcher, David Clayton, Ben Dinkins, and Ernest Daniels. (Photo courtesy Al Covington) 🎶
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Who remembers Mr. Fashion?? A Springwood Ave legend! 💯
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#westsidewednesday #apamp #asburypark #apnj #nj #njhistory @springwoodavenuerising #springwoodave #springwoodavenue #music #musicians #singer #musichistory #fashion #specialoccazzion #mrfashion #80s #80sfashion

Did you see the 2020 Asbury Park city calendar? We

Did you see the 2020 Asbury Park city calendar? We are so proud to be featured for February! This photo (credit @breathlessconni) is from the AP-AMP Launch last June at the @transparentclinch Gallery. Thank you again to @dannybones64 and @lvandtk for hosting us. We love every chance to reflect on that amazing event and celebrate the musicians and stories of Springwood Avenue! 🖤
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If you have any Springwood Avenue memories, especially relating to music, get in touch with us! We’d love to hear from you! 🖤
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#westsidewednesday #apamp #asburypark #calendar #springwoodavenue #nj #apnj #music #musica #musician #jazz #livemusic #nonprofit #dannyclinchtransparent #photography #february

Great news to start 2020! We are excited to announ

Great news to start 2020! We are excited to announce that AP-AMP received a grant from Walmart Giving! We can't wait to use this grant to bring more of the history and music of Asbury Park's west side community to YOU, through our new online digital museum (link in bio), interviewing more people about Springwood Ave, local events, and more! Thank you so much to Walmart, and our local facility @walmart5142!
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These photos represent only a few of the many AP-AMP interviewees!
1️⃣ JT Bowen at the AP-AMP Launch Party in June 2019 (photo by @breathlessconni)
2️⃣ Fred Wynn and Gladstone Trott
3️⃣ Dee Holland with her daughter, Paulette Malunga
4️⃣ Duval Moore with the AP-AMP Team 🎶
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#walmart #walmartgiving #bettertogether #community #westsidewednesday #apamp #springwoodavenue #nj #grant #thankyou #nonprofit #music #guitar #newyear #2020

Special Westside Wednesday Wish🎄from the Asbury

Special Westside Wednesday Wish🎄from the Asbury Park African-American Music Project family for a joyful holiday season to all Springwood Ave. musicians past, present and future, and to all those inspired by the music and the stories of Asbury Park’s Springwood Avenue. 🎶🎷🎺🎹
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#westsidewednesday #apamp #asburypark #nj #musicians #history #stories #community #music #musichistory #asburypark #springwoodavenue #happyholidays

Mr. Robert Watt was raised in Asbury Park and reme

Mr. Robert Watt was raised in Asbury Park and remembers Springwood Avenue well. He was drawn to the French Horn at an early age, and through his own initiative, learned to play it. He played the French Horn in the Asbury Park High School band @asburyparkschools. While in high school, he had the opportunity to play with a professional concert band at the Arthur Pryor Band Shell on the boardwalk. After graduation, he attended the prestigious New England Conservatory of Music. 📯
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In 1970, he was hired by the Los Angeles Philharmonic @laphil — becoming the first African-American French Hornist to be hired by a major symphony orchestra in the USA. He played with the LA Phil for 37 years, retiring in 2008. 📯
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Some of the many people he has performed with include: Yo-Yo Ma, Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, Jose Carreras, Wynton Marsalias, Henry Mancini, Gladys Night, Isaac Hayes, Quincy Jones, Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, Barry White, Rihanna, Paula Abdul, Herbie Hancock, Lalo Schifrin, The Carpenters, Benny Carter, Quincy Jones, Bon Jovi, Elton John and film composer, John Williams. 🎶
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In 2014, Mr. Watt published his autobiography, “The Black Horn.” Check it out at the Asbury Park Public Library @asburyparklibrary and at Words! Book store @wordsasburypark 📚
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AP-AMP had the chance to interview Mr. Watt last week. More to come from his interview! 🎶
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Check out his website: robertleewatt.com 📯
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#apamp #bobwatt #westsidewednesday #asburypark #horn #frenchhorn #laphil #losangeles #musichistory #classicalmusic #orchestra #music #musician #nj #springwoodavenue

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