Skip to content

Asbury Park African-American Music Project

Celebrating the stories of Springwood Avenue

Home
Our Mission
The Turf Club
People
Places
Videos
Articles
Contact
Donate
Explore the Digital Museum

History of Springwood Avenue

Follow Us

Facebook

“Down the Avenue: Stories of Springwood Avenue”

asbury_amp

"Bob Watt in Conversation with Todd Cochran," a 15

"Bob Watt in Conversation with Todd Cochran," a 15-minute short documentary, premieres this week at the 2021 Pan African Film Festival. Bob Watt grew up in Asbury Park, and later became the first African-American french horn player to be hired by a major U.S. orchestra.
—
Mr. Watt ‘sat down’ for a phone interview with the Asbury Park African-American Music Project in 2019.
—
More details here: https://www.paff.org/films/bob-watt-in-conversation-with-todd-cochran/

From the PAN AFRICAN FILM FESTIVAL:
SYNOPSIS
Two lifelong artists - pianist, composer, conceptual artist Todd Cochran and French hornist Bob Watt, the first African American hornist in a major American symphony orchestra, are engaged in a conversation that touches on creating without boundaries and reaching beyond constructs and clichés. Here the pathways of a Black American classical music pioneer and a contemporary jazz pianist and composer intersect in the creating of a visionary recording. A coming-of-age story, emboldening philosophy, and how passionate classical musicians of African descent are creating art that is defining the 21st century.

DIRECTED BY
Todd Cochran

DIRECTOR'S BIO
Todd Cochran is a pianist, composer, conceptual visual artist with a focus on evolving philosophies, the possibilities of art, the universality of the Black storytelling and expanding the palette of 21st century creativity. His art includes producing/directing short films.
---
#westsidewednesday #apamp #springwoodavenue #asburyparkmusic #asburypark #bobwatt #frenchhorn #brass #horn #hornplayer #orchestra #documentary #panafricanfilmfestival

We are so grateful to the New Jersey Council for t

We are so grateful to the New Jersey Council for the Humanities for the COVID-19 Relief Grant. Thank you to Yvonne Clayton for representing us in this video, sharing about our weekly "West Side Wednesday" posts and digital outreach. Thanks to all of YOU for being part of our journey, collecting and sharing more stories of Asbury Park's African-American musical legacy.

Don't forget... our FREE Digital Museum is always open! Visit our site and take a deeper look at the African-American musical legacy of Asbury Park. Take a virtual tour around historic Springwood Avenue, explore the once-well-known music venues, and meet the people and musicians who shaped the story.

Visit AP-AMP's Digital Museum, powered by @pass_it_down here >>>
https://create.passitdown.com/present/5e861cd2802f1730d242e9c9/david
—
#westsidewednesday #apamp #asburypark #nj #monmouthcounty #grant #njch #history #music #passitdown

Valmont Corbett was a member of the dance group, T

Valmont Corbett was a member of the dance group, The Madisons, along with Ricardo Washington, Starlone Thomas, Ricky Miller, Ricky Wise, and Tyrone Johnson.

Raised in Asbury Park, Valmont performed with The Madisons in the 1960s at many venues and remembers the "good times" on Springwood Avenue. He was also a track star at Asbury Park High School.

As a member of The Madisons, Valmont helped choreograph many dance routines to songs like Eddie Floyd's "Knock on Wood" and the Temptations' "Ain't Too Proud." Valmont also performed as a "sword boy" with the Muscaleros, a 46-member drill team from Neptune and Asbury Park, NJ.

Photo: A few members of The Madisons (left to right: Valmont Corbett, Tyrone Johnson, Ricky Wise, Starlone Thomas). Asbury Park Press, Feb. 20, 1967.
—
#asburypark #neptune #nj #monmouthcounty #apamp #westsidewednesday #springwoodavenue #nj #themadisons #dance #dancer #1960s #asburyparkhighschool #drillteam @asburyparkpress #blackhistory

The Asbury Park African-American Music Project got

The Asbury Park African-American Music Project got a few shout outs at the 2021 NJ American Society of Landscape Architecture Annual Meeting that wrapped up yesterday. We are glad AP-AMP is part of the story that helps connect identity, place, culture and landscape. @njasla

#westsidewednesday #apamp #springwoodavenue #africanamericanhistory #culturalheritage #music #turfclub #blacklandscapesmatter #landscape #njasla2021 #landscapearchitecture #asburypark

“A day of creativity, a stream of dreams, a pale

“A day of creativity, a stream of dreams, a palette of colors, a quiver of emotions. Music is always there, waiting.” — Robert Watt

Thanks again to Mr. Watt for sharing his story with AP-AMP. Mr. Watt, grew up playing French horn in Asbury Park and went on to be the first African American French horn player hired by a major American orchestra (the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra @laphil).

📸 Video excerpted from “Bob Watt in Conversation with Todd Cochran” (2018)

Keep an eye on our website, asburyAMP.org, for the full version of this video, as well as Mr. Watt’s interview with AP-AMP.
—
#westsidewednesday #apamp #frenchhorn #horn #orchestra #brass #music #interview #asburypark #laphil #bobwatt

AP-AMP’s mission is to celebrate the music, peop

AP-AMP’s mission is to celebrate the music, people, and stories of Springwood Avenue in Asbury Park, which includes moments in time that connect Asbury Park's history to the shared stories of Americans across the country.

Without the people who impacted Asbury Park’s story all along the way, we would not be who we are today.

In a week of big moments, we respect the past and prepare for the future.

📸: Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (center) with Rev. Alfred Pugh, the minister at Second Baptist Church (right). Wayne McMurry, editor and president of the Asbury Park Press, is on the right. This photo was taken in 1960 at Asbury Park High School. Credit: @asburyparkpress
—
#westsidewednesday #asburypark #nj #springwoodavenue #apamp #history #martinlutherking #mlk #stories #freedom

Just because we all deserve some beautiful music!

Just because we all deserve some beautiful music! Throwback to some
Sunday jazz at St. Augustine’s in 2018 featuring Dorian Parreott and
Friends. ⭐️
—
#westsidewednesday #apamp #springwoodavenue #springwoodavehistory #nj
#jazz #westside #asburyparkmusic #asburypark

We are excited to welcome Mr. Ruben Bray @grimmloc

We are excited to welcome Mr. Ruben Bray @grimmlock7 as the newest member of our Advisory Committee!

Born in Asbury Park, Ruben is a DJ/Sound Specialist with Total Xperience Entertainment Group and security for the Asbury Park School District. Thank you for joining the AP-AMP team!

#westsidewednesday #apamp #welcome #teamwork #springwoodavenue #dj #asburyparkschools #community #asburyparkmusic #asburypark

As we wrap up 2020, thank you in advance for consi

As we wrap up 2020, thank you in advance for considering a year-end gift to the Asbury Park African-American Music Project. ❤️

To donate and learn more about Springwood Ave. music and the extraordinary humans we’ve had a chance to interview, please visit www.asburyamp.org

📷 Morgan Souder, showcasing artwork by AP-AMP Board Member Kathleen Melgar 🎶
—
#westsidewednesday #apamp #springwoodavenue #musichistory #africanamericanhistory #music #asburyparkhistory #asburypark #thankyou

A little holiday cheer, compliments of Mr. JT Bowe

A little holiday cheer, compliments of Mr. JT Bowen and a few of our local favorites.

📷: A Very Asbury Holiday (2018) Paramount Theater
—
#westsidewednesday #apamp #jtbowen #asburyparkmusic #africanamericanhistory #asburypark #santababy #holiday #guitar #music #musician #livemusic #songwriter #singer #happyholidays #earthakitt @eartha_kitt @paramount.theatre.ap

AP-AMP team sat in the interviewee seats today to

AP-AMP team sat in the interviewee seats today to talk Springwood Ave. music history as part of @thejerseysound project! Thank you for including us! 🎶
—
#apamp #springwoodavenue #africanamericanhistory #music #jazz #soul #rhythmandblues #musicians #africanamericanmusic #asburypark #nj #TheJerseySound

Turf Club planning and dreaming on a rainy day 🎶 Stay tuned!
—
#westsidewednesday #apamp #turfclub #musichistory #africanamericanhistory #communityhistory #springwoodavenue #musicvenue #asburypark

We sure miss getting together to talk Springwood A

We sure miss getting together to talk Springwood Ave. history. AP-AMP is still listening and documenting stories virtually, and looking forward to the days we can gather again!

Check out AP-AMP’s digital museum and let us know if you have Springwood Ave. memories and pictures you’d like to share!

Pic: AP-AMP talking Springwood Ave. history at the Asbury Park Public Library (2018)

#westsidewednesday #apamp #springwoodavenue #africanamericanhistory #musichistory #localhistory #asburyparkpubliclibrary #asburypark @asburyparklibrary

We celebrate this Westside Wednesday with a big TH

We celebrate this Westside Wednesday with a big THANK YOU to Dorian Parreott & Toni Veasy for their generous donation to the Asbury Park African-American Music Project through a special APHS yearbook sale (Dorian has a few left so let us know if you’re interested)!

Musician, educator, mentor, & friend of all things music ... Dorian Parreott
shares so much with the Asbury Park community. We are grateful for the support, the music and the friendship!

Photos from the 2018 Very Asbury Holiday Show 🎷
—
#westsidewednesday #apamp #asburypark #music #musician #educator #dorianparreott #sax #saxophone #concert #thankyou

Each and every story that has been so generously s

Each and every story that has been so generously shared with the Asbury Park African-American Music Project is a gift. We are here to amplify the voices and music of Springwood Ave. so that they continue to inspire the next generation of our community.

A #GivingTuesday gift from you will keep the stories going. Donation link in bio 🖤

Thank you!
—
#givingtuesday #nonprofit #community #stories #africanamerican #blackmusic #thankyou

This week's #WestsideWednesday is a warm up for ne

This week's #WestsideWednesday is a warm up for next week's #GivingTuesday⁠⁠!

We are asking our community to consider a donation to AP-AMP, where every dollar helps celebrate the music and stories of Springwood Ave. Click bio link to donate!

Check out this 2019 clip from @nbcnewyork to hear more: https://www.nbcnewyork.com/on-air/as-seen-on/neighborhood-hot-spot_-asbury-park_s-african-american-music-project_new-york/1060708/
—
#westsidewednesday #apamp #asburypark #givingtuesday #springwoodavenue

Holiday Springwood Avenue musings by songwriter, g

Holiday Springwood Avenue musings by songwriter, guitarist, and singer Mr. Al Holmes:

" ... holidays we used to ride down, and Sundays, my uncle used to ride us down Springwood Avenue because it was a big deal. You could see everybody getting dressed up just to walk down Springwood because it was happening from one end where 35 was all the way down to Main Street. It was nothing but music when you walk down from 35, you would come to the first club... [clears throat] and you would get to the second club. And, but before you get to the second club. As the first club is fading out, the second club is fading in and that's how I went all the way down Springwood Avenue. And people would dance out on the street if they felt like it." ✨
—
#westsidewednesday #asburypark #apamp #springwoodavenue #holidays #memories #music #nothingbutmusic #interview

The Asbury Park African-American Music Project rem

The Asbury Park African-American Music Project remembers the extraordinary Ms. Dolores "Dee" Holland with love and honor.

Dee's impact on the music world near and far and her influence on musicians comes up time and time again in our interviews, along with a memorable and defining comment that we've heard more than once, "She had a wicked left hand." 🎹

Our time with the gracious, talented and humble Dee is something we hold close to our hearts. ♥️

Photos:
1. Dolores Holland, organ (1940s) Photo: D. Holland
2. Dee honored with Al Griffin and Cliff Johnson at the City of Asbury Park's Black History Month Celebration (2018).
3. Dee Holland and her daughter, Paulette Holland Fant, leaving their AP-AMP interview (2017).
—
Obituary: https://www.castleridgemortuary.com/obituary/dolores-holland?fh_id=15261&fbclid=IwAR3M_RoZLLXXhAv86tpYm1Vo6FUrFriQJ4pW11gH7SV7tZvMQGr-ro359Z4
—
#westsidewednesday #deeholland #springwoodavenue #musichistory #asburypark #africanamericanhistory #asburyparkhistory #jazz #piano #organ #womeninmusic #keyboard

It wasn't just musicians that performed up and dow

It wasn't just musicians that performed up and down Springwood Avenue! Next week, the Asbury Park African-American Music Project Team gets to interview Ricardo Washington and hear the story of the Madisons, a dance group that performed with many musicians at Springwood Avenue venues! 🎶

In his autobiography, “Redemption Rising,” Ricardo describes his life, growing up in Asbury Park and beyond.

Stay tuned for more from AP-AMP’s interview with Ricardo! ✨
—
#westsidewednesday #apamp #asburypark #nj #springwoodavenue #music #dance #madisons #artist #africanamericanartist #interview #author #redemptionrising

We love to celebrate local musicians AND their con

We love to celebrate local musicians AND their connections to Springwood Ave. history! 🎶

Saxophonist Bill Carter grew up next door to jazz pianist Dolores "Dee" Holland and had the opportunity to perform with her later in life. Bill has played all over, including legendary Springwood Ave. venues Orchid Lounge & Big Bill's! We were lucky to have Bill perform at AP-AMP's launch event at the Danny Clinch Transparent Gallery and look forward to the opportunity to hear Bill play again soon!

Check out our Digital Museum for more information about Bill, Dee and many other musicians with ties to Springwood Ave.

Photo: @breathlessconni
—
#westsidewednesday #apamp #springwoodavenue #asburypark #nj #jazz @transparentclinch #saxophone #sax #music #musician

Load More... Follow on Instagram

Home
Our Mission
The Turf Club
People
Places
Videos
Articles
Contact
Donate
Explore the Digital Museum

Proudly powered by WordPress | Theme: sela by WordPress.com.