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Asbury Park African-American Music Project

Celebrating the stories of Springwood Avenue

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“Down the Avenue: Stories of Springwood Avenue”

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This is the interior the Turf Club, prior to the c

This is the interior the Turf Club, prior to the clean out last summer. The Turf Club was once a thriving music venue on Springwood Avenue.

Imagine being there in the 1960s... You walk in and notice the raised stage on the opposite side of the room. You see a jazz group playing saxophone, organ, and drum set. Behind them, a burnt sienna sequin curtain shimmers in the dim light. You walk up to the horseshoe-shaped bar in the middle of the room to order a drink. Looking around, you spot a few of your neighbors, dressed up sharp. The tune suddenly ends, and you clap with the crowd. It’s just another night at the Turf... “the heart of the Ave.”

AP-AMP is working to preserve the Turf Club and we dream one day soon it will be a thriving cultural spot with music spilling onto the Ave.

Please let us know if you want to help! 🎵
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#apamp #asburypark #ap #nj #turfclub #springwoodavenue #blackhistory #stories #rememberwhen #musicvenue #music #jazz #history

The Asbury Park African-American Music Project Tea

The Asbury Park African-American Music Project Team had the opportunity to sit down (virtually) with Mrs. Frances Bennett! We are so happy to celebrate this beautiful woman whose stories are filled with the music and people of Springwood Ave.

Stay tuned for more ... the Elks/Reindeer Parades, Student Varieties at APHS, the Orchid Lounge Fashion Show and the Shoredettes!

Photo 1: The Shoredettes, Asbury Park High School Gymnasium.
c.1965-66

Pictured left to right:
Peggy Williams
Cynthia McMillan
Karen McNish

Betty Dinkins
Marie Hardy
Mae Smith
Maggie Bolden
Marietta Hardy
Gloria Washington
Debbie Walker
Frances Hartwell
Evelyn Bolden
Merline Mitchell

Photo 2: Mrs. Frances Bennett, 2019

Photo 3: Orchid Lounge Fashion Show. c. 1979.
Pictured left to right:
Mahogany, Diane Shelton, Kim Grier, Frances Hartwell and Marie Gunter.

All photos courtesy of Frances Bennett

#westsidewednesday #apamp #springwoodavenue #womenshistory #musichistory #africanamericanhistory #asburyparkhistory #asburypark #community #orchidlounge #shoredettes

The Asbury Park African-American Music Project is

The Asbury Park African-American Music Project is excited to share a few more images of the Madisons, an extraordinary dance group from Asbury Park. We’ve had the chance to speak with two of the Madisons recently and we are so grateful that they continue to share their memories!
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Photo 1 (White Shirt/Shoes), from around 1967.
Bottom row L-R: Valmont Corbett, Ricky Miller.
Top row L-R: Ricky Wise, Starlone Thomas, Ricky Washington

Photo 2 (Street Clothes), from around 1967.
Bottom row L-R: Tyrone Johnson, Rick Wise
Top row L-R: Ricky Miller Starlone Thomas, Ricky Washington

Photos courtesy of Valmont Corbett.
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#westsidewednesday #asburypark #springwoodavenue #apamp #blackhistory #asburyparkhistory #themadisons #dance #dancers #dancegroup

We loved seeing black history celebrated in Februa

We loved seeing black history celebrated in February! Sharing black history is the Asbury Park African-American Music Project’s year-round pursuit. Please consider a donation to AP-AMP to keep the stories flowing 🎶

Donate here: https://www.asburyamp.org/donate/

#apamp #springwoodavenue #musichistory #blackhistory #asburyparkhistory #musicians #asburypark #community

"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.
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Mr. Watt ‘sat down’ for a phone interview with the Asbury Park African-American Music Project in 2019.
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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.
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#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
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#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.
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#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.
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#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
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#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. ⭐️
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#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 🎶
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#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
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#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! 🎶
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#apamp #springwoodavenue #africanamericanhistory #music #jazz #soul #rhythmandblues #musicians #africanamericanmusic #asburypark #nj #TheJerseySound

Turf Club planning and dreaming on a rainy day 🎶 Stay tuned!
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#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 🎷
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#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!
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#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/
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#westsidewednesday #apamp #asburypark #givingtuesday #springwoodavenue

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