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The Asbury Angels Project unveiled the benches that bear the names of the 2014 Asbury Angels at their third dedication ceremony on the Asbury Park “Boardwalk of Fame” Saturday.

Asbury Angels Foundation member Tony Pallagrossi read the names of each inductee and informed the crowd of about 50 people that had gathered about the contribution each made to furthering the city’s musical history as other foundation members removed pieces of black cloth to unveil their plaques.

Each plaque is emblazoned with the inductee’s name, a short description and a QR code that can be scanned by a smart device for access to online content.

The 2014 honorees are soulful singer and frontman Donnie Bertleson; Jim Giantonio, who booked original music as well as national acts at the Fast Lane nightclub; soul singer Delores Holmes, who performed with numerous Shore-area bands, including the Bruce Springsteen Band; Jim McDonald, a lighting director and stage manager for venues throughout Asbury Park and beyond; Odyssey Moore, a former city police officer who owned the Orchid Lounge; Carlo Novi, original tenor saxophone player for Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes; Joseph, William and Albert Rediker, who brought Big Bands and the first rock ‘n’ roll show to Convention Hall; bass player Vinnie Roslin, a member of numerous Jersey Shore bands, including Steel Mill, The Shakes and The George Theiss Band, and vocalist Bobby Thomas, a pioneer of R&B vocal group harmony in the city and a mentor to many performers from the city’s West Side.

Aria Novi [shown at top] came all the way from North Carolina with her two sons, Theron and Caeden, and Caeden’s girlfriend Abby] to see the bench that commemorates her father’s work with the legendary local band Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes. She is Novi’s only child and said it meant a lot to her and her family to have the memory of her father honored.

“When he was dying he was afraid he would be forgotten,” she said. “I know this was his dying wish to be remembered like this.”

Duval Moore [at left], son of Asbury Park club owner Odyssey Moore, also attended the unveiling. His father raised him in the Orchid Lounge, making a trip to Newark with him at the age of 17 to get the proper legal paperwork signed so that he could legally work in the Springwood Avenue venue where jazz greats like George Benson played, he said.

“My father was a blessing to me,” he said. “He was a positive influence and a good man. A lot of people loved him. Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care — this shows people they care.”

The nine join 21 previous honorees as the newest additions to the Asbury Angels Project. The project’s mission is to honor and memorialize the lives and history of  musicians, tech support persons, DJs, journalists, club owners, record company personnel, managers and promoters and others that played a roled in the Asbury Park music community, the release stated. All inductees must have been deceased at least one year.

The first Guardian Angel plaque was also unveiled. Music producer John Hammond, who signed Bruce Springsteen to Columbia Records, is the first Guardian Angels. The special recognition includes those who have had a significant influence on Asbury Park’s music scene and evolution even though they were not actual members of the city’s musical community.

Co-sponsors of the Asbury Angels Project include the Light of Day Foundation, The Asbury Park Press, Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce, and the Asbury Park Musical Heritage Foundation.

Each year a new class of inductees is named during the week of the Light of Day Concert Series, held annually in the city in January. A special concert is also held during the festival to recognize the new members.

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