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Following its mission to share the music, cultural heritage and stories of Springwood Avenue, the Asbury Park African-American Music Project [AP-AMP] held its launch party at Danny Clinch’s Transparent Gallery over the weekend.

‘We want to share the stories of Springwood Avenue across generations…because Springwood Avenue’s history is a part of what makes Asbury Park what it is today,” said AP-AMP President Jen Souder. “We are working to share those stories of the music and the musicians and all the memories that come with Springwood Avenue.”

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A packed room of supporters was on hand Friday night when NJ Natural Gas Customer and Community Relations Director Tom Hayes presented a $5,000 matching grant in support of the local nonprofit’s initiatives. 

“At New Jersey Natural Gas, we have been all thing Asbury for many years, since we started the company over 60 years ago,” Hayes said. “We know how important the cultural history is here and certainly this project is pointed right at that because it is an area that isn’t often talked about and it’s great that this organization is bringing it to the forefront.” 

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AP-AMP is heralded by a team of volunteers that includes Souder, Councilwoman Yvonne Clayton, artist Charles Trott, librarian Kathleen Melgar, and musician and educator Melissa Keeling.

“It’s very important that we preserve this music and that people know there was a Springwood Avenue that had vibrancy and excitement, and that music was here in the ‘30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s,” Clayton said. “I know music is synonymous with Asbury Park but it started long before our [most recent] history.” 

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AP-AMP is an ongoing community-based project that uses oral history, research, writing, and programming to keep the Springwood Avenue musical heritage alive. They will be among NBC’s New York Live’s weeklong spotlight on Asbury Park [set to air 11:30 am Friday]. 

On Monday, the coverage included the iconic Frank’s Deli, whose pork roll egg and cheese is among the best rated in the state and jelly doughnut among the best in the nation. They also spotlighted Asbury Festhalle and Biergarten, the legendary Stone Pony, Confections of a Rock$tar on Cookman Avenue. 

Among AP-AMP’s advancements, is ‘Down the Avenue,” produced by ShowRoom Cinemas Nike Sodano and Nancy Sabino. The short film celebrates musicians and industry professionals whose careers left its mark on Springwood Avenue and the ‘Asbury Sound.’ 

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To donate or for more information, email apaamhp@gmail.com; mail AP-AMP, PO Box 485, Asbury Park, NJ 07712; or visit asburyamp.org and via Facebook. 

[Photos, in part, courtesy of Jessiemae Jones-Ricks.

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