Map of music hot spots a boost for Monmouth

Map of music hot spots
a boost for Monmouth

Monmouth County’s rich and vibrant musical heritage is on display for all to see.

Four county towns that are the repository of some of the greatest musical venues in New Jersey, plus the Monmouth County Department of Economic Development and Tourism, co-sponsored an effort to produce a map, New Jersey’s Monmouth County Music Heritage, Volume One: A Musical Snapshot 1970-2003.

The towns are Asbury Park, Belmar, Freehold Borough and Red Bank. Each makes a unique and valuable contribution to a music scene that is known all over the world, according to a press release from the county.

Each hosts tourists from around the nation, Europe and Japan who come to trace the roots of luminaries like Count Basie, Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, Steven Van Zandt and Southside Johnny.

"The map began when Jayne Carr, executive director of the Freehold Center Partnership, noticed individuals and groups of music fans were touring Freehold looking for Springsteen’s roots," said Bea Duffy, director of the county Economic Development and Tourism Department. "They were touring Asbury Park, Red Bank and Belmar, too, so representatives met and the map was born."

The map is a cooperative effort by these towns, she said.

"Each contributed a short history, descriptions of famous venues and who played or plays there. Music fans know their work well and want to see the places that inspired them. Each town provides a map that locates those venues so visitors can tour as they wish."

The map was created by the Music Heritage Map Committee of Carr; Margaret Mass of the Red Bank Visitors‚ Center; Thomas Gilmour of the City of Asbury Park Urban Enterprise Zone; Jeanne DeYoung, the Monmouth County tourism representative; and Carl Beams, John Fortuna, Mary Eileen Fouratt, Patricia O’Keefe, Mark Lamhut and Stuart Koperweis. Lamhut designed it.

Arthur Chasey, assistant director of the county Economic Development and Tourism Department, said the map is an­other way to encourage visitors to explore the county.

"Tourism generates 53,000 jobs and more than $1.9 billion in eco­nomic activity each year in Monmouth County," he said. "This map responds very well to the needs of many visitors who know about our rich artistic legacy and want to explore it. They will also visit our restaurants, shops, night­clubs and beaches, and that ben­efits all of Monmouth County."

DeYoung is proud of the publi­cation and calls it a valuable re­source.

"Monmouth County Music Heritage will encourage visitors to return again and again because it highlights so many of our trea­sures," she said. "Our guests will realize this is only volume one be­cause so many are already aware of our lively music scene. They at­tend the concerts, enjoy our night life, but now they have a map that guides them to the places where it all began."

The free New Jersey’s Monmouth County Music Heritage, Volume One: A Musical Snapshot 1970-2003 is available at information centers in the towns and the department’s offices at 31 E. Main St., Freehold. It can be ordered by calling 1-800-523-2587. It will be mailed promptly. The map will be available as a PDF file at the Internet site www.visitmonmouth.com/tourism in late May.