The Coaster
Saturday, June 10, 2023
No Result
View All Result
  • Browse News by Town
    • Allenhurst
    • Asbury Park
    • Avon
    • Bradley Beach
    • Deal
    • Interlaken
    • Loch Arbour
    • Long Branch
    • Neptune
    • Neptune City
    • Ocean Grove
    • Ocean Township
    • Tinton Falls
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
Subscribe / Renew
  • Browse News by Town
    • Allenhurst
    • Asbury Park
    • Avon
    • Bradley Beach
    • Deal
    • Interlaken
    • Loch Arbour
    • Long Branch
    • Neptune
    • Neptune City
    • Ocean Grove
    • Ocean Township
    • Tinton Falls
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
The Coaster
No Result
View All Result
Home Asbury Park

Remembering a Music Fan

by The Coaster Editorial Staff
June 17, 2019
in Asbury Park, Deal
19
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare via EmailShare on Twitter
Kerry F. Layton

By DON STINE

Music is alive and well in Asbury Park but, unfortunately, one of its biggest fans is not!

Kerry F. Layton , 70, of Deal who was a regular fixture at the back bar of the Stone Pony for the last 40 years, died on June 7. A special memorial gathering in remembrance of Layton will be held at the Stone Pony on Thursday, June 20 from 6 to 9 pm.

Eileen Chapman, former Stone Pony manager and now director of the Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center For American Music at Monmouth University, said she and Layton connected years ago because they both had a passion for music and pop culture.

“Through the years we were part of a group that met frequently at the back bar of the Stone Pony and Kerry and I would continue our conversations around the current music scene and entertainment in general. He was extremely smart and every conversation with him was a learning experience,” she said.

She said that when the Springsteen Archives began an oral archives, Layton was one of the first people interviewed.

“I quickly reached out to Kerry to share his take on the evolution of the Asbury Park music scene throughout the years and I’m eternally grateful that he agreed to speak on camera for us. Kerry will be deeply missed by all of us who had the opportunity to share in his life and love of the music community,” she said.

Lynne Kirchdoerffer, another avid Asbury Park music fan and head of the Asbury Ushers, said Layton can best described as a “hippie/surfer.”

“He was passionate in his love for the ocean and the beach life. But he was even more passionate in his love for the Stone Pony and the Asbury music scene. He was so proud of being an ambassador for it,” she said.

She said that Layton and his girlfriend, Pam De Lisa, “probably have one of the world’s longest-running love affairs- 49 years of having a date every night”.

“I was fortunate enough to share many fun times with both of them,” she said.

And Kirchdoerffer said that Layton’s “philosophical analysis of life was like no other.”

“I loved hearing his Kerryisms. I will miss him dearly,” she said.

Layton was also an avid mountaineer and rock climber, climbing from the Gunks in New York, to Yosemite in California, to the Grand Tetons in Wyoming.  He was also a photographer.

Donations in Layton’s memory can be made to the ASPCA or Greenpeace.

Born in Passaic on April 16, 1949, Layton grew up in Hackensack. After vacationing every summer at the Jersey Shore, his family moved to Deal in 1963 and he learned to surf and worked as a locker boy and eventually a lifeguard at the Deal Casino.

Rock and roll became the background music to his childhood. Layton got his first guitar, a ’66 Fender Mustang, from a neighborhood friend. He was in a few bands, including the “Kazoomens” and “Kerry and the Kahunas.” The latter band improvised a song, titled “Mussels Don’t Bite,” about their experiences dealing with inexperienced beachgoers.

Becoming an avid surfer in the 1960s, Layton early on attended a Steel Mill concert at a Dewey Weber Surf Shop and was friendly with Tinker West, who was an avid surfer, notable constructor of surf boards, and an early manager of Springsteen.

After attending Seton Hall and Monmouth College, Layton moved away from the academic life and transitioned into a passionate music fan.  The first time he saw Springsteen perform was with Steel Mill at a party in Long Branch on the beach in August 1970, with Pam.

He also went on to attend many of the famous Moe Septee concerts at Convention Hall in Asbury Park, seeing bands like Led Zeppelin, Jefferson Airplane, and Cream. Bruce, Springsteen however, remained his local hero.

Layton and De Lisa frequented the Brighton Bar in the West End section of Long Branch and Mrs. Jay’s Biker Bar and Beer Garden in Asbury Park and, in 1978, they began to consistently go to the Stone Pony, where Layton later was named an “ambassador” due to his permanent image in the music scene.

Layton and his network of friends went to the Stone Pony at least two to three times a week for the last 40 years.

Related Posts

In Asbury Park School Budget Features Substantial Tax Boost

In Asbury Park Curriculum to Feature Rock and Jazz History

June 7, 2023
Stabbing Incident at Asbury Park High School

Asbury Park Man Charged With Kidnapping, Luring Girl, 11

June 7, 2023
Words and Voices from Asbury Park’s History Presented at Crane House

Words and Voices from Asbury Park’s History Presented at Crane House

June 5, 2023
In Asbury Park School Budget Features Substantial Tax Boost

In Asbury Park School Officials Discuss Resurrecting Alternate School

June 5, 2023
Condominium Complex Planned Adjacent to the Wonder Bar

Condominium Complex Planned Adjacent to the Wonder Bar

May 24, 2023
Beach Cinema Still for Sale

Asbury Park to Receive $526,000 In Funding to Support Local Businesses

May 22, 2023

Trending This Week

Miller’s Ale House Now Open in Ocean Township

Miller’s Ale House Now Open in Ocean Township

June 7, 2023
Intrigue Continues Over Anonymous Requests

Bradley Beach Mayor Sues Council

June 6, 2023

Ocean Grove Burglar Arrested

May 31, 2023
In Asbury Park School Budget Features Substantial Tax Boost

In Asbury Park School Officials Discuss Resurrecting Alternate School

June 5, 2023
Bridgefest Concert by We The Kingdom Bridgefest Concert by We The Kingdom Bridgefest Concert by We The Kingdom

Advertisement

Advertise Online with The Coaster

Advertise on The Coaster to reach countless new customers for your local business.

START ADVERTISING TODAY

E-mail Newsletter

Sign up to get a free weekly newsletter to your inbox.

Subscribe

Contact Us

The Coaster
1011 Main St
Asbury Park, NJ 07712
Phone: 732-775-3010
FAX: 732-775-8345
editor@thecoaster.net

Email Newsletter »

All Articles

Search Our Site

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 The New Coaster, LLC. All rights reserved. • Privacy Policy

No Result
View All Result
  • Browse News by Town
    • Allenhurst
    • Asbury Park
    • Avon
    • Bradley Beach
    • Deal
    • Interlaken
    • Loch Arbour
    • Long Branch
    • Neptune
    • Neptune City
    • Ocean Grove
    • Ocean Township
    • Tinton Falls
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
Subscribe / Renew

© 2023 The New Coaster, LLC. All rights reserved. • Privacy Policy