The POP Music Foundation has announced that three children will be presented scholarships for music education programs as part of the Asbury Park Music Foundation’s program at Lakehouse Music Academy and Recording Studios.
To recognize the 50th Anniversary of Asbury Park’s civil unrest in July 1970, a free stream of the film documentary “Asbury Park: Riot, Redemption, Rock n’ Roll” will be available on Youtube from now through Aug. 31.
Zakaya Kennedy-Dodd, Jeramy Orienza and Oliver Van Nostrand will be granted scholarships and have been standout students at the Lakehouse Music Academy and members of the Lakehouse Junior Pros band. All three performed on stage at the 2017 Asbury Park Music and Film Festival in a memorable evening alongside the legends of the historic Upstage Club.
The scholarships will help all three children to continue in music education programs at the Music Academy. Zakaya, 15, of Asbury Park plays bass guitar; Jeramy, 15, of Neptune plays drums; and Oliver, 14, of Asbury Park plays lead guitar.
“I don’t know where I would be without music,” Jeramy said. “It gives me a creative expression and a way to work out problems. The Lakehouse is like a second family for me.”
“I saw the damage and sorrow that took place 50 years ago on Springwood Avenue and in the community from the parents and the students who were in school,” said Dorian Parreott, board member, Asbury Music Foundation and Asbury Park native. “I tried to send the message that music saves lives. With music, all things are possible in enjoying a good life of happiness with friends and family.”
“Asbury Park: Riot, Redemption, Rock n’ Roll” (directed by Tom Jones/Halo Group) tells the story of the long troubled town of Asbury Park, and how the power of music can unite a divided community. A once storied seaside resort, Asbury Park erupted in flames during a summer of civil unrest, crippling the town and reducing it to a state of urban blight. A town literally divided by a set of railroad tracks, the riot destroyed the fabled Westside jazz and blues scene, but from the flames of the burning city emerged the iconic Jersey sound.
The film returns Asbury sons Steven Van Zandt, Southside Johnny Lyon and Bruce Springsteen to the legendary Upstage, the psychedelic after hours club where they got their start, featuring never before seen interviews and performances. Shuttered for four and a half decades, the Upstage remains a perfect time capsule of the Club, which united both sides of the tracks in Asbury and acted as a crucible for young talent. Now, as Asbury Park enjoys its long awaited renaissance, it is music, which has helped it’s return. The film made its premiere during the 2019 Asbury Park Music + Film Festival at the historic Paramount Theatre and enjoyed a theatrical release in 28 countries.
“We have always thought that the idea of music as the best connector of people is more of a movement than a movie,” Jones, the film director. said. ” As it turns out, even though the inciting incident of our film happened 50 years ago, we find that it is still, tragically, completely relevant. Asbury Park has something to say about social justice and we hope this film serves as a unique educational piece in helping to push our way forward.”
