NJ Rock Star Inducted Into Count Basie Center Walk Of Fame

RED BANK, NJ — A New Jersey rock star has officially been inducted into the Count Basie Center for the Arts’ new Walk of Fame.

On Thursday, Jon Bon Jovi and William “Count” Basie were honored as the Walk of Fame's inaugural inductees, as both artists have deep ties to the historic Red Bank venue.

Bon Jovi was in attendance at the event, alongside Count Basie officials, Red Bank Mayor Billy Portman, Senator Vin Gopal, Monmouth County Commissioner Director Tom Arnone and musician T.S. Monk, the son of jazz icon Thelonious Monk.

“I really do appreciate you inducting me along with the great Count Basie, who was the original Monmouth County rock star,” Bon Jovi said. “There are so many names who are just as deserving today. I look forward to the future generations who will continue the legacy of New Jersey and of Red Bank.”

Raised just miles from Red Bank, Jon Bon Jovi rose to international fame as the frontman of Bon Jovi, a band that has sold over 130 million albums worldwide.

Beyond his chart-topping music, Bon Jovi has also given back to the community, with ventures ranging from his holiday concerts at the Basie Center in the 1990s, to the HOPE Concerts that raised millions for local causes, to the launch of the JBJ Soul Kitchen with his wife Dorothea.

His relationship with the Basie Center has spanned decades of performances, philanthropy, and partnership.

“Jon Bon Jovi has had a long and meaningful relationship with the Basie Center, standing with us through performances, partnerships, and moments that brought this community together,” said Adam Philipson, President and CEO of the Count Basie Center for the Arts. “It’s fitting that we honor him alongside William ‘Count’ Basie, who is not only our namesake, but also a giant of American music whose artistry shaped generations.”

Born in Red Bank in 1904, William “Count” Basie was also inducted on Thursday and is known as one of the most influential figures in jazz, leading an orchestra whose music defined an era.

A trailblazer who created the swing sound that made the world want to dance, Basie cemented his place as one of America’s greatest bandleaders and would go on to have the Count Basie Center for the Arts renamed from the Monmouth Arts Center in his honor.

“The Walk of Fame is a permanent way to honor the artists who have left their mark on the Basie Center and the world, while creating a legacy that will inspire generations to come,” said Jeremy Grunin, Chair of the Basie Center Board of Trustees. “By starting with Count Basie and Jon Bon Jovi, we are setting a standard that reminds us all of the extraordinary talent and impact that has come through the Basie Center doors, and will continue to, for the next hundred years and beyond.”

The Count Basie Center Walk of Fame has debuted as part of the Basie Center’s 16-month-long Centennial Celebration, which commemorates the venue’s impact on arts, culture and community over the last 100 years.

In addition to the new Walk of Fame, the celebration will also include events, community collaborations, and more in the coming months.

• Learn More About The Basie Center’s Centennial Celebration

To watch a full video of Thursday’s Walk of Fame ceremony, you can click here.

Related

• NJ Rock Star To Be Inducted Into Count Basie Center Walk Of Fame
• Count Basie Center For The Arts Announces 16-Month ‘Centennial Celebration’