Jon Bon Jovi inducted into Count Basie Center for the Arts Walk of Fame in Red Bank
RED BANK, New Jersey (WABC) -- Two music legends from New Jersey were honored at a historic venue in Red Bank on Thursday morning.
Rock star Jon Bon Jovi was enshrined at the Count Basie Center for the Arts in the center's inaugural induction ceremony for its Walk of Fame.
The Walk of Fame celebrates artists who have performed at the Basie Center, made an enduring impact on culture, and whose contributions reflect the lasting power of the arts.
"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."
Born in Red Bank in 1904, William 'Count' Basie became one of the most influential figures in jazz, leading an orchestra whose music defined an era.
Thelonius Monk III, the son of iconic jazz pianist and composer, Thelonius Monk, attended to represent Basie.
"All of American music whether jazz, rock, hip hop, country, western, bluegrass, gospel all of it represents a level of freedom for people around the world," Monk III said.
Basie was honored with the first stone placed in the new Walk of Fame along Monmouth Street where the theater is located.
Bon Jovi is just one of the many local artists who have taken the stage many times long before their names became legendary, including Bruce Springsteen who helped raise millions of dollars to restore the old "Reade's Carlton Threater," making it the venue it is today.
"The dressing rooms left a lot to be desired here, but we would come, and it was so fantastic to see how to theater has grown," Bon Jovi said.
The rocker was born in Perth Amboy, just miles away from Red Bank.
Jon Bon Jovi was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame back in 2018.
His foundation opened the JBJ Soul Kitchen, a community restaurant, in Red Bank.
"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."
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