Skip to main content

The man who left Freehold for Asbury Park and became a star -- before Bruce Springsteen

 

, @ChrisFHJordanPublished 1:42 a.m. ET July 19, 2017 | Updated 2:13 a.m. ET July 19, 2017

Billy Brown came to Asbury Park from Freehold in the early 1960s. He became a star in the city’s Springwood Avenue music scene and then he became a star to the rest of the music world with the Moments and, later, Ray, Goodman and Brown.

Now, he’s set to return to Springwood  Avenue as Ray, Goodman and Brown will play the free Springwood Avenue Park music series on Monday, July 24.

After more than 50 years of hits, Brown’s career has come full circle.

“The park is right across the street from where Cuba’s (Night Club) used to be,” Brown said. “That going to be real nice. I’m glad they’re doing something on Springwood Avenue again.”

MORE: Hit Springwood Ave. concert series returns to Asbury Park 

Before Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Brown and the Broadways — also  Ronald Coleman, Leon Trent,  Robert Conti and Dennis Anderson — were the kings of the Asbury Park music scene. Their song, “Going, Going, Gone” was a regional hit during the summer of ‘64 and a couple of years later Springsteen and Child would open for the group. 

A scheduling mix up threatened to knock the Child off the bill of a show at the former Hullabaloo Club in Asbury Park. Brown said let the guys play.

“They weren’t going to let them go on,” said Brown, a Farmingdale native who went to Freehold High School a few years before Springsteen.  “We said let him go on. (Springsteen) was so thankful.”

The orginal Broadways from Asbury Park Left to right:

The orginal Broadways from Asbury Park Left to right: Ronnie Coleman, Billy Brown, Robert Conti & Leon Trent (Photo: Asbury Park Historical Society)

The Broadways ran their course and Brown would join Moments, which included Harry Ray of Long Branch and Al Goodman, both now deceased. Hits included “Love on a Two-Way Street,” “If I Didn’t Care” “Sexy Mama” and “Look at Me (I’m in Love).” The group changed its name to Ray, Goodman and Brown in 1978 after parting with Sylvia Robinson at All Platinum Studios of Englewood. They recorded the smash “Special Lady.”

Brown was a superstar in a Jersey Shore super group that, to those outside of Asbury Park and not in the know, seemingly had no connection to the city. It was Springsteen’s “Greetings from Asbruy Park, N.J.” in 1973 that began to put the city on the map as a music hot spot.

“I thought it was a real good thing he did that,” Brown said.

Music greats like Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Lenny Welch, Bobby Thomas, Clarence Clemons, Garry Tallent and more were either inspired by or played Springwood Avenue’s club circuit.  The music scene came to an abrupt halt during the summer of 1970 when riots tore apart the city and, specifically, Springwood Avenue. The clubs and stages, including Big Bill’s, the Turf Club and Cuba’s, were either burned down in the riots or demolished afterward. Much of Springwood Avenue is barren to this day but the park and its music series, produced by the Asbury Park Music Foundation, is returning music to a place where its legacy is deep.

 

There are also signs of renewal beyond the music. The vibrant Asbury Park Senior Center is next to the park and two new affordable and mixed-use housing projects on the Springwood Avenue corridor are moving forward. 

“I’ve  been waiting a long time for this,” said Alfred Mitchell Sr., 69 of Asbury Park, last year at the debut of the music series. Mitchell’s family home was formerly on the block where the park is now. 

The park has brought music back to the area and in the last few years, a recognition for the role of the West Side musicians in creating the Sound of Asbury Park. The musical influence of the West Side was largely forgotten for 40 years until an article in the Asbury Park Press reunited the West Side musicians led to an Asbury Park Historical Society panel discussion and concert at the Wonder Bar in the spring of 2011.

MORE: A West Side of Asbury Park story 

Springsteen, Southside Johnny and other contemporary musicians attended the events in support for the West Siders.

“The West Side guys had a strong influence on what became known as the Sound of Asbury Park,” said Springsteen to the Asbury Park Press at the Wonder Bar. “There was a moment when the scenes (rock, doo-wop and R&B) crossed over and I opened for the Broadways.” 

Brown and Springsteen caught up at the Wonder Bar.

“He came by himself, no security or anything like that,” said Brown, who lives in Rahway with his wife and family. “He was real. Somebody of his stature, you usually can’t get near him but he was very personable to people.”

“He was being real and not forgetting where you came from.”
 
Brown and the Broadways reunited later that year for a show at the Paramount Theatre in Asbury Park, and they’re still working together to this day. The inspirational  “Merry Christmas, Baby Jesus,” released during the holidays in 2016, was the group’s first record in 52 years. 

“Ronnie (Coleman) has been always a very good friend of mine,” Brown said. “He was so happy for me when I had the opportunity to be with the Moments. He was really excited about it and he always called and wished the best and we’ve   stayed friends for all these years.”

Trent still performs regularly at the Shore with the Waterfront Duo. 
   
 “He’s a great person and we looked good because of Leon,” Brown said. “Leon used to work at  Fisch’s Department Store and we used to get all of our clothes at a discount, thanks to him. He kept us sharp.”

Now, it’s a homecoming for Brown, whose, Arthur L. Brown was the long-time pastor at Friendship Baptist Church in Asbury Park. Kevin “Ray” Owens, a long-time collaborator with Luther Vandross, and Larry “Ice” Winfree make up the rest of Ray, Goodman and Brown.

“Music coming back to Springwood Avenue is a really good thing,” Brown said. “I truly believe that.”

Chris Jordan: cjordan@app.com  


RAY, GOODMAN and BROWN

WHEN: 6 p.m. Monday, July 24

WHERE: Springwood Avenue Park, Springwood Avenue, Asbury Park (Rain location: Asbury Park Train Station)      
 
 TICKETS: Free

INFO: asburyparkmusiclives.org

http://www.app.com/story/enter...ringsteen/490938001/

 

____________________________________

The SPL Rocks!

Prego che tu stia danzando con San Pietro alle porte perlacee del cielo





Pulled up to my house today
Came and took my little girl away!
Giants Stadium 8/28/03



Oats

Original Post

Add Reply

Post
×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×