Virginia Huie of Cablevision’s News12 Team gives an update on the Coltrane Home in Dix Hills. We are working hard but still need your help!  Watch the video in a new window by clicking here.

Also, watch the extended interview with Ravi Coltrane in a new window by clicking here

Sept 2, 2012

Text Courtesy of The Poughkeepsie Journal

The Coltrane Home Listed on Gov Cuomo’s Path Through History List

(The Coltrane Home) has been selected as one of  200 most-significant sites in Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s New York Path Through History, a statewide road map that ties historically- and culturally-significant sites, locations and events throughout the state.

This new effort to highlight New York’s heritage aims to not only showcase the state’s history and cultural significance, but also to promote tourism and economic development in communities around the state.

Cuomo formally unveiled the initiative Tuesday at the  “Path Through History” conference at the Empire State Plaza.

At the conference, Cuomo announced that the state will allocate $1 million to jump-start 10 regional heritage tourism marketing plans.

In addition, Cuomo unveiled proposed new road signs to be installed on major state highways to promote sites from New York’s history and previewed a new website that will offer additional information on the sites.

The Path Through History will be marked by signs along the New York State Thruway and other major arteries to direct travelers to historic sites.

Please note that the Coltrane Home is not open to the public at this time but we are very grateful for the important designation.

The Coltrane Home Story is told by National Public Radio – NPR

Listen to the story here:

Making a Home For John Coltrane Coltrane’s Legacy

Please contact me if you can help!!  sfulgoni@thecoltranehome.org

Thank you for your support!

Making a Home for John Coltrane’s Legacy – NPR

Making a Home for John Coltrane’s Legacy – NPR

BBC Story – The Coltrane Home

Click on the link below to see the entire video.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-16643652

Please contact me if you can help!!  sfulgoni@thecoltranehome.org

Thank you for your support!

Special thanks to Yasuhiro “Fuji” Fujioka for his vintage photos and video footage.

From the BBC: January 20, 2012

Nearly 50 years ago the Jazz legend John Coltrane locked himself away in the upstairs room of his home on New York’s Long Island. It was there that he wrote what many consider his masterpiece: A Love Supreme.

The house, where Coltrane also spent the last years of his life before dying from liver cancer, has been placed on the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s most-endangered list.

Michael Maher met up with Coltrane’s musician son Ravi to hear about his memories growing up in the home where he father composed some of the classic jazz tunes.

He also visited the site itself to speak to Steve Fulgoni, the Coltrane fan who helped save the house and now has plans to build a lasting tribute to one of the giants of American music.

Photos courtesy of Yasuhiro Fujioka, Akiyoshi Miyashita and Tadayuki Naito.

sfulgoni@thecoltranehome.org

National Trust for Historic Preservation – The Coltrane Home

National Trust for Historic Preservation – The Coltrane Home

Links to National Trust for Historic Preservation

National Trust for Historic Preservation

NTHP Article on Coltrane Home

A nationally significant historic site, The Coltrane Home in Dix Hills, is in danger. Listed as one of the 11 Most Endangered Historic Places by the National Trust for Historic Places, and saved from demolition following a worldwide grass roots effort several years ago, it remains in urgent need.

The Coltrane Home is a symbol of the extraordinary contributions of one of America’s foremost musicians, composers, and contributors to music here, and throughout the World. This endangered symbol needs support now to keep its potential alive.  This announcement is a critical next step in the process of restoring this landmark.

Friends of the Coltrane Home, which now owns the home, is in desperate need of financial support to complete the goals envisioned seven years ago when the home was saved from imminent demolition.  At that time the home was designated a local historic landmark by the Huntington Town Board.  It was subsequently listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has been acquired by the Town of Huntington.

But that was not the end of the quest to save the home—it was just the beginning.

Friends of the Coltrane Home, which is dedicated to restoring the Long Island home of John and Alice Coltrane in order to preserve and perpetuate their musical and spiritual legacies, needs to raise funds to first complete an historic structure report that will analyze
the condition of the house, and recommend a course of action for restoration and interpretation of the house.  Friends has already received matching grant funding of $38,810 from the State of New York as well as $5,000 from the National Trust for Historic  Preservation.

More than a restoration, however, the vision for The Coltrane Home project will:

•             Create a museum, archives and learning center, celebrating the Coltranes’ music and influences, and

•             Provide an outreach center for music education, appreciation, creativity and participation for students and adults through the schools and community.

The house, which sits in a quiet residential neighborhood in Dix Hills, NY just off the Long Island Expressway, is where John Coltrane, a pioneer in world music and a spiritual and emotional force whose following continues to grow throughout the world, and his wife
Alice settled down to raise their family.  Shortly after they moved into the house in 1964, their first son was born.  John took time off from his busy travel schedule in order to spend time with his family. Isolating himself in the second floor guest room with pen, paper and saxophone, he composed one of the most influential pieces of music of the 20th century, A Love Supreme. Although Coltrane did not write it as a message of civil rights, it nonetheless had such meaning for members of the African American community although its spiritual message transcended racial barriers then and  today.  Coltrane died in just three years later.  The family continued to live in the house until 1973.

Although the house has changed hands several times over the past four decades, it retains many of the decorative features from the  Coltrane’s time in the home.

In late 2003, Dix Hills resident and Coltrane fan Steve Fulgoni discovered that the house was slated for demolition to make room for three new houses.  He immediately contacted Town officials and initiated a worldwide grass roots effort to save the house, which drew letters of support from fans and celebrities from around the world, culminating culminated in the Town’s acquisition of the house in 2005 on behalf of the newly formed Friends of the Coltrane Home. Earlier this year the home was identified by the Society for the Preservation of Long Island Antiquities as one of the four most endangered historic sites on Long Island.

Since that time, Friends has taken steps to stabilize the house pending development of plans for full restoration.  Water and electrical
service have been restored, debris has been removed, mold eradicated, and the building secured.

Planning sessions with Coltrane family members, music executives, musicians, music educators and community members have been held to create the vision for the Home.  In addition to creating plans to restore the Home and developing an archives and learning center, music education and outreach is a key part of the mission. Called The Coltrane Legacy Education Project, this aspect of the vision seeks to help educate the educators and foster creativity and greater music participation for children and adults

One shining example of the power of the Coltrane Legacy is a program developed by a Queens second grade teacher, Christine Passarella.  The program known as “Kids for Coltrane” uses John Coltrane’s music to encourage children to reach their full potential by following their bliss.

To find out more about Friends of the Coltrane Home, visit http://www.thecoltranehome.org  or call Steve Fulgoni at (631) 860-9200.

The grants will be used to help underwrite the cost of preparing a Historic Structures Report. Such a report is a critical first step in any major restoration project because it provides a thoughtfully considered document for selecting the most appropriate approach to treatment and will outline a scope of recommended work. The report will serve as an important guide for all changes made to the home during restoration and can also provide information for maintenance procedures. Finally, it records the findings of research and investigation, as well as the processes of physical work, for future researchers.

The Coltrane family moved out of the house in the early 1970s. Fortunately, many of the architectural details from their time in the house survive. Unfortunately, the house has been vacant for almost ten years and has suffered as a result.

Before undertaking any restoration work at the home, Friends of the Coltrane Home will hire a historic preservation firm to prepare a historic structure report to guide restoration and interpretation of the site. The report will provide documentary, graphic, and physical information about the property’s history and existing condition in order to guide future preservation projects.

Our goal is to raise $75,000 for preparation of the report. To date we have received a $38,810 grant from the New York State Historic Preservation Office and $5,000 from the National Trust for Historic Preservation. We have also applied for funding from the Preservation League of New York State. We anticipate a decision on that application by the end of the summer.

But we cannot fund the report with grants alone. We need your help. Please click on the “How to Help” tab to make an online donation.

While you’re here, sit down and try out the Coltrane Computer, located by the magzines, just past the DVDs, in a warm spot by a window.

The Coltrane Computer in Dix Hills

The Half Hollow Hills Library in Dix Hills now has a computer database specifically dedicated to John’s music and pictures.  Much of the information has been donated by collector supreme Yasuhiro “Fuji” Fujioka and include some exclusive photos not found elsewhere.  The computer is located by the magazines, just past the DVDs, in a warm spot by a window.  Sit down, put on the headphones, and get ready to be moved by the music.

Director Steve Fulgoni giving flutes to excited children with school para Ms. Lee observing happily.

The second graders creating their music during the Cotton Candy Club reception.

Parents of children volunteering their time to make this project memorable and meaningful! Pictures of musicians Robert Johnson, Miles Davis, Etta James, and BB King with the legend John Coltrane overlooking the group.

Ms. Christine Passarella with her own children Victoria and Anthony standing proudly with her students.

The girls thrilled to receive autographed CD’s from Mr. Vignapiano.

The boys showing off their very own CD’s. They will be able to remember the music they wrote their lyrics to forever and ever!

Encouraging fans of the children artist Jeff  Hopkins and Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Joanna Massey. Both support Ms. Passarella’s way of teaching using Howard Gardners Multiple Intelligence Theory.