1 10 129 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Music People An individual. Metadata for a person provides detailed biographical information to describe the life of a historical figure. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Jone, Koko (born "Kevin") Description An account of the resource Koko Jones (formerly known as Kevin Jones) is an accomplished and versatile percussionist, drummer, and bandleader whose career spans decades and crosses many musical styles. Raised in Englewood, New Jersey, she was steeped early in a rich cultural environment—learning classical percussion (timpani, xylophone, etc.), Latin rhythms, and jazz techniques from mentors like Babatunde Lea and Karl Potter. Her playing is noted for its rhythmic depth and sensitivity: whether leading her band through jazz‐Latin hybrids with her group Tenth World or working in R&B, world music, or pop settings, she blends technical proficienct with emotional expression. Jones has also navigated significant personal transition and adversity—transitioning gender identity, grappling with transphobia and sexism in the industry, and rebuilding her career under her authentic self. Through it all she's maintained her artistry and expanded her influence, not just as a performer but as an educator and mentor. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Music People An individual. Metadata for a person provides detailed biographical information to describe the life of a historical figure. Birth Date 1960-04-18 Birthplace Bronx, New York, New York, USA Occupation Musician Singer Songwriter Source of File Attached “<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandmaster_Caz">Grandmaster Caz</a>.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 25 Nov. 2023. <div></div> Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Brown, Curtis "Grandmaster Caz" (1960-?) "Casanova Fly" Subject The topic of the resource Music, Hip-Hop Music, Rap Description An account of the resource Curtis "Grandmaster Caz" Brown is an American hip-hop and rap artist. He is also a songwriter and DJ. He was a member of the group The Cold Crush Brothers from 1979 to the mid-1980s. Brown also went under the name "Casanova Fly" as he formed one of the first DJ crews, "Might Force." He was the first rapper to perform both record and vocal duties. He is also an uncredited artist for The Sugarhill Gang's "Rapper's Delight." Henry Lee Jackson had been Caz's manager. Jackson had asked Brown for lyrics to audition with for Sylvia Robinson, as he had never rapped before. Brown agreed but was never credited afterward for the lyrics used. In 2002, Brown released a parody "MC Delight" to tell his side. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived “<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandmaster_Caz">Grandmaster Caz.</a>” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 25 Nov. 2023. <div></div> Shabazz, Kiani. “<a href="https://rockthebells.com/articles/grandmaster-caz-interview-2021/">Grandmaster Caz on the Bronx, the Blackout and a Billion Dollar Industry</a>.” Rock the Bells, 11 Aug. 2022. <div></div> Edgers, Geoff. “<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/they-took-grandmaster-cazs-rhymes-without-giving-him-credit-now-hes-getting-revenge/2016/09/29/f519c35a-7f3e-11e6-8d0c-fb6c00c90481_story.html">They Took Grandmaster Caz’s Rhymes without Giving Him Credit. Now, He’s Getting Revenge. - The Washington Post</a>.” Washington Post, 29 Sept. 2016. <div></div> Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Ludder, Rachelle Music Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Music Event A non-persistent, time-based occurrence. Metadata for an event provides descriptive information that is the basis for discovery of the purpose, location, duration, and responsible agents associated with an event. Examples include an exhibition, webcast, conference, workshop, open day, performance, battle, trial, wedding, tea party, conflagration. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 1998 Fire at Q-Tip's Townhouse Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived The Record, August 2 , 1998 Description An account of the resource On the morning of February 7, 1998, a fire broke out at Q-Tip's townhouse on Kip's Bay Drive in Englewood, New Jersey. Firefighters responded around 8:45 a.m. and were able to bring the blaze under control within about an hour. Although no one was injured, the fire caused extensive damage to Q-Tip's home studio and personal archives. According to reports, investigators found that thousands of dollars' worth of electronic equipment and numerous valuable records were destroyed. The most significant loss was a large collection of unreleased music stored on computer equipment. Contemporary newspaper accounts reported that a "library of songs" was lost in the fire. Q-Tip lamented that he would essentially have to start over after years of work were destroyed. At the time, Q-Tip was already an established artist as a member of the influential hip-hop group A Tribe Called Quest. The group had released several acclaimed albums and helped define alternative and jazz-influenced hip hop during the early 1990s. The incident received national attention because: <ul> <li>Q-Tip was one of hip-hop's most respected artists.</li> <li>The fire reportedly destroyed unreleased recordings and production work.</li> <li>It highlighted the vulnerability of musicians' archives before cloud storage and widespread digital backups became common.</li> <li>The event occurred during a period when Q-Tip was transitioning toward more solo and production work.</li> </ul> The fire also serves as an interesting reminder of Englewood's long association with the music and entertainment industries. During the 1990s, a number of recording artists, entertainers, and professional athletes lived in Bergen County communities, including Englewood and neighboring towns. In February 1998, a fire severely damaged Q-Tip's Englewood townhouse, destroying recording equipment, records, and a substantial archive of unreleased music. Q-Tip and a roommate escaped unharmed, but the loss represented a major setback for the pioneering member of A Tribe Called Quest, forcing him to rebuild much of his creative work from scratch. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Music People An individual. Metadata for a person provides detailed biographical information to describe the life of a historical figure. Occupation Musician Singer Source of File Attached "<a href="https://www.discogs.com/artist/480697-Wesley-Adams">Wesley Adams</a>." Discogs. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Adams, Wesley "Wes" (?-?) Subject The topic of the resource Music, R&B Description An account of the resource Wesley "Wes" Adams was a musician and member of the R&B group Today. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived "<a href="https://www.discogs.com/artist/480697-Wesley-Adams">Wesley Adams</a>." Discogs. “<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Today_(group)">Today (Group)</a>.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 27 Apr. 2023. Music Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Music People An individual. Metadata for a person provides detailed biographical information to describe the life of a historical figure. Birth Date 1929-11-23 Birthplace Harlem, New York, USA Death Date 2013-10-15 Occupation Singer Source of File Attached "<a href="https://www.freshsoundrecords.com/10276-gloria-lynne-albums/9-vinyl-records">Gloria Lynne</a>." Fresh Sounds Records. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilson, Gloria (1929-2013), also known as Gloria Lynne, also known as Gloria Alleyne Lynne, Gloria Alleyne, Gloria Subject The topic of the resource Music, Jazz Description An account of the resource Gloria Wilson, more well-known as Gloria Lynne, was a jazz singer. She won first prize at the Apollo Theater Amateur Night at the age of 15. She became popular in the 1950s after the release of her first album in 1958, “Miss Gloria Lynne, and her television performance of “Little Liza Jane” with Harry Belafonte on his CBS broadcast “Tonight With Belafonte.” She recorded songs as part of the Enchanters and Dell-Tones. She shared the bill on tour with Ray Charles, Billy Eckstine, Johnny Mathis, Herbie Mann, Dizzy Gillespie, and Ella Fitzgerald. In the 1960s she bought a home in Englewood’s “East Hill.” In the fall of 1968, Lynne became embroiled in a racialized political controversy. The controversy surrounding Gloria Lynne unfolded in Englewood in the late 1960s at the intersection of race, politics, gender, and respectability. A nationally known soul singer—Harlem-born and commercially successful, with millions of records sold—Lynne had recently begun a new chapter of her life by taking a modest position as an assistant in the Englewood City Clerk’s office. Her decision was pragmatic rather than symbolic: the nightclub and television circuits had slowed, and she was looking for stability and a future beyond the uncertainties of the music business. What might have been a routine municipal hire quickly became politicized. Shortly after her appointment by the city’s Democratic administration, Republican officials publicly criticized the decision, questioning both the process of her hiring and her qualifications. The most cutting—and widely publicized—attack focused not on her professional competence or work ethic, but on whether she could type. The insinuation carried a sharp edge: that a Black woman, known publicly as a performer, was unfit for clerical work in city government. The criticism spilled into newspapers and council meetings, transforming Lynne into the subject of a highly visible political dispute. In a letter explaining her resignation, she described the experience as deeply upsetting, noting that her name and reputation were being dragged into a political fight that had no basis in fact. She emphasized that she cared deeply about her professional standing and felt it was unfair to suggest she was unqualified, especially given the work she had already performed in the short time she held the job. Although she acknowledged that her typing skills were rusty, she explained that she had been upfront about this and believed her overall performance demonstrated her qualifications. Ultimately, Lynne resigned not because she felt incapable, but because she refused to remain a political target. The episode exposed how quickly questions of race, celebrity, and gender could be weaponized in local politics, and how a Black woman’s presence in civic space could provoke scrutiny far out of proportion to the job itself. Her departure was less a personal failure than a revealing moment for Englewood—a case study in how municipal power struggles could eclipse fairness, dignity, and basic respect for individual competence. She married Harry Alleyne. She had one son, Richard. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived "Gloria Lynne Begins A New Service Career." The Record, 3 Oct. 1968, p. C-1. “<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloria_Lynne">Gloria Lynne.</a>” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 16 Aug. 2024. Colker, David. "Jazz vocalist sand 'I Wish You Love.'" The Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2013, p. AA5. "City Loses Soul Staff." The Record, October 16, 1968. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Colman, David Ludder, Rachelle Music https://archive.englewoodmakeshistory.org/files/original/eaa806eef702fbb379d35295b21405fd.jpg 91bd288d1736a11bde2cf5ce7a37cfba Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Music People An individual. Metadata for a person provides detailed biographical information to describe the life of a historical figure. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Armstrong, Mary C. Description An account of the resource Mary Chontrelle Armstrong (c. 1876–October 3, 1926) was more than a music teacher; she was the central force behind Englewood’s emergence as a serious cultural community in the early twentieth century. As founder and director of the Englewood Conservatory of Music and organizer of the Civic Music Association, she helped position the town within the broader national movement to bring world-class music to American cities. Born in Millersburg, Bourbon County, Kentucky, Armstrong pursued formal musical training at the New England Conservatory in Boston and the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. Around 1910 she relocated to Englewood, where she began teaching music to children. Recognizing the need for structured instruction and organized performance opportunities, she soon founded the Englewood Conservatory of Music. Under her leadership, the Conservatory expanded beyond private lessons into a full cultural institution offering concerts, public programs, and civic engagement. By the mid-1920s, Armstrong’s ambitions for Englewood’s musical life had grown considerably. The Conservatory sponsored a series of distinguished concerts at the Plaza Theatre, including an announced appearance by the internationally celebrated violinist Fritz Kreisler and a performance by the renowned pianist and statesman Ignacy Jan Paderewski. These were not ordinary bookings. Kreisler was among the most famous violinists in the world, and Paderewski was a global cultural figure whose reputation extended far beyond the concert stage. That such artists were scheduled under the sponsorship of the Englewood Conservatory demonstrates the scale of Armstrong’s vision and the institutional credibility she had built. Her influence extended beyond Englewood during World War I, when she volunteered in France with the Red Cross and the YMCA. For her wartime service, she received official recognition from the French government — a testament to her commitment to cultural and humanitarian work beyond the classroom. Armstrong died on October 3, 1926, following surgery, at the age of fifty. Her funeral was held in her native Kentucky, but in Englewood, the community gathered in the main auditorium of the Conservatory for a memorial service conducted by the Rev. Karl Hopkins Elmore of the First Presbyterian Church. The service coincided with the funeral in Bourbon County, symbolically linking her birthplace and her adopted home. The memorial program was devoted largely to her favorite musical selections — an intimate tribute that reflected how closely her artistic identity was woven into the institution she created. In a striking gesture of respect, the scheduled October 18 concert by Kreisler at the Plaza Theatre was canceled. The cancellation underscored how central Armstrong was to Englewood’s musical life; the season she had organized paused in recognition of her passing. To perpetuate her memory, the Conservatory announced the establishment of the Mary C. Armstrong Scholarship. At the same time, it affirmed that the Conservatory would continue “in all its branches” during the coming year — evidence that Armstrong had built not merely a personality-driven school, but a durable institution capable of sustaining her legacy. Mary Chontrelle Armstrong left no immediate family aside from three surviving aunts, yet her influence endured in the students she trained, the concerts she organized, and the cultural standards she set. Through her work, Englewood became more than a suburban community; it became a town that expected and supported excellence in the arts. Her life marks an early and foundational chapter in the city’s long performing-arts tradition. “Miss Mary Chontrelle Armstrong,” obituary notice, The New York Times, October 4, 1926. “Notable Concerts: Kreisler and Paderewski to Be Heard in Englewood,” The Ridgewood Herald, September 30, 1932. “For Miss Armstrong: Memorial Service Is Held at Englewood Conservatory,” The Ridgewood Herald, October 11, 1932. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Music People An individual. Metadata for a person provides detailed biographical information to describe the life of a historical figure. Birth Date 1964-11-12 Death Date 2022-06-23 Occupation Musician Music Producer Source of File Attached "<a href="https://www.discogs.com/artist/199989">Bernard Belle</a>." Discogs. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Belle, Bernard (1964-2022) Subject The topic of the resource Music, R&B Music, Production Description An account of the resource Bernard Belle was a musician and music producer. He grew up in Englewood. He started with The Gents in 1984, which eventually was renamed Today, although Belle was no longer a member then he produced songs for them. Belle was known for his work with producer Teddy Riley and his help in pioneering the New Jack Swing era. Belle wrote and produced songs for Whitney Houston, Bobby Brown, Patti LaBelle, Aaron Hall, and Keith Sweat. He worked with Michael Jackson as well co-writing "Remember the Time," "Privacy," and "Why You Wanna Trip on Me." He married Debra in 1995. He had five children, Jahmel, Tyrone, Tyrell, Jeana, and Asia Milner. His sister was Regina Belle. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived "<a href="https://www.discogs.com/artist/1495271-The-Gents-6">The Gents</a>." Discogs. <div class="element-set"> <div class="element"> <div class="element-text five columns offset-by-two"> “<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Today_(group)">Today (Group)</a>.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 27 Apr. 2023. </div> </div> </div> <div class="element-set"> <div class="element"> <div class="field two columns alpha"></div> </div> </div> "<a href="https://https//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_Belle">Bernard Belle</a>." Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 9 Dec. 2023. "<a href="https://www.discogs.com/artist/199989">Bernard Belle</a>." Discogs. "<a href="https://www.thehypemagazine.com/2022/06/grammy-award-winning-musician-composer-songwriter-producer-bernard-belle-brother-of-regina-belle-dead-at-57/">Grammy Award-Winning Musician, Composer, Songwriter/Producer Bernard Belle, Brother of Regina Belle, Dead at 57.</a>" The Hype Magazine. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Colman, David Ludder, Rachelle Music https://archive.englewoodmakeshistory.org/files/original/0fac346f2c5eccb3f8da4ff54de840b4.jpg 1096aa25d19927a78f0935bd2344ce1f Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Music People An individual. Metadata for a person provides detailed biographical information to describe the life of a historical figure. Birth Date 1963-07-17 Birthplace Englewood, New Jersey, USA Occupation Musician Singer Songwriter Source of File Attached "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regina_Belle">Regina Belle</a>." Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 30 July 2024. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Belle, Regina (1963-?) Subject The topic of the resource Music, Pop Music, R&B Music, Gospel Description An account of the resource Regina Belle is a musician, singer, and songwriter. She is a native of Englewood. She began to develop her musical talent at the city’s Mt. Calvary Baptist Church. Her musical talents were nurtured by the legendary Dwight Morrow music teacher and band leader, Joseph Daley. She graduated from Dwight Morrow High School. She attended the Manhattan School of Music and Rutgers University, where she became the first female vocalist in Rutgers Jazz ensemble. In 1987 she released her debut album, All By Myself, which had two hit songs. The same year she recorded a popular duet with Peabo Bryson, “Without You.” In 1993, Peabo Bryson and Belle released another duet for Disney’s “Aladdin,” called “A Whole New World,” which peaked at No. 1 and won an Academy Award for Best Original Song and a Grammy. Over the last thirty years, Belle has released several soul, R&B, and Gospel albums and numerous songs have reached the Top 100 charts in the United States. Belle has been nominated five times for a Grammy and won the Grammy for “A Whole New World” in the category of Best Pop Performance by a Duo. She married twice, first to Horace Alexander Youn from 1985 to 1990. She had a daughter, Tiy. She then married John Battle on June 25, 1991. She had four children, Winter, Jayln, Sydni, and Nyla. Winter and Jayln were adopted. She is the Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Malley, Rita. "Singer has 'World' of gratitude." The Record, 14 Mar. 1994, p. 3. "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regina_Belle">Regina Belle</a>." Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 30 July 2024. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Colman, David Ludder, Rachelle Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Hugh Pickens Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available wikipedia Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource This is a photo of Regina Belle taken by Hugh Pickens on January 25 , 2008 at a concert on the Holland America ship Westdam. Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Public Domain Music Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Music Places A fixed location. Metadata for a place provides descriptive information that is the basis of discovery of the creation, purpose, and agents associated with a place. Date Started 2001 Date Ended 2011 Type of Institution Economic Source of File Attached Weiss, David. "<a href="https://sonicscoop.com/bennett-studios-closes/">Bennett Studios Closes</a>." Sonic Scoop, 12 Sep. 2011. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Bennett Studios Subject The topic of the resource Music, Production Description An account of the resource Bennett Studios was founded in 2001 by Dae Bennett. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived McGrath, Matthew. "BergenPAC pupils earn college credit." The Record, 30 Aug. 2016, p. L-1, L-6. Weiss, David. "<a href="https://sonicscoop.com/bennett-studios-closes/">Bennett Studios Closes</a>." Sonic Scoop, 12 Sep. 2011. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Ludder, Rachelle Music Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Music Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Bennett Studios