Red Bank in Monmouth County, New Jersey — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
William J. "Count" Basie Center for the Arts
Photographed by New Jersey Black Heritage Trail
1. William J. "Count" Basie Center for the Arts Marker
African American musicians are major contributors to the development of American music. William J. “Count” Basie rose from nearby Mechanic Street to achieve global fame as an American innovator of jazz, commanding audiences that included royalty, presidents, and millions of others worldwide. Before the Carlton Theater became the Monmouth Arts Center, Basie held a homecoming performance here in 1961. In addition to being a music icon, he was recognized globally for his philanthropy. Basie became the first African American to win a Grammy in 1959. The Count Basie Center was renamed in his honor in 1984.
Erected 2026 by New Jersey Historical Commission. (Marker Number 2024.A.18.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment. A significant historical year for this entry is 1984.
Location. 40° 20.959′ N, 74° 4.213′ W. Marker is in Red Bank, New Jersey, in Monmouth County. It is on Monmouth Street west of Maple Avenue, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 99 Monmouth Street, Red Bank NJ 07701, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Central Jersey and in the New York City Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American Northeast, in the Mid-Atlantic, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Red Bank War Memorial (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); William “Count” Basie (approx. 0.2
this page online
Also see . . . Count Basie (Wikipedia). (Submitted on September 19, 2026, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)
Photographed by New Jersey Black Heritage Trail
2. William J. "Count" Basie Marker Unveiling Ceremony
On August 21, 2026 the New Jersey Historical Commission unveiled a marker honoring William J. "Count" Basie, an American innovator of jazz, commanding audiences that included royalty, presidents, and millions of others worldwide. Basie became the first African American to win a Grammy in 1959, and the Count Basie Center was renamed in his honor in 1984.
Count Basie Center for the Arts.
3. Historic Theatre Exterior.
James J. Kriegsmann, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
4. Posed photo portrait of American jazz bandleader and pianist Count Basie, seated at the piano.
James J. Kriegsmann, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
5. Recueil. Concert de Count Basie. Photographies / Fernand Michaud.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 19, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 10, 2026, by New Jersey Black Heritage Trail of Trenton, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 3 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on September 10, 2026, by New Jersey Black Heritage Trail of Trenton, New Jersey. • Michael Herrick was the editor who published this page.
