Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone delivered a symbolic superized check Friday for $1.75 million for improvements to the Dix Hills home of musicians John and Alice Coltrane.
The Coltranes’ son, Ravi Coltrane, Steve Fulgoni, president of the Friends of the Coltrane Home Brandee Younger, Grammy- nominated harpist and composer and others were onhand to receive the check, which was funded by the JumpSMART program.
Fulgoni, whose drive to save the home began 20 years ago this weekend, said the funds will support capital improvements for restoration of the building façade and design and construction of a recording studio, exhibit space, multifunction space and meditation room.
John Coltrane, the legendary jazz composer and saxonphonist, and his wife, Alice, a pianist and harpist, lived in the home at 47 Candlewood Path. He composed several works there, including his most famous, A Love Supreme, while living there. He died in 1967. His family remained in the home for a few more years, eventually relocating to Los Angeles. Alice Coltrane, also known as Swamini Turiyasangitananda, died in 2007.
“This grant is going to hep us achieve our dreams here,” Ravi Coltrane, who is also a musician, said.
Suffolk County’s JumpStart and JumpSMART programs are part of an economic development plan designed to strengthen community assets and support the planning and development of regionally significant projects in and around Suffolk’s downtowns.
Also participating in the ceremony were Suffolk County Legislature Presiding Officer Kevin McCaffrey, Minority Leader Jason Richberg, Legislator Manuel Esteban, Legislator-Elect Rebecca Sanin, Kathleen Hennessy, vice president, Friends of the Coltrane Home, Brandon Bibby, National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Bellone, whose term ends Sunday, joked that the delivery of the Coltrane funds was part of his “Big Check Tour,” consisting of stops in several communities to deliver money through Suffolk County’s JumpStart and JumpSMART programs, which are part of an economic development plan designed to strengthen community assets and support the planning and development of regionally significant projects in and around downtowns.
Also participating in the ceremony were Suffolk County Legislature Presiding Officer Kevin McCaffrey, Minority Leader Jason Richberg, Legislator Manuel Esteban, Legislator-Elect Rebecca Sanin, Kathleen Hennessy, vice president, Friends of the Coltrane Home,and Brandon Bibby of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Bellone, whose term ends Sunday, joked that the delivery of the Coltrane funds was part of his “Big Check Tour,” consisting of stops in several communities to deliver money through Suffolk County’s JumpStart and JumpSMART programs, which are part of an economic development plan designed to strengthen community assets and support the planning and development of regionally significant projects in and around downtowns.
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