When a New Jersey resident thinks about the city of Trenton, they may think about it being the state’s capital or how it is an impoverished area, but few will think about Trenton as a city of music.
Major cities across the country have become thriving music industries and are known for specific genres of music. For example, New Orleans and Jazz, Chicago and the blues and Nashville and Country music. Trenton, however, does not have a musical genre attached to it because it has not experienced the same musical popularity in recent decades.
The Trenton Makes Music project is hoping to help the city of Trenton by teaching people about the cities rich musical history.
The goal of the Trenton Makes Music project is to document the lost history of Trenton that in the past had made Trenton an active musical city. By gathering stories from Trenton locals and researching places and policies, this rich history can come alive. By documenting this history it can become a useful resource for educators, city leaders and others that are interested in learning about Trenton’s history.
Dr. Robert McGreevey, a professor from The College of New Jersey, is a specialist in the political, social, and cultural history of the United States from 1877-1945. At the college, he teaches courses on the Gilded Age and Progressive Era, America in the Twentieth Century and the history of the U.S. in the World. His research focuses on the intersection of foreign policy and migration in the twentieth century.
Specifically, McGreevey has studied migration patterns and the cultural and social history of the city of Trenton. He has given lectures on how and why Trenton has become a city of socioeconomic distress.
“Trenton is beset with poverty, white flight, deindustrialization and many other problems common in ‘rust belt’ cities. The black middle class which over generations built the highly influential Shiloh Baptist congregation now mostly live outside the city and come in on Sunday for church. The middle class has the money has the disposable income for going out to see live music, art openings, etc.,” said McGreevey.
McGreevey also gives lectures and addresses on ways in which the city can be built up. “The planned arts district could spur a new generation of college grads to move in to town. The middle class is largely missing from the city at this point. We need to build the middle class in Trenton but after so many decades of devastating municipal policies (notably urban renewal the displacement of black and Puerto Rican families from the south ward) I believe the state needs to step in with policy programs to provide state workers with greater incentives to live in the city,” said McGreevey.
In regards to Trenton’s music history, he has a deep understanding of the extensive musical history that Trenton has. “There is a rich history of jazz and punk in Trenton that few know about today. Many of the famous artists who have performed in Trenton were passing through, between Philly and NYC. The jazz clubs and punk club are no longer open. Thus this rich heritage is quickly disappearing,” said McGreevey.
McGreevey has also voiced his support of the arts and the history of the arts within Trenton. Believing that Trenton can benefit from its musical history and the reconstruction of arts programs.
“Archival research and oral histories are the necessary first step. We must recover as much of this history as possible,” said McGreevey.
Last spring, one of McGreevey’s students did a project on City Gardens, an old concert venue that was known for its punk music scene. His student, Mike Fisher researched the venue and how it shaped the city. He also researched the variety of people that played at City Gardens, including world famous bands like Nirvana.
McGreevey has also made great suggestions into ways that the Trenton Makes Music Project could get local people involved in the reconstruction of Trenton’s musical history.
“We need to produce podcasts and websites that share this knowledge and invite people to visit the city and tour these historic sites. There is a punk festival of sorts organized in the old Roebling factory space. We could also organize a jazz festival at Trenton Social, etc. Then we couple with these events our walking tours, podcasts. This is a way to generate tourism. I believe the bike path along the canal and easy train access are incredible assets that we need to take full advantage of. We need to help suburbanites who would not thinking of visiting Trenton on a Saturday visualize a fun bike trip, lunch or historical walking tour or concert,” said McGreevey.
McGreevey noted how important the Trenton Makes Music project could be for the recovery of Trenton’s musical history and socioeconomic status. Through the combined efforts of the Trenton Makes Music website and events like the ones McGreevey discussed, Trenton’s history can be recovered, restored and revitalized. And hopefully when a New Jersey resident thinks about the city of Trenton, they will eventually remember it for its important musical history.