The Coltrane Home in Dix Hills, N.Y., where the late saxophonist John Coltrane lived from 1964-67, Long Island has long been deemed historic. The Long Island home is not only where Coltrane and his wife, Alice, raised their children, but it is also where Coltrane composed A Love Supreme. Now, according a press release, the National Trust for Historic Preservation has named the Coltrane residence “one of the most endangered historic places in the country,” and Carlos Santana and friends are stepping in to help.
On October 6, Santana and company are holding the Friends of the Coltrane Home nonprofit organization’s first-ever annual fundraising event. The event will feature two speakers, Dr. Cornel West and author Ashley Kahn, as well as music from Coltrane’s son, Ravi Coltrane, and his quartet. Many other famous faces are expected to attend-from Whoopi Goldberg and Jimmy Heath to Wynton Marsalis and Sonia Sanchez. The event will be from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at En Japanese Brasserie in Manhattan (435 Hudson Street between Morton Street and Leroy Street). Tickets cost $200 and are available to the public for purchase online at Coltrane Home. Further information on the location can also be found online at ENJB.
Santana says in the press release, “The Coltrane Home is a beacon to anyone interested in jazz history, cultural history, African American history, New York history and American history.” Fittingly enough, 2014 is the 50th anniversary of A Love Supreme. So the Friends of the Coltrane Home nonprofit organization-of which Santana is an honorary board member-plans to temporarily open the Coltrane house to the public next year in honor of the album’s anniversary. Proceeds from this event, as well as the season of fundraising that follows, will go toward future plans of ultimately opening the home permanently as a museum.
Future fundraising events planned for 2014 range from readings by writer/jazz supporter Stanley Crouch to a saxophone summit with Dave Liebman.
Santana and Friends Team to Save Coltrane Home
Benefit planned to open residence where “A Love Supreme” was written to the public
