MOVIN’ ON UP

The Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music is kicking off a gospel music program called Move on Up, that ultimately will have gospel choirs and praise teams in Asbury Park and Newark singing, shouting and making a joyful noise and competing to win a cash prize.

The winning choir or praise team will receive a $10,000 prize to be used to improve any aspect of its ensemble. The runner-up will receive a $5,000 prize.

Eileen Chapman, Director of the Springsteen Archives and Center, says the idea comes from Bob Santelli, Executive Director of the Archives, who started such a program when he was the Executive Director of the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles.

“This is exciting,” Ms. Chapman says. “Everybody who is involved with it is excited!” She says the initial idea was to have more cities involved but we realized we’d have to build up to it.

The goal is to expand to many cities in New Jersey.

“Bruce worked with gospel music before,” She reminds us. “We’re excited to kick off this inaugural program devoted to celebrating gospel.”

Springsteen was quoted during an interview with TV late night host Jimmy Fallon. “I was trying to make a record — Only the Strong Survive — that was centered around singing. So I finally came around to the realization that the greatest vocal music is, of course, gospel music and then soul music.”

Springsteen also pointed out that the best soul singers came out of the church. The singers and praise teams participating in the Move on Up program are coming from church, and the church is made up from the community. Ms. Chapman noted that all churches took a hit during the pandemic. “This program is a way to get people back into churches and churches more involved in the community.”

The official entry period is March 1-April 1, 2024. The contest rules and registration information can be found here.