Grassroots Oakland Park is dedicated to educating, preserving, conserving, and honoring the people who make the city of Oakland Park, FL, what it is today.
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The park is now a reality. Our next quest is to see Jaco honored in a way reserved for Americans who have truly made an impact on the world: a commemorative postage stamp.
Some other musicians honored with stamps:
John Coltrane (1995) Jazz musician and composer
Jimmy Dorsey (1996) Jazz musician and bandleader
Tommy Dorsey (1996) Jazz musician and bandleader
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (1986) Jazz musician and composer
Erroll Garner (1995) Jazz musician and composer
Glenn Miller (1996) Jazz musician
Charlie Mingus (1995) Jazz musician and composer
Thelonious Monk (1995) Jazz musician and composer
Charlie Parker (1995) Jazz musician and composer
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Jaco Pastorius Park : On November 28, 2007, the Oakland Park City Commission unanimously voted to name the city's new downtown park after Jaco Pastorius, The World's Greatest Bass Player. Jaco's hometown celebrates its most famous artist with a tremendous honor: a living memorial with a focus on the arts. The 2 1/2 year grassroots effort has come to fruition. Now south Florida residents and Jaco fans worldwide will have a place to reflect upon and enjoy the legacy of a music giant. There are also plans to incorporate Jaco's name and story into the City's various performing arts events.
Thank you to everyone who has given of themselves, their time, and talents simply because they love Jaco and wanted to see him honored in his hometown. Thank you to Ingrid Pastorius, the angel who provided unwavering support from the start. Thank you to Julius, Felix, John, and Mary. Kilmo, Colin, Adam, Mike & John Bendy, B.O.B., Holly, and everyone who signed a petition. The bands, the fans, and the City Commission. And of course: thank you Jaco.
The park is located in downtown Oakland Park, Florida, at the intersection of Dixie Highway and NE 38th Street. It is between Dixie Highway and the Florida East Coast Railroad.
Also write, phone, and email the City of Oakland Park to thank them for this honor!
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Come on! Come over!
An honor whose time has come...
Most cities would be proud to have a music legend come from their hometown.
Now Oakland Park can be proud to honor its own:'The World's Greatest Bass Player',
Jaco Pastorius. Jaco grew up on these streets and went to school at
Northeast High. His innovative techniques and challenging compositions forever
changed the landscape of jazz and rock music. Since his 1976 debut to today,
Jaco is admired around the world. A brutal beating in 1987 ended his life at age 35.
Still his music and memory live on stronger than ever. The city he was proud to call home has honored its native son with the naming of the new downtown park at 38th Street & Dixie Highway for him. It is a fitting and lasting memorial to a man who heard music in the life of Oakland Park. It will be a welcoming place for residents and visitors from afar, a place devoted to the creative human spirit. Our city recognizes one of its brightest lights.
Who loves ya, Jaco...
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Jaco Pastorius Community Center Ribbon Cutting - 5 Mar 2009
Jaco Pastorius Park Grand Opening (Pt 1 of 2) - 1 Dec 2008
Jaco Pastorius Park Grand Opening (Pt 2 of 2) - 1 Dec 2008
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Lè a rive pou nou honore...
Pi fò vil tap fyè anpil pou yo ta gen yon gwo mizisyen ki pran nesans nan bouk la.
Kounye a Oakland Park ka fyè pou li honore yon atis pa'l : "Pi Gran Bassis Ki Pase Sou Latè",
Jaco Pastorius. Jaco grandi nan lari sa yo epi li te ale lekòl nan Northeast High. Teknik inovatif
ak konpozisyon difisil li yo chanje figi mizik djaz ak rok. Depi lè li te debite an 1976 jiska prezan, Tout moun nan lemond antye admire Jaco. Jaco te pran yon kal brital ki te koze lanmo li an 1987, li te gen 35 an.
Jiska prezan mizik li ak souvni li rete vivan pi rèd. Li lè pou vil ke li te fyè pou li te rele lakay li honore pitit gason li a. Yo bay nouvo pak ki nan anba lavil nan 38em ri & Dixie highway non
Jaco, sa ki ap fè non li rete grave nan Oakland Park kote li te konn al tande mizik. Plas sa ap
la byen veni pou vizitè ak moun ki rete nan zon nan, yon plas ke yo dedye a Lespri kreyatif
lòm. E vil nou an ap finalman rekonèt youn nan zetwal ki pi klere li yo.
Kilès ki renmen'w, Jaco...
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Nuestra oportunidad to rendir tributo a una leyenda
Muchas ciudades deben de sentirse orgullosas de tener una leyenda musical que pertenesca
a su propio barrio. Ahora Oakland Park se siente orgullosa de rendir tributo a su propio
'El Mejor Bajo Guitarrista del Mundo Entero,' Jaco Pastorius. Jaco crecio en estas calles y estudio
en la Northeast High School. Sus inovadas tecnicas en sus composiciones cambiaron para siempre
la estructura del jazz y la musica rock. Desde 1976 hasta el dia de hoy Jaco es admirado en todo
el mundo. Su brutal muerte en 1987 termino su vida a la edad de 35 años.
Es tiempo que la ciudad a la cual el se sentia orgulloso de llamar casa honre su memoria. El nombre del nuevo parque en la Calle 38 y Dixie Highway ofrecera un homenaje especial en memoria del hombre que escuchaba la musica en Oakland Park. Sera un sitio de bienvenida dedicada a la creatividad del espiritu humano y nuestra ciudad finalmente reconocera uno de las mas brillantes luces.
Quien te ama Jaco...
