Herbert Van Note Music Scholarship
Donation protected
January 5, 2018 marks the four-year anniversary of the passing of our father, Herbie Van Note, from complications of pneumonia. For us, the absence of him in our lives still resonates as if it were only yesterday. Our dad was such a force of constant energy-in-motion. When he entered a room, you knew he was there. We miss that force terribly.
In 2014, we established the Herbert A. Van Note III Music Scholarship at Shore Reginal High School, the high school that he attended. There have been three recipients of our father’s scholarship thus far. We know that this scholarship would have made dad so pleased and proud. With enormous pride, and an incredible sense that dad is with us, we have watched these winning candidates receive their awards at their graduation ceremony. It is our hope, with your help, that we may continue this scholarship in our dad’s name.
Herbert Arthur Van Note III entered this world on May 12, 1957, born of two musical parents. He was born at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch on Mother’s Day and was the first Mother’s Day baby born that year, which got his picture posted in the paper. Dad’s entire family was musical and he would often say, “I’ve got music in my blood!”. In 1969, he received his first pair of drumsticks and drum pad for Christmas from his “Granny” Van Note. His father found an old pine coffee table on which to place the drum pad so that he could “bang” on it. Eventually, his drum sticks drifted from the drum pad onto the old pine coffee table, leaving the marks of his drumming enthusiasm. Dad played on anything. Tables, chairs, his knees and even garbage can lid’s which became his first make-shift drum kit. He left his “marks” on us all.
In high school, he played in various garage bands. He went on to join several bands that we know of. Dad played with the late ‘Gary Baumeister Band’ in 1980. Also, ’Four on the Floor’ with guitarist and song writer John Strevens of ‘After the Reign’ fame. John and dad shared a musical collaboration and friendship that lasted many, many years. The band, ‘Four on the Floor’ cut an LP in the 80’s and dad was so very proud of that LP. In the 80’s he played with the ‘Dave Wygal and Time Band’ and ‘Beyond Blues’ band in the late 90’s, which played regularly at Orleans, in Atlantic Highlands. The name “Herbie Rox” was coined by lead singer Angel, of a band he played with in the early ‘80’s. The nickname “Herbie Rox” stuck like glue and dad loved it! Of course, the band he is most known for up until he passed away is, ‘After the Reign’. ‘After the Reign’ won best song for, “Jersey Strong” in the Hurricane Sandy Recovery Anthem contest in 2012. Dad was thrilled. Also, dad was always eager to help mentor future drummers.
Dad often said, “I have a passion for playing drums and I am driven by that passion”. Musicians that are driven by their passion always find a place to practice their art. Dad found his places; from a spare room, to a large walk-in closet, to a porch, to a cold garage, to a roach infested room in Asbury Park once shared by Jon Bon Jovi’s band. At one time, Dad found a dirt basement crawl space in which was entered by crawling into a small window. He couldn’t stand up in it entirely, but if the space was large enough to accommodate his drum kit it was a sufficient place to practice his “passion”.
Our dad’s musical style was influenced by various musical genres and artists. Over the years he played in many musically diverse bands that included Rock, Jazz, Blues, and Country. A few of the drummers that influenced him are: Ginger Baker of Cream and Blind Faith; Neil Pert of Rush; and Stewart Copeland of the Police. One of his all-time favorite drummers was the late
Chris Layton of Stevie Ray Vaughan’s band Double Trouble. We grew up watching him playing to Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble, always under his headphones, playing like mad and making funny faces with his mouth. We would run into the room with fingers in our ears, jumping, screaming and dancing. Dad would never lose his focus.
To us, “Herbie” was more than a drummer. He was our “daddy”. He loved cooking, fishing, crabbing, camping, and riding on his “candy apple red” Harley. He taught us all these things and more but mostly he taught us about hard work, perseverance and determination. There were times, of course, when our relationship was difficult but eventually we made our peace with him. It is so very important to make peace with those you dearly love. We’ve learned that at no matter what age, tomorrow is promised to no one. In the end, we were with him. We talked to him. We reassured him that it was OK to go. We held his hand until God took him by the hand and he left our world. This past year we had our first babies. A baby boy, Benjamin Ryan and five months later a baby girl, Lucia Nell. We know that dad would have been over the moon by grandfather hood. We want our babies to know dad, so we keep his photograph ever present and talk about him all the time. Sometimes when we look closely into our children’s eyes, we can see him there, and it is quite bitter sweet.
We gratefully invite anyone to donate to the Herbert A. Van Note III Music Scholarship. This will allow future students a jump start toward their “passion” in music academia. It is our hope to keep dad’s “passion” alive in the musical arts. We also welcome any stories or special memories of our dad. We love hearing them! He will forever live in our memories and in our hearts.
With sincere appreciation and gratitude, Leanna Van Note-Sheldon and Chelsea Van Note-Gaviria
In 2014, we established the Herbert A. Van Note III Music Scholarship at Shore Reginal High School, the high school that he attended. There have been three recipients of our father’s scholarship thus far. We know that this scholarship would have made dad so pleased and proud. With enormous pride, and an incredible sense that dad is with us, we have watched these winning candidates receive their awards at their graduation ceremony. It is our hope, with your help, that we may continue this scholarship in our dad’s name.
Herbert Arthur Van Note III entered this world on May 12, 1957, born of two musical parents. He was born at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch on Mother’s Day and was the first Mother’s Day baby born that year, which got his picture posted in the paper. Dad’s entire family was musical and he would often say, “I’ve got music in my blood!”. In 1969, he received his first pair of drumsticks and drum pad for Christmas from his “Granny” Van Note. His father found an old pine coffee table on which to place the drum pad so that he could “bang” on it. Eventually, his drum sticks drifted from the drum pad onto the old pine coffee table, leaving the marks of his drumming enthusiasm. Dad played on anything. Tables, chairs, his knees and even garbage can lid’s which became his first make-shift drum kit. He left his “marks” on us all.
In high school, he played in various garage bands. He went on to join several bands that we know of. Dad played with the late ‘Gary Baumeister Band’ in 1980. Also, ’Four on the Floor’ with guitarist and song writer John Strevens of ‘After the Reign’ fame. John and dad shared a musical collaboration and friendship that lasted many, many years. The band, ‘Four on the Floor’ cut an LP in the 80’s and dad was so very proud of that LP. In the 80’s he played with the ‘Dave Wygal and Time Band’ and ‘Beyond Blues’ band in the late 90’s, which played regularly at Orleans, in Atlantic Highlands. The name “Herbie Rox” was coined by lead singer Angel, of a band he played with in the early ‘80’s. The nickname “Herbie Rox” stuck like glue and dad loved it! Of course, the band he is most known for up until he passed away is, ‘After the Reign’. ‘After the Reign’ won best song for, “Jersey Strong” in the Hurricane Sandy Recovery Anthem contest in 2012. Dad was thrilled. Also, dad was always eager to help mentor future drummers.
Dad often said, “I have a passion for playing drums and I am driven by that passion”. Musicians that are driven by their passion always find a place to practice their art. Dad found his places; from a spare room, to a large walk-in closet, to a porch, to a cold garage, to a roach infested room in Asbury Park once shared by Jon Bon Jovi’s band. At one time, Dad found a dirt basement crawl space in which was entered by crawling into a small window. He couldn’t stand up in it entirely, but if the space was large enough to accommodate his drum kit it was a sufficient place to practice his “passion”.
Our dad’s musical style was influenced by various musical genres and artists. Over the years he played in many musically diverse bands that included Rock, Jazz, Blues, and Country. A few of the drummers that influenced him are: Ginger Baker of Cream and Blind Faith; Neil Pert of Rush; and Stewart Copeland of the Police. One of his all-time favorite drummers was the late
Chris Layton of Stevie Ray Vaughan’s band Double Trouble. We grew up watching him playing to Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble, always under his headphones, playing like mad and making funny faces with his mouth. We would run into the room with fingers in our ears, jumping, screaming and dancing. Dad would never lose his focus.
To us, “Herbie” was more than a drummer. He was our “daddy”. He loved cooking, fishing, crabbing, camping, and riding on his “candy apple red” Harley. He taught us all these things and more but mostly he taught us about hard work, perseverance and determination. There were times, of course, when our relationship was difficult but eventually we made our peace with him. It is so very important to make peace with those you dearly love. We’ve learned that at no matter what age, tomorrow is promised to no one. In the end, we were with him. We talked to him. We reassured him that it was OK to go. We held his hand until God took him by the hand and he left our world. This past year we had our first babies. A baby boy, Benjamin Ryan and five months later a baby girl, Lucia Nell. We know that dad would have been over the moon by grandfather hood. We want our babies to know dad, so we keep his photograph ever present and talk about him all the time. Sometimes when we look closely into our children’s eyes, we can see him there, and it is quite bitter sweet.
We gratefully invite anyone to donate to the Herbert A. Van Note III Music Scholarship. This will allow future students a jump start toward their “passion” in music academia. It is our hope to keep dad’s “passion” alive in the musical arts. We also welcome any stories or special memories of our dad. We love hearing them! He will forever live in our memories and in our hearts.
With sincere appreciation and gratitude, Leanna Van Note-Sheldon and Chelsea Van Note-Gaviria
Organizer
Leanna Van Note Sheldon
Organizer
West Long Branch, NJ
