Music & The Bronx
Defining the borough of The Bronx through music is perfectly appropriate. Music has been central to Bronx culture for more than a century. At one time there were as many Bronx nightclubs and dance halls as in Manhattan. In this golden age, Bronx crime was down and the borough was a symbol of upward mobility. The 1918 Spanish flu gave way to the jazz age, much of it launched in The Bronx.
History has shown that music is central to not only the daily energy of The Bronx, but Bronxites turn to it when things get tough. In the 1970s when the city cut school music programs, Bronxites responded by inventing Hip Hop, now a multibillion dollar, worldwide industry. Over the last century local Bronx talent forged inventive sounds across the world from Bronx icons in pop, jazz, salsa, doo-wop, and hip hop.
When the pandemic lockdowns hit, in the Bronx there was a noticeable increase in interest in music. Bronx music sellers reported a remarkable uptick in instrument sales.
Accordingly, now is the time to re-energize The Bronx with its own expansive culture of music and announce to the world that the 50th Anniversary of Hip Hop was only the beginning. The Bronx Gets Together is positioned to be at the center of that modern-day Bronx cultural movement.
The Video
Through the expert talents of a Bronx based producer, music director, and video director, The Bronx Gets Together music video will rework Get Together, a classic folk song that urges general unity in the name of the universal imperative to simply smile and love one another.
The beautifully produced video will feature Bronx musicians, professional singers and players performing along with other less well-known but amazingly talented Bronx musicians in an inspiring portrayal of the remarkable diversity of Bronx music, Bronx culture, and Bronx people. The musicians will perform in recognizable Bronx iconic locations, as well as in the neighborhoods where Bronx people live, using the expanse of Bronx talent to finally represent the borough as it really is.
THE TEAM
Gary Axelbank, Executive Producer
George Williams, Project Media Zone
George Williams, Project Media Zone
Gary Axelbank, the host of BronxTalk, the borough’s flagship talk show on BronxNet, since the program debuted in October 1994, has conducted more than 1,400 weekly editions of the program, including 90+ political debates, 100+ programs on education, and dozens of shows on Bronx crime and policing, youth, parks, healthcare, arts and culture, community issues, and more.
George Williams, Project Media Zone
George Williams, Project Media Zone
George Williams, Project Media Zone
George R. Williams, Jr., CEO of Digitoral Media Productions, LLC, created Project Media Zone, a community-based media organization empowering local Bronx, NY, visual artists, film and video producers and technicians, particularly in underserved communities, to use media as tools for self-expression, community storytelling, and combating negative stereotypes. Project Media Zone is a teaching initiative as well, as it creates innovative, nurturing safe spaces for these artists to learn media and technology skills to complete those projects. He is delighted to be part of The Bronx Gets Together as well as "The Bronx Music Podcast with Gary Axelbank.
Bobby Sanabria, Director of Music
George Williams, Project Media Zone
Monica Yehle-Glick, Marketing/Development
Bobby Sanabria, a 9-time Grammy-nominee, is a noted drummer, percussionist, composer, arranger, conductor, producer, educator, documentary film maker, and bandleader of Puerto Rican descent born and raised in NY’s South Bronx.
Monica Yehle-Glick, Marketing/Development
Monica Yehle-Glick, Marketing/Development
Monica Yehle-Glick, Marketing/Development
Monica Yehle-Glick, President of M4 Consulting Services, LLC, brings with her 40 years of experience in corporate, nonprofit, business, institutional communications and development, as well as administrative and organizational leadership and planning, all at the national and international levels.
Edwin Pagan, Videographer / Photographer
Monica Yehle-Glick, Marketing/Development
Edwin Pagan, Videographer / Photographer
Edwin Pagán is a New York-based filmmaker, producer, photographer, cinematographer, screenwriter and cultural activist with more than 25 years of hands-on experience in content creation, film production, design concurrence and branding, and social media manager in both the documentary and narrative film sectors.
Joshua Cruz, Production Assistant
Monica Yehle-Glick, Marketing/Development
Edwin Pagan, Videographer / Photographer
Joshua Cruz is a passionate media professional with a Bachelor of Arts in Media & Society from Hobart and William Smith Colleges. Based in the Bronx, NY, he blends creativity, culture, and technology in his work as a Production Assistant at GAX Productions and a Seasonal Specialist at Apple.
Fluent in Spanish and English, and proficient in Arabic and Italian, Joshua brings a global perspective to his projects. His expertise spans video editing tools like Adobe Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve, as well as stop-motion animation techniques. Beyond his professional endeavors, Joshua’s love for music inspires his creativity and fuels his storytelling, adding depth and rhythm to his visual narratives.
As a mentor, community advocate, Joshua is committed to creating meaningful connections and driving positive change. Guided by a belief in technology’s transformative power, he strives to leave a lasting impact through innovation and artistry.