Hundreds celebrate life of slain Asbury Park musician Jillian Ludwig
Jillian Ludwig’s star burns bright in Asbury Park. Friends, fans, family and fellow musicians of Jillian gathered on what would have been her 19th birthday Saturday, Dec. 30 in the Grand Arcade inside Convention Hall on the city’s boardwalk.
More than 900 attended the Play It Forward for Jillian concert to honor the late musician who died on Nov. 8 after being shot in the head by a stray bullet during an afternoon walk in Nashville.
“Hearing Jillian’s song right there, you could just sense that she’s here with us and this a magic moment for so many of us whose lives were touched by Jillian. To honor her, to be with her, to honor her family and to help her legacy live on,” said Jon Leidersdorff, founder of the city’s Lakehouse Music Academy, from the stage on Saturday.
Jillian was a student and teacher at Lakehouse. Jillian’s dreamy melodic rock ballad, “How Long,” was performed by one of her former bands, Good Morning Beautiful, on Saturday. She had been working on the song at the time of her passing and a video was released by Lakehouse producers last week.
“In that moment singing it I wanted her to sing through me in a way,” said Good Morning Beautiful vocalist Vianna Schibell, 18 of Wall. “I didn’t want it to be about the band. I didn’t want it to be about me. I wanted it to be about her song and who she was a musician and how we could create that in the best way possible.”
Vianna and Jillian often shared rides between Wall and Asbury Park together and listened to Radiohead and the Beatles on the way.
“I think it’s incredible all the different age groups of people impacted by Jill,” Vianna said. “The community came together in support Jill and her family. I think that’s a real beautiful thing and it shows how strong our community can be.”
Waiting on Mongo, Kevian Kraemer, Arcadia, and Butterfly Garden also performed on Saturday. Tom Donovan, the head of the Asbury Park Music Foundation, emceed.
Jillian founded the Play It Forward initiative in the area, which raised funds for music education for area students of need. Her parents, Matt and Jessica Ludwig, announced the formation of the Rae of Light Foundation, named for Jillian’s middle name, from the stage on Saturday. The foundation, supported by area organizations and Jon Bon Jovi, will provide music scholarships for students, support music related charities in the area, and seeks justice for Jillian through legislative means “to ensure other families do not have to go through tragedies like us,” Matt said.
Jillian was in Nashville studying music at the city’s Belmont University at the time of her passing. A suspect in Jillian’s death, Shaquille Taylor, said he was shooting at a passing car, according to the Tennessean. Taylor was declared mentally incompetent to stand trial and released for a previous charge, the Nashville district attorney said.
Bon Jovi was also in Nashville at the time of the shooting and the Ludwigs said the tragedy affected him personally.
“Dec. 30, 2023 could have been one of the worst days of our lives, marking Jill’s 19th birthday without her,” said Matt in a halting voice while holding his wife
Jessica. “But seeing you all here supporting causes Jill loved and enjoying these awesome bands, it’s been an unforgettable, magical night. We know that Jill is definitely with us tonight.”