The Heart & Soul of Ocean Grove

Written By Mike Greenblatt
Gordon Turk

Gordon Turk

Ocean Grove is more than just the small town you walk through on the boardwalk to get from Bradley to Asbury. Nestled within the town’s Great Auditorium on Pilgrim Pathway—built in 1894—is the world’s largest pipe organ containing over 13,000 pipes. Concert organist Gordon Turk came to town about 50 years ago to perform for a summer…and he’s still there.

The acoustics in the structure are second to none. In fact, the 6,000+ capacity auditorium has been called “an architectural marvel.” It is surrounded by tents for summers of retreat by seasonal renters. The Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association holds religious services there plus has promoted shows with Johnny Mathis, Kenny Loggins, The Beach Boys, Neil Sedaka and Felix Cavaliere. Billy Graham and Norman Vincent Peale have preached there. But it’s the venue itself that’s worth the price of admission.

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Mike Greenblatt

MIKE GREENBLATT has been writing for Goldmine magazine and New Jersey's Aquarian Weekly for more than 35 years. His writing subjects fill the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

He's interviewed Joe Cocker, Graham Nash, David Crosby, Carlos Santana, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Johnny Cash, and members of The Rolling Stones and The Beatles. He was 18 when he attended Woodstock in 1969.

In addition to writing about music, Greenblatt has worked on publicity campaigns for The Animals, Pat Benatar, Johnny Winter, Tommy James and Richard Branson, among others. He is currently the editor of The Jersey Sound.

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