Johnny Hartman Plaza

Can a plaza sing? Johnny Hartman Plaza in Hamilton Heights can. It hums with the legacy of the man it’s named after, the velvet-voiced baritone Johnny Hartman. This isn’t just a traffic triangle where Amsterdam Avenue meets Hamilton Place and West 143rd Street. It’s a stage set for a life story as smooth and resonant as Hartman’s finest performance. Johnny Hartman Plaza rests on land with its own history. The city acquired it in 1876. It was transferred to the Parks Department in 1912. It was then known as Hamilton Square, honoring founding father Alexander Hamilton. In the 1930s, black locust trees were planted. Their fragrant blossoms still perfume the air each spring. This plaza, once a simple square, now bears the name of a man who knew how to make a song bloom. Hartman, born in Louisiana and raised in Chicago, found his voice in the Baptist church. He honed his craft at DuSable High School, under the tutelage of Captain Walter Dyett, a mentor to musical giants like Nat King Cole and Dinah Washington. Hartman’s path led him from church choirs to the vibrant jazz scene. He toured with Earl Hines, the innovative pianist who shaped the sound of an era. He even shared the stage with the dynamic Dizzy Gillespie, although their styles didn’t always mesh. Johnny Hartman Plaza commemorates not just a singer but a survivor. Hartman navigated a music world that wasn’t always welcoming to a Black man with a voice that could melt hearts. He faced racism and changing musical tastes. Yet, his talent persevered. He collaborated with John Coltrane in 1963. Their album, “John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman,” became an instant classic. It cemented Hartman’s place in jazz history. Today, Johnny Hartman Plaza thrives thanks to the care of local community groups and the Hamilton Heights West Harlem Community Preservation Organization. They ensure that this space remains a vibrant testament to Hartman’s legacy. The plaza isn’t just a place to rest. It’s a place to remember the power of music, the resilience of the human spirit, and the enduring legacy of a voice that still echoes through Hamilton Heights. So next time you find yourself at Johnny Hartman Plaza, close your eyes for a moment. Listen closely. You might just hear the faint strains of a timeless ballad.