Band Wins “Stronger Than the Storm” Anthem Contest

They're not Bruce Springsteen or Jon Bon Jovi.

But six musicians who live near the Jersey Shore have won the Jersey Shore Soundoff competition with an original song that organizers hope to become New Jersey's summer anthem.

Members of the country group live in the Oakhurst section of Ocean Township in Monmouth County.

Their winning song, entitled "Jersey Strong," was written by band member John Strevens.

"Our song pays tribute to the hardships that everyone endured as well as the progress we have made as loud, proud New Jerseyans," he said.

The Stronger than the Storm campaign said the group's song best captured the shore's "strength, spirit and resilience."

The song recalls how Sandy "may have knocked us down but not for long. We're Jersey strong."

As the contest winners, the group will perform their song live ahead of the Spin Doctors at the legendary Stone Pony in Asbury Park on Sept. 7.  Tickets to the free show were snapped up shortly after the announcement.

The “Stronger than the Storm” campaign already has a theme song by the same name that has been playing on radio and TV and appearing on digital ads since May. But Shannon Eis, a contest organizer and spokeswoman for the campaign, said the idea is an effort to create an authentic anthem from people who were affected by the storm and to celebrate the state's musical roots.

“It felt important to make something custom-created,” Eis said when the contest was announced.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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