KIRSTINE WALTON
Isn’t it about time Southside Johnny was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame?
The New Jersey Hall of Fame is asking for recommendations for its class of 2018, so now is your chance to lobby for those you think have been overlooked.
In the arts categories, some potential nominees who come to mind include Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, The Smithereens, “Uncle Floyd” Vivino, George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic, Lauryn Hill, Allen Ginsberg, Amiri Baraka, Charles Addams, Stephen Colbert, James Moody, John Pizzarelli, Gloria Gaynor, Patti Smith, John Scher, Debbie Harry, Lesley Gore, The Isley Brothers, Kevin Smith and The Rascals.
I’m sure there are other worthy candidates, as well. Feel free to bring up other people in the Comments Section, below.
To recommend someone, click here. You must be a current or former resident of the state, or have worked here for at least five years to make a recommendation.
These are the arts and entertainment figures who have already been inducted:
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, Count Basie, Tony Bennett, Alice Guy Blaché, Judy Blume, Jon Bon Jovi, Carol Higgins Clark, Mary Higgins Clark, James Fenimore Cooper, Celia Cruz, Danny DeVito, Michael Douglas, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Connie Francis, James Gandolfini, Dizzy Gillespie, Whitney Houston, Tommy James, Wyclef Jean, J. Seward Johnson II, Kool & the Gang, Queen Latifah, Jerry Lewis, Ray Liotta, Toni Morrison, Jack Nicholson, Joyce Carol Oates, Dorothy Parker, Les Paul, Joe Piscopo, Bucky Pizzarelli, Anna Quindlen, Christopher Reeve, Kelly Ripa, Paul Robeson, Philip Roth, Susan Sarandon, The Shirelles, Frank Sinatra, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band (inducted separately), Jon Stewart, Meryl Streep, John Travolta, Frankie Valli, Sarah Vaughan, Dionne Warwick, Walt Whitman, William Carlos Williams, Bruce Willis.
The next induction ceremony will be held May 6 at the Paramount Theatre in Asbury Park.
37 comments
Abraham Clark, Roselle
Signer of the Declaration of Independence.
He should have been a first ballot inductee.
Show me any on this list that had a bigger impact in terms of lives affected.
I would like to see Southside Johnny all the Jukes in the Hall of Fame as well as Leslie Gore. Thank you.
Steve Fallon. Maxwells arguably completely changed the city of Hoboken
How about America’s Band THE SMITHEREENS!!!
They Have My Vote!
Americas Band…..The Smithereens !!!
Are you honestly telling me the Smithereens and Southside Johnny are not in the NJ Hall of Fame? It’s time to rectify this and induct both of them.
Well, you can take a first step by filling in the recommendation form. No guarantees, but if they get a lot of recommendations, it may help.
My system is not allowing me to access the recommendation form. Is there another way to obtain it?
Go to https://njhalloffame.org/. Click on “Recommend a Nominee.”
The SMI are long over due!!!! Please induct in 2018! Well deserved and Represent New Jersey proudly!!!!!
Southside and the Jukes are Jersey royalty. How is this even a question?!? Get them in there! Been following them and singing along and dancing since the 70s. The Force is strong with these guys.
The Smithereens, absolutely! How are they not there already?
How in the heck are THE SMITHEREENS not already in? AMERICA’S BAND!
Please induct The Smithereens!!! Its a No-Brainer!!!
Southside Johnny is the greatest
all 3 ….??? … hell yes … as a longtime fan i vote yes ,yes,yes….tony everlin …
The Misfits, obviously!!!!
Also Donald Fagen, Glen Burtnick, Queen Latifah, Naughty by Nature, Skid Row, Trixter and My Chemical Romance!
Latifah is in already.
Queen Latifah was already inducted.
Unconscionable for the Smithereens to be excluded. SS Johnny & Deb Harry belong too.
Southside Johnny and the smithereens should both be in !!!!
And Feelies and Yo La Tengo!
Call me crazy..but i didn’t see anybody on that list of potential inductees that doesn’t belong. I guess Maxwell’s is influential..The Pony as well, and how many other rock clubs that don’t exist anymore. so is there an option to include entities as opposed to people? but my personal favorite, still highlighting great live music, is Concerts in the Studio in Freehold Boro. because the smithereens have played there…:)
No, there’s no category for landmarks institutions or anything like that.
Southside Johnny, it’s a crime he is not already in…
Debbie Harry
The Isley Brothers
The Rascals
The Smithereens
George Clinton
I definitely agree about Steve Fallon and Maxwells
If you want stars and semi stars ok. If you want the guys in the trenches who do this day in and day out for the last 35-40 years. Then take a look at Eddie Testa, Jobonanno, Joey Arminio, Jimmy Garcia,
Would have thought that Southside Johnny and the Smithereens were already inducted. They should be. Many other iconic candidates deserve the nod.
Another great choice would be Scott Bradlee. His Postmodern Jukebox started in a basement apartment with him and a couple of friends posting videos to YouTube. This labor of love is now a global musical extravaganza, delighting thousands of fans at every show — without ever being signed to a record label!
Allen Ginsberg, born in Newark, raised in Paterson, had a greater impact on worldwide culture than almost any of the existing Hall members. He is the most important New Jerseyan not yet inducted.
great you are exclusionary
I’m not sure what you mean by that.
connie francis, joe Pesci, smithereens, SS johnny,Uncle Floyd, debra Harry and what about phil rizzuto?
oh i see connie is in already…
Yes Rizzuto is in
Lesley Gore would be a good candidate
The hardest rock and roll bands in the rock and roll business and also America’s favorite band definitely The Smithereens… Yours Truly Jimmy Burns…????
The Smithereens!! All local boys and great music.