JOHN CAVANAUGH
From left, Bruce Springsteen, Mavis Staples, Darlene Love, Dion, John Mellencamp and Jackson Browne perform at The Pollak Theatre at Monmouth University in West Long Branch, April 24.
This year’s remarkable American Music Honors show at The Pollak Theatre at Monmouth University — featuring Bruce Springsteen, John Mellencamp, Mavis Staples and others — was filmed by the organization that presented it, the university’s Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music. And the Archives has announced a screening of it, Nov. 1 at the Pollak Theatre.
Tickets are available HERE.
Mellencamp, Staples, Jackson Browne and Dion were honored, with Springsteen, Darlene Love, Springsteen’s manager Jon Landau (who produced Browne’s The Pretender album) and Stevie Van Zandt, respectively, giving speeches about them. Brian Williams hosted, and Van Zandt’s Disciples of Soul served as the house band.
In addition to the speeches by the honorees and those honoring them, the following songs were performed:
“Abraham, Martin and John,” Disciples of Soul (sung by Jessie Wagner, Tania Jones and Sara Devine)
“Doctor My Eyes,” Disciples of Soul (sung by Marc Ribler)
“Respect Yourself,” Disciples of Soul (sung by Wagner, Jones and Devine)
“Pink Houses,” Disciples of Soul (sung by Ribler)
“If You’re Ready (Come Go With Me),” Staples
“King of the New York Streets,” Dion
“Running on Empty,” Browne
“Jack & Diane,” Mellencamp (solo)
“Small Town,” Springsteen and Mellencamp
“The Wanderer,” Dion
“Take It Easy,” Browne
“River Deep — Mountain High,” Love
“Glory Days,” Springsteen and Van Zandt
“Tenth Avenue Freeze-out,” Springsteen and Van Zandt
“Will the Circle Be Unbroken,” Ensemble
Click HERE for a more in-depth look at the April 24 event.
This was the second American Music Honors show. The first one took place in April 2023, honoring Van Zandt, Love, Sam Moore and Steve Earle. Springsteen was unable to attend due to COVID, but inducted Van Zandt and Love via taped messages.
CONTRIBUTE TO NJARTS.NET
Since launching in September 2014, NJArts.net, a 501(c)(3) organization, has become one of the most important media outlets for the Garden State arts scene. And it has always offered its content without a subscription fee, or a paywall. Its continued existence depends on support from members of that scene, and the state’s arts lovers. Please consider making a contribution of any amount to NJArts.net via PayPal, or by sending a check made out to NJArts.net to 11 Skytop Terrace, Montclair, NJ 07043.
