How many music legends can fit on a stage at the Jersey Shore?
Attendees of the Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music’s American Music Honors program Saturday, April 26 at the Pollak Theatre on the campus of Monmouth University in West Long Branch found out.
The answer is a lot.
Smokey Robinson, John Fogerty, Emmylou Harris, Tom Morello and Joe Ely, in absentia, were bestowed honors by Springsteen, Patti Scialfa, Little Steven Van Zandt and Nils Lofgren. Jackson Browne and Darlene Love were there too, and all came on stage during the night to sing, backed by Marc Ribler and the Disciples of Soul.
The night was equal parts grand ceremony, rock concert, and progressive hootenanny, thanks to Morello, guitarist for Rage Against the Machine, who proclaimed the importance of music in times of political strife.
“It’s an honor to be here at the last big awards event before they throw us all in jail,” Morello said. “It’s important to note there’s never been a successful social movement in this country that has not had a great soundtrack. Joe Hill’s union anthems put wind in the sails of those fighting for an eight hour day. ‘We Shall Overcome’ steeled the resolve of the Freedom Riders in the Civil Rights movement. Jimi Hendrix’ Star-Spangled Banner channeled the moral cacophony of the Vietnam War through a Marshall stack, and one or two Rage Against the Machine’s songs were heard pumping in the streets at anti-Trump demonstrations last week.”
Springsteen, taking the stage with Morello to perform “The Ghost of Tom Joad,” stated “I second that emotion” in reference to Morello’s speech.
Later, Morello led an all-star rendition of Woody Guthrie’s “This Land is Your Land” that included Guthrie’s daughter, Nora Guthrie, on stage to close the evening.
“Since this is the Center for American Music, standing at the center of American music is a fella by the name of Woody Guthrie,” said Morello, who sang the “censored” lyrics of the classic that referred to hungry Americans during the Great Depression. “He always stood up for the poor, the downtrodden, for those on the lowest rungs of the ladder. He expressed it on his guitar, which said ‘This machine kills fascists.’“
Earlier, Motown legend Robinson was presented by Van Zandt.
“I have singer heroes, songwriter heroes, song-arranger heroes, and music producer heroes, and when you get all of them in the same guy, you get Smokey Robinson,” Van Zandt said.
“I’m glad I didn’t have to follow you Tom (Morello) because if you run for anything, I’m going to vote for you,” Robinson quipped.
Robinson and Van Zandt sang “Tears of a Clown” and later they were joined by Springsteen for “Going to a Go-Go.”
Springsteen bestowed Fogerty.
“John’s been able to condense everything — good and painful, joyful and serious — about this country we live in two minutes and 30 seconds,” Springsteen said. “That’s hard to (blanking) do.”
Fogerty, 79 and in very fine voice, performed “Bad Moon Rising” with Springsteen, and later came out to play “Proud Mary” and “Fortunate Son,” also with Springsteen, and he sang a verse of “This Land is Your Land.”
Scialfa did the honors for Harris.
“Music really did give me my heart and my life,” Harris said. “So much of music I’ve loved doing has been singing with other people. I think I really found my voice when I started singing harmony with Gram Parsons and the road has just gone on and on.”
Harris and Scialfa dueted on “Red Dirt Girl.”
Ely was unable to attend due to a health issue, Springsteen said.
“If the world was a fairer place, Joe Ely would have been huge! I mean huge!” Springsteen said. “He had, and has, got it all. He’s a great songwriter, he looks dead cool, he’s a fabulous stage performer always with a great band, and he’s got that voice. The voice I wish I had.”
Springsteen, backed by the Disciples of Soul, sang Ely’s “All Just to Get to You.” The extended end of show jam included Browne on “Take It Easy” and Springsteen singing “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out.”
Several New Jersey politicians were in the audience, including former U.S. Senator and New York Knicks player Bill Bradley, Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., and former Governor Chris Christie.
“The show was great as I expected it would be and it was wonderful to see John Fogerty,” said Christie to the Asbury Park Press. “His voice sounds great and he looks great. He’s amazing and we really enjoyed it.”
Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way, acting governor as Gov. Phil Murphy is in Poland for a Holocaust remembrance, addressed the audience, and newsman Brian Williams was the host.
“We are gathering at a time when it feels like our world is falling apart,” Williams said. “Hell, there’s no more ‘White Lotus,’ we don’t currently have a pope but what we have is what we always have is music to help us get through.”
Van Zandt, Love, Sam Moore and Steve Earle were bestowed honors in 2023; and Browne, John Mellencamp, Mavis Staples and Dion DiMucci were honored in 2024.
The Springsteen Archives serves as the official repository for the music of Springsteen, plus photographs, periodicals, oral histories, rare recordings, films, and artifacts related to Springsteen and the E Street Band.
The center produces museum exhibitions, symposia and seminars, teacher workshops, concerts, internships, and various other public programs to promote and celebrate American music and its impact on the country’s culture and national identity.
A permanent location for the archives and center on the campus is under construction, and is expected to open in the spring of 2026.