Southside Johnny’s story is one of resilience, perseverance and making music for the love of music. It leaves you with a strong feeling of respect. Even though his friends Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi achieved more fame, Southside Johnny’s unmatched dedication will be remembered forever. The singer-songwriter and the front man of Southside Johnny and The Asbury Jukes is known for influencing what critics call the “New Jersey sound,” but if you ask him about it as I did, he would tell you that this sound does not exist. He believes every musician has his or her unique sound.

Emerging from the New Jersey Shore music scene of the mid-1970’s, co-founded by Steven Van Zandt (later of the E Street Band and The Sopranos), the Jukes’ classic R&B sound, driven by soulful guitar and blistering horns, propelled hits like “I Don’t Want to Go Home,” “Having a Party,” “The Fever,” and “Talk to Me” up the charts. Rolling Stone Magazine voted Hearts of Stone one of the Top 100 albums of the 1970s and 1980s.

Presented in partnership with Florida Theatre.