Tenth Anniversary NJ Hall Of Fame At The Paramount
Van Zandt: We did the impossible, we made New Jersey hip
In his poetic introduction of lifelong friend during Sunday night’s NJ Hall of Fame Induction ceremony, Bruce Springsteen referred to the Middletown reared Stevie Van Zandt as a representative of the Jersey ethos.
“He is his own purest creation; words you will never hear on the street – wow, that guy looks just like Little Steven,” Springsteen said. “Roaring into New Jersey at 7-years-old, baptized at 13 in the Holy Spirit of the Beatles on Ed Sullivan, the Stones…, Steve’s rock n roll chose him early.”
Springsteen called Van Zandt his irreplaceable lieutenant in the E-Street band and one of the greatest living soul performers and writers we have before making reference to his acting, radio, entrepreneurial, activism, and philanthropic endeavors.
“So destiny is a funny thing,” Van Zandt, Boston native, said in his acceptance of the accolade. “When and where you were born and the circumstances you were born into really count…My life has really been about chasing greatness..but I really would not have known what greatness was if I hadn’t grown up in the middle of a renaissance period when the greatest art being made was also the most commercial. That set your standards very high, forever…Nobody is born great, greatness is developed.
He described growing up in the suburbs of New Jersey as a great time when the country allowed the teenage leisure class to exist.
“Destiny and a little bit of luck go along way,” Van Zandt said. “We did the impossible, we made New Jersey hip…Thank you New Jersey, you have been very, very, good to me, and I hope someday to return the favor.”
Springsteen joined Van Zandt and his Disciples of Soul for their closing performance of ‘I Don’t Want to Go Home.”
The sold out 10th Annual Hall Hall of Fame Induction ceremony at the historic Paramount Theatre also included accolades in varying categories to author Harlan Coben of Ridgewood, author and journalist Anna Quindlen of South Brunswick, real estate developer Jon F. Hanson of Far Hills, publisher Steve Forbes of Morristown, businessman Joe Buckelew of Manasquan, actress Meryl Streep of Summit, singer Gloria Gaynor of Newark, the Four Seasons – Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito, Nick Massi and Joe Long of Newark, reality TV star Buddy ‘The Cake Boss’ Valastro of Hoboken, singer and Blondie frontwoman Debbie Harry of Hawthorne, astronauts Mark and Scott Kelly of West Orange, medicine’s Clara Maass of East Orange, fashion editor turned politician Millicent Fenwick of Bernardsville, baseball’s Al Leiter of Berkeley Township, and track and field’s Mary Decker of Bunnvale.
Asbury Park Mayor John Moor said he was proud the city continues to host an event that marks the best of what New Jersey has to offer.
“There are so many talented people; what an all star cast” he said. “I brought my 1967 program from when the Four Seasons performed in Convention Hall for them to sign. And, we also have three New Jersey governors in attendance.”
Along with other notables and stars, many of the event’s past inductees were not only in attendance but also delivered awards to the new inductees.
“I’m just a baker and I’m standing up here in the Hall of Fame of New Jersey,” Valastro said. “If you believe in yourself and work hard, you can accomplish almost anything.”
Harry, Quindlen, and Gaynor were among the night’s most powerful acceptance speeches, with Gaynor dedicating her iconic “I Will Survive’ performance to family members who traveled from Texas to lend their support. And then there was the rare comedic moment between Buzz Aldrin and Goldberg as they introduced Kelly astronauts that included Aldrin moonwalking for the crowd.
The event’s honorary chairs were Gov. Phil and Tammy Murphy, who hosted a VIP reception prior to the ceremony. Gov. Murphy also delivered the Unsung Hero accolade to Middlesex County Surrogate kevin Hoagland.
“His life story is as compelling as I’ve ever known,” Murphy said.
“Wow, what a night,” comedian, actress, and talk show host Whoopi Goldberg said. “What an amazing class. The motto of the Hall is everyone needs a hero. And, I think maybe you agree that all those inducted tonight, as well as all who have come before are the kinds of people you want your children to aspire to be.”
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