New Springsteen-Related Music Center Inducts 4 (Dion, Mavis, Mellencamp, Jackson Browne)

Plus Bruce and Stevie show up and they all play.

Greg Mitchell is the author of more than a dozen books (see link) and now writer/director of three award-winning films aired via PBS, including “Atomic Cover-up” and “Memorial Day Massacre” which are still up at PBS.org. Before all that, he was a longtime editor of the legendary Crawdaddy. You can still subscribe to this newsletter for free

Somehow didn’t know about this event until it was underway but: quite a night of music and awarding last night at Monmouth University, longtime home of the Springsteen archives and now the burgeoning Center for American Music. You may recall that a few months back I wrote about the big money donation for new building. It’s also where they host annual Springsteen events, including last year’s 50th anniversary tribute to Bruce’s second album—I was scheduled for a panel but had to pull out a few days before it took pla place.

The Center has started inducting folks into their own “hall of fame” and had their second ceremony last night, just a few days after the Rock Hall of Fame in Cleveland announced its latest inductees, as usual producing many groans and claims that it becomes less “rock” every year.

Last night at Monmouth, the Center inducted Mavis Staples, Jackson Browne, Dion and John Mellencamp and somehow Bruce and Stevie Van Zandt broke from their national tour to show up and perform, Stevie with his Disciples of Soul. Darlene Love added her voice. A few video highlights below, not all the best quality, but enjoy.

Bruce does Mellencamp’s “Small Town”

Dion, still in fine voice, with “The Wanderer”

Jackson Browne, “Running on Empty”

Bruce and Stevie with “Glory Days” and “Tenth Avenue Freezeout.”

Brian Williams introduces Bruce who inducts Mellencamp.

A few days back, Bonnie Raitt with Mavis at an 85th birthday tribute for her, Bonnie playing Ry Cooder’s guitar parts on “I’m On My Way”