Profile of Southside Johnny on Famous Like Me

Southside Johnny (real name John Lyon, born December 4, 1948 in Neptune, New Jersey) is an American singer, harmonica player, and songwriter, who usually fronts his band The Asbury Jukes.

Lyon grew up in Ocean Grove, New Jersey and graduated from Neptune High School. As an artist Southside Johnny first achieved prominence in the mid-1970s as the second act to emerge from the Jersey Shore music scene, following Bruce Springsteen. Southside's first three albums, I Don't Want to Go Home (1976), This Time It's For Real (1977), and Hearts of Stone (1978), were Stax-influenced R&B arranged and produced by Springsteen confederate Steven Van Zandt and largely featured songs written by Van Zandt and/or Springsteen. The Van Zandt-written "I Don't Want To Go Home" became Southside's signature song, an evocative mixture of horn-based melodic riffs and sentimental lyrics. Other notable songs included "Talk to Me", "This Time It's For Real", "Love on the Wrong Side of Town", and the definitive version of Springsteen's " Hearts of Stone".

Cast under Springsteen's long shadow, national commercial success eluded Southside and the Jukes, and in 1979 they were dropped by their record company. Now working without Van Zandt, they released The Jukes in 1979 and Love is a Sacrifice in 1980. Neither of these achieved much success either.

More record label switches, Jukes personnel changes, tours and club dates, and occasional albums followed. A few members of the Asbury Jukes would end up being part of the Max Weinberg 7 on the Late Night with Conan O'Brien television show.

Southside eventually relocated to Nashville. His recording career was re-launched with the album Better Days (1991), which featured production by Van Zandt, songs by Springsteen, and vocal performances from Van Zandt, Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi. With guitarist and Jersey shore fixture Bobby Bandiera driving the band, the Jukes were gaining new energy.

Southside continues to perform, and maintains substantial audience followings in some regions of the U.S., such as northeast Ohio, and abroad, as 2003's Live At The Opera House DVD, filmed at a sell-out performance in Newcastle upon Tyne demonstrates. As of 2005 he resides on the Delaware Bay. His annual appearances at Springsteen's Asbury Park holiday shows draw as much crowd excitement as Springsteen himself.

External references

• Official website

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