Bruce Springsteen Day Announced by Governor Phil Murphy

Bruce Springsteen’s birthday will forever be immortalized in New Jersey as “Bruce Springsteen Day,” Governor Phil Murphy announced at the inaugural American Music Honors awards show — a fundraiser for the Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music at Monmouth University.

Springsteen’s birthday is Sept. 23.

“I can’t believe it’s taken this long,” Murphy said.

“It’s not a rest area, but it’s nice,” quipped host Jon Stewart, an obvious reference to the Jon Bon Jovi rest stop and others in New Jersey. “It’s not like taking a whiz to ‘Livin’ on a Prayer,’ but it’ll do.”

Bruce Springsteen is one of the most iconic and influential musicians – and New Jerseyans – of all time, period.

And so, I am both honored and proud to announce @springsteen's birthday, Sept. 23, will officially be known as Bruce Springsteen Day in the Garden State. pic.twitter.com/Ux5B54jdlB

— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) April 16, 2023

Springsteen and his wife, Patti Scialfa, did not attend the ceremony honoring E Street Band member Steve Van Zandt, Darlene Love, Steve Earle and Sam Moore of the duo Sam and Dave due to being diagnosed with Covid-19, according to Variety.

Bob Santelli, the Archives’ executive director, broke the news that the Springsteens were both diagnosed with COVID-19 just hours after Springsteen took a final bow Friday night at the Prudential Center, wrapping the first part of his 2023 tour with the E Street Band.

“It broke our hearts around 6 a.m. this morning when I got a call that two of the most important people who were supposed to be here, Bruce Springsteen and Patti Scialfa, unfortunately came down with COVID.”

Springsteen did appear via video to present the award to both Love and Van Zandt. Other presenters included E Street Band bassist Garry Tallent, who inducted Earle, and Southside Johnny Lyon inducting Moore.

The night’s house band, the Disciples of Soul-lead by Marc Ribler- performed a medley of songs by each artist represented, including Love’s “A Fine, Fine Boy,” the Sam & Dave hit “Soul Sister, Brown Sugar,” Earle’s “Hard-Core Troubadour” and Van Zandt’s “I Am a Patriot.”

The honorees–joined by Lyon00also performed, with Earle singing “Copperhead Road,” Love performing “River Deep Mountain High,” Moore performing “I Thank You,” and Van Zandt performing “Bitter Fruit.” The night ended with a jam that included “It’s Been a Long Time,” “Hungry Heart,” “Soul Man,” “Tenth Avenue Freeze Out” and “I Don’t Want to Go Home.”