Excerpts from Springsteen's speeches |
Speech by Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music executive director Robert Santelli
"At a time when the nation's culture is under attack, and institutions that celebrate and preserve that culture are threatened with censorship, firings, forced resignations and financial starvation, the Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music, though in its infancy — at the moment, small in stature — will not waver in its commitment to promote artistic freedom."
Bruce Springsteen inducts Joe Ely
"If I hear my name again, I'm going to fucking throw up. Let's talk about fucking someone else."
"If the world was a fairer place, Joe Ely would have been huge! I mean huge.
"He had, and has got it all. He's a great songwriter. He looks dead cool. He's a fabulous stage performer, always with a great band. He's got that voice, the one I wished I had. It's got that slight southern country twang, it's got a hint of rockabilly. It's got the depth and emotion of Johnny Cash and it's as deeply authentic as his Texas roots. Now, from his early classic band The Flatlanders, with Jimmie Dale Gilmore (and) Butch Hancock, he made a music unique to Texas that touched folks all around the world. He had records like Musta Notta Gotta Lotta, Love and Danger, Letter to Laredo, Love and Freedom and a dozen top-shelf others that a lot more people should have heard and gotten to love. Joe left his mark, though, on the Texas and the world music scene. He opened for The Clash in 1978. That's incredible! As they sang on Sandinista!, 'There ain't no better blend than Joe Ely and his Texas men.' Now Joe Strummer, he knew greatness when he heard it.
"Joe is a member of the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame. He spent 2016 as the reigning Texas State Musician. He's a writer, a poet, he's an accomplished visual artist. He's been my friend for 30-plus years and I take great pride to be able to call him so. He's a sweet, sweet man. We've had some wonderful times together, including one post-show Irish night in the pubs and clubs of Dublin that I won't soon forget. Nor will I say anything more about it! But I've been blessed to sing on his records and be onstage with Joe on occasion and the only thing I can say is: Thank God he wasn't born in New Jersey! I would have had a lot more of my work cut out for me.
"But anyway, be blessed and well, Joe. Joe couldn't be here tonight. He's struggling with his health, but we love him and we need him and all I can say is, welcome to the American Music Honors, buddy."
| Compiled by : Jay Lustig via NJArts. |