Southside? Smithereens? Uncle Floyd? NJ Hall of Fame is asking for recommendations

by JAY LUSTIG

KIRSTINE WALTON

Isn’t it about time Southside Johnny was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame?

The New Jersey Hall of Fame is asking for recommendations for its class of 2018, so now is your chance to lobby for those you think have been overlooked.

In the arts categories, some potential nominees who come to mind include Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, The Smithereens, “Uncle Floyd” Vivino, George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic, Lauryn Hill, Allen Ginsberg, Amiri Baraka, Charles Addams, Stephen Colbert, James Moody, John Pizzarelli, Gloria Gaynor, Patti Smith, John Scher, Debbie Harry, Lesley Gore, The Isley Brothers, Kevin Smith and The Rascals.

I’m sure there are other worthy candidates, as well. Feel free to bring up other people in the Comments Section, below.

To recommend someone, click here. You must be a current or former resident of the state, or have worked here for at least five years to make a recommendation.

These are the arts and entertainment figures who have already been inducted:

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, Count Basie, Tony Bennett, Alice Guy Blaché, Judy Blume, Jon Bon Jovi, Carol Higgins Clark, Mary Higgins Clark, James Fenimore Cooper, Celia Cruz, Danny DeVito, Michael Douglas, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Connie Francis, James Gandolfini, Dizzy Gillespie, Whitney Houston, Tommy James, Wyclef Jean, J. Seward Johnson II, Kool & the Gang, Queen Latifah, Jerry Lewis, Ray Liotta, Toni Morrison, Jack Nicholson, Joyce Carol Oates, Dorothy Parker, Les Paul, Joe Piscopo, Bucky Pizzarelli, Anna Quindlen, Christopher Reeve, Kelly Ripa, Paul Robeson, Philip Roth, Susan Sarandon, The Shirelles, Frank Sinatra, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band (inducted separately), Jon Stewart, Meryl Streep, John Travolta, Frankie Valli, Sarah Vaughan, Dionne Warwick, Walt Whitman, William Carlos Williams, Bruce Willis.

The next induction ceremony will be held May 6 at the Paramount Theatre in Asbury Park.

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37 comments

John Cerra August 22, 2017 - 10:27 am

Abraham Clark, Roselle

Signer of the Declaration of Independence.

He should have been a first ballot inductee.

Show me any on this list that had a bigger impact in terms of lives affected.

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Kathleen McLaughin August 22, 2017 - 10:53 am

I would like to see Southside Johnny all the Jukes in the Hall of Fame as well as Leslie Gore. Thank you.

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Jim Testa August 22, 2017 - 11:06 am

Steve Fallon. Maxwells arguably completely changed the city of Hoboken

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Steve Rakoczy August 22, 2017 - 11:11 am

How about America’s Band THE SMITHEREENS!!!

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John Hornak August 22, 2017 - 12:08 pm

They Have My Vote!

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Dominick Bargione August 22, 2017 - 11:18 am

Americas Band…..The Smithereens !!!

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Debbie Altarac August 22, 2017 - 11:25 am

Are you honestly telling me the Smithereens and Southside Johnny are not in the NJ Hall of Fame? It’s time to rectify this and induct both of them.

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njartsdaily@gmail.com August 22, 2017 - 11:27 am

Well, you can take a first step by filling in the recommendation form. No guarantees, but if they get a lot of recommendations, it may help.

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Debbie Altarac August 22, 2017 - 11:37 am

My system is not allowing me to access the recommendation form. Is there another way to obtain it?

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njartsdaily@gmail.com August 22, 2017 - 11:42 am

Go to https://njhalloffame.org/. Click on “Recommend a Nominee.”

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Stephen Speelman August 22, 2017 - 11:32 am

The SMI are long over due!!!! Please induct in 2018! Well deserved and Represent New Jersey proudly!!!!!

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Nancy August 22, 2017 - 11:37 am

Southside and the Jukes are Jersey royalty. How is this even a question?!? Get them in there! Been following them and singing along and dancing since the 70s. The Force is strong with these guys.

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Daryl Morazzini August 22, 2017 - 12:04 pm

The Smithereens, absolutely! How are they not there already?

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Kenny Williams August 22, 2017 - 12:35 pm

How in the heck are THE SMITHEREENS not already in? AMERICA’S BAND!

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Kevin Leab August 22, 2017 - 12:54 pm

Please induct The Smithereens!!! Its a No-Brainer!!!

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sean August 22, 2017 - 1:00 pm

Southside Johnny is the greatest

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Patricia Tuttle August 22, 2017 - 2:08 pm

all 3 ….??? … hell yes … as a longtime fan i vote yes ,yes,yes….tony everlin …

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John Reynolds August 22, 2017 - 2:38 pm

The Misfits, obviously!!!!

Also Donald Fagen, Glen Burtnick, Queen Latifah, Naughty by Nature, Skid Row, Trixter and My Chemical Romance!

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njartsdaily@gmail.com August 22, 2017 - 2:52 pm

Latifah is in already.

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LORI August 25, 2017 - 4:00 pm

Queen Latifah was already inducted.

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NR August 22, 2017 - 2:51 pm

Unconscionable for the Smithereens to be excluded. SS Johnny & Deb Harry belong too.

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Al Abatemarco August 22, 2017 - 3:21 pm

Southside Johnny and the smithereens should both be in !!!!

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John Reynolds August 22, 2017 - 3:52 pm

And Feelies and Yo La Tengo!

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douglas wilson August 22, 2017 - 4:12 pm

Call me crazy..but i didn’t see anybody on that list of potential inductees that doesn’t belong. I guess Maxwell’s is influential..The Pony as well, and how many other rock clubs that don’t exist anymore. so is there an option to include entities as opposed to people? but my personal favorite, still highlighting great live music, is Concerts in the Studio in Freehold Boro. because the smithereens have played there…:)

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njartsdaily@gmail.com August 22, 2017 - 4:17 pm

No, there’s no category for landmarks institutions or anything like that.

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Joe Riccardello August 22, 2017 - 4:57 pm

Southside Johnny, it’s a crime he is not already in…
Debbie Harry
The Isley Brothers
The Rascals
The Smithereens
George Clinton
I definitely agree about Steve Fallon and Maxwells

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Doreen Arminio August 23, 2017 - 6:18 am

If you want stars and semi stars ok. If you want the guys in the trenches who do this day in and day out for the last 35-40 years. Then take a look at Eddie Testa, Jobonanno, Joey Arminio, Jimmy Garcia,

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Linda McGee August 23, 2017 - 9:28 am

Would have thought that Southside Johnny and the Smithereens were already inducted. They should be. Many other iconic candidates deserve the nod.

Another great choice would be Scott Bradlee. His Postmodern Jukebox started in a basement apartment with him and a couple of friends posting videos to YouTube. This labor of love is now a global musical extravaganza, delighting thousands of fans at every show — without ever being signed to a record label!

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Neil Scheck August 23, 2017 - 11:18 am

Allen Ginsberg, born in Newark, raised in Paterson, had a greater impact on worldwide culture than almost any of the existing Hall members. He is the most important New Jerseyan not yet inducted.

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Bill Gianopoulos August 23, 2017 - 5:24 pm

great you are exclusionary

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njartsdaily@gmail.com August 23, 2017 - 5:28 pm

I’m not sure what you mean by that.

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Gerard August 24, 2017 - 10:49 pm

connie francis, joe Pesci, smithereens, SS johnny,Uncle Floyd, debra Harry and what about phil rizzuto?

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Gerard August 24, 2017 - 10:50 pm

oh i see connie is in already…

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njartsdaily@gmail.com August 25, 2017 - 7:41 am

Yes Rizzuto is in

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Judy August 25, 2017 - 8:07 pm

Lesley Gore would be a good candidate

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Jimmy Burns September 10, 2017 - 11:38 am

The hardest rock and roll bands in the rock and roll business and also America’s favorite band definitely The Smithereens… Yours Truly Jimmy Burns…????

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Leah Cinman November 17, 2017 - 5:52 am

The Smithereens!! All local boys and great music.

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