We all know that musicians and artists play a crucial role in helping global society cope with itself. Once in awhile, some of those remarkable talents gather together for an even greater purpose.  This year’s Little Kids Rock gala to present the fourth annual “Big Man of the Year” award was an extraordinary way, not only to call attention to the education plight inAmerica’s schools, but to bring to light some other facets of the contributions to this endeavor by Steven Van Zandt, this year’s recipient.

Little Kids Rock is a charity that provides free instruments and professional development to students in American schools and was started in 2002 by David Wish, an elementary school teacher that counts music icons Bonnie Raitt, Slash, Paul Simon, B.B.King, and Ziggy Marley among their supporters. They joined forces with the House of Marley and the 1Love organization, Maureen Van Zandt, Max Weinberg and scores of music talents and legends to make this celebration of Steven Van Zandt’s talents truly memorable. 

In the process, they raised over $ 850,000.00 in this one evening, helped by auctioneer Duncan Scheib and DJ Rich Russo, who found willing buyers of a Lady Gaga keyboard and a Springsteen guitar, both signed by the artists. Before the musical tribute began,  Steve Van Zandt talked about his involvement with music education, saying that  “we have a drop out epidemic that is out of control ….as important as the music is, we’re hoping to fight this drop out epidemic”  and Bruce Springsteen told about the time in 1966, when he and Steve shared apartment in Asbury Park, that he knew he found “someone who drank the same Kool Aid that I had and in the same quantities…rock and roll, rock and roll, rock and roll”.    

With a cadre of performers looking to share the stage, the NYC Hit Squad was called upon to be the band for the entire set list of Steven Van Zandt penned songs. Core members Ricky Byrd, Christine Ohlman,Jeff Kazee, Muddy Shews and Eddie Manion were joined by the likes of Charles Giordano, Bobby Bandiera, Everett Bradley and Curtis King and did an incredible night’s work.   

Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello, Dion, Reubén Blades, Tom Morello, Southside Johnny, Darlene Love, Gary U.S. Bonds, Jake Clemmons, Bobby Bandiera , Jesse Malin,  The Midtown Men (from the cast of “Jersey Boys”, American Idol winners Michael Johns and  Kris Allen and  Power Station alumnus Michael Des Barres came to lend their talents to this star-studded evening.   

Musical highlights included Darlene Love’s wrenching “Among the Believers” ,  Gary U.S. Bonds soulful “Standing In The Line of Fire” ,Elvis Costello’s version of “This Time Baby’s Gone for Good” , Tom Morello’s searing interpretation of “Sun City”, Bruce Springsteen and Steve Van Zandt’s rousing duet on “Until The Good is Gone” .  Southside Johnny then joined Bruce Springsteen and Steve Van Zandt for a triumphant triumvirate on “It’s Been A Long Time”   and the entire entourage joined in for “I Don’t Want To Go Home”, the final notes on this musical night to remember.

-Howard B. Leibowitz