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June
2004
Fan of the Month: Janis Simon I discovered Southside around 1978 or so - same time I (& millions of others) was discovering the whole "Jersey shore" sound. I worked for a chiropractor, (Kerry Zelanka), from 1981-1985 & he was OBSESSED w/ Southside and got me totally hooked, too. One day we were in the office & Southside was on the radio & Kerry called him up, (I don't remember how he had a phone # for him), and he got his guitarist, Steve Van Zandt on the phone. Kerry sat there on the phone getting a 'guitar lesson' from Southside's guitarist & I was FLIPPING OUT that he actually had a connection & was just 'shooting the breeze' with him!! Next great memory was at the Calderone Theatre in Hempstead on Long Island, New York. Kerry took my fiancé & I to see Southside & Kerry was one of the 'regulars' who always got to the front of the stage and could talk and request songs. I remember Southside saying to Kerry, "Hey, Man, it's you again!" because he recognized certain fanatical fans that were at every concert!! Anyway, Kerry requested "Love on the Wrong Side of Town" for me & Howie, (my fiancé), & SOUTHSIDE played it!! I was so happy and freaked out! Southside said he was playing this song for a girl & her soon-to-be husband & he wished us best of luck!! I will cherish & treasure that memory 4ever! Then, of course, I saw Southside each time I could, New Year's Eve in NYC, Stephen Talkhouse, New Jersey gigs, etc. But one time I saw him at a benefit at the United Nations and he walked by me and I had to tell him how happy his music had made me for SO many years & I'll NEVER forget how sweet he was to me. I was wearing a unicorn necklace & he picked it up, (Oh! heaven!!) and said he thought it was the flying horse Pegasus. It was no big deal to him but I will remember it always......... I've listened to and taped TONS of conversations & unbelievable spontaneous jam sessions he's had on the radio with Vin Skelsa's "Idiot's Delight" broadcast on 92.3 K-rock, 102.7 WNEW-FM in New York City. He's played hours & hours of free rhythm & blues, jazzy rock & soul music to raise LOTS of money for all the good causes he's been asked to help. For his charitable work, I honor and respect him. And the fact that he's just a "regular Joe", living in the New Jersey suburbs, paying some local kids to shovel the snow & mow the lawn, makes him even more appealing & lovable.
Feel free to delete any of this testimony, if it's too long to
fit in the "Fan of the Month" spot. I just want my fellow fans
to know that Southside Johnny Lyons, (& ALL his amazing fellow
musicians), has enriched and brought so many hours of soulful,
listening pleasure, (& RELIEF from the pain of life's loves
lost, etc.) I want him to feel really good knowing that his
music will live on for so many of us for years, (not to mention
younger & new generations who will constantly be introduced to
it).
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