I'm writing on behalf of my three year old son, Dante Esposito, who is not only one of The Jukes' greatest fans now, but is undoubtedly on track to be their greatest fan ever.

It all started before he was even two years old and he started recognizing and asking for Southside's music to be played in the house and car. He went to his first Jukes show at two years old, and was singing "The Fever" before he knew much else in English. Also a big Yankee fan, he was requesting "Outside Giambi" when he really meant "Southside Johnny."

Dante would wake up in his crib, and before he'd ask to be taken out, would lay there and sing Juke's songs to himself. It's a typical morning to hear "Baby, Baby ... our love is tumblin' down" softly being sung and coming from his room in the early morning. He'll regularly tell you what his favorite song is (it changes weekly, ... this week it's "Happy," last week it was "Passion Street). But whatever the song, it's always a Southside Johnny number.

His second Jukes show was a Saturday evening show, and the people in the seats next to us thought it was cute that I had brought along a kid. One even asked if he was there because I couldn't get a babysitter. What they didn't realize was that he basically brought me along, and they were amazed that he stood on his seat all night and sang along to nearly every song. Even I forgot that I was there with a three year old, until somewhere late in the show during an encore when he turned to me and said "Hey Daddy-O, ... where's my milk?"

After seeing his third show this past summer at Bar A (picture attached), he came home wearing his autographed Jukes shirt, took my guitar stand, and began singing "Happy" into it as if it were a microphone (complete with Southsidesque gyrations). When the harmonica part is due, he whipped out my harp and started blowing. It was extremely cool to come home from the show and see the taped "Mike & The Mad Dog" show on the YES channel, and see him on my shoulders, singing the songs and making trombone motions on cue.

He's totally in tune with the entire band, knows all the members and looks for them in concert. In fact, when La Bamba was stuck in traffic and was late for the Yonkers show, I didn't realize he was missing until Dante looked up to me with palms up and said "Hey, ... where's LaBamba?"

Oh yes, ... and another thing, ... he now answers to the name Dante La Bamba.

This kid is scary.

He's obsessed.

I wrote Southside once to tell him of this phenomenon, and his reply to me was "Yikes! That poor child is ruined. Better play him some Bach or Kiss or ....something."

But no luck. This kid absolutely loves The Jukes and saw his fourth show in late September. That's 4 shows before the age of 4. I've been an avid Southside fan for 25 years years, been to more shows than I can count, ... BUT ... I have to admit: this kid's got me beat big time. I think he's a perfect candidate for fan of the month. And, at this rate, someday may compete for Fan of a Lifetime.

Seve Esposito