Southside Johnny Hangs Up His Rock & Soul Shoes

No Hits But a Home Run Career

Last week Southside Johnny Lyon, namesake and leader of the Asbury Jukes, announced he was hanging up his rock & soul shoes, retiring from the road for health reasons. Last summer (2024) he had to stop a performance on his native Jersey Shore, and was taken to a local hospital and treated for dehydration. The 76-year-old singer, songwriter and harmonica player had not been feeling that well since, and finally decided it was time to get off the road while he still could. His hometown followers for more than 50 years were especially saddened that he had to cancel a New Year's Eve show at the Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank, NJ, the classy heart of Southside's turf.

Southside Johnny and the Jukes were part of a small group of talented friends, including Bruce Springsteen, Steve Van Zandt, and members of the E Street Band. The clubs featured top 40 bar bands on weekends, but Lyon and company decided they would rather perform their own songs at whatever otherwise empty club woul…