Over the hectic holiday season, a piece of news unexpectedly dropped that saddens me deeply. Johnny Lyons aka Southside Johnny has announced that effective immediately he has retired from touring with the iconic Asbury Jukes. The 76-year-old crooner turned to Facebook to announce the news – citing unspecified health concerns.

Southside and The Jukes popped into the Cleveland area at least twice a year most recently playing at the MGM Northfield Park. It has been one of the great pleasures of my life to listen to the music of this incredibly gifted musician. Lyons formed the Asbury Jukes along with Little Steven Van Zandt some 50 years ago and has been touring and recording ever since. His 1991 album BETTER DAYS is still one of the best albums ever released.

Over the years I’ve probably seen the band some 40 or 50 times. They were constantly playing locally be it at Blossom, The Agora, or any of the myriad of clubs and venues in the area. Hell – I even saw them once playing in a park in Cuyahoga Falls. No matter where they played, it was always a party.

A few years back I got the chance to sit down with the man – one of those “this can’t be happening” moments and chat with him about a new release the band had coming out, an upcoming show in Cleveland, and just generally BS a little – it remains a high point in my life.

The band’s complicated, horn-laden, guitar-driven power served as the perfect backdrop to Lyon’s silky smooth vocals. Once dubbed “the world’s best bar band” it was impossible to not sing along and smile to such hits as TALK TO ME, LOVE ON THE WRONG SIDE OF TOWN, and of course HAVING A PARTY.

Southside – thank you so much for all the music, all the smiles, and all the memories. If ever there was a performer worthy of Rock Hall recognition it is you – one of the best to ever do it. “I know we had to try…to reach up and touch the sky”.