Photos From Little Stevie Van Zandt Street Renaming In Middletown

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Stevie Van Zandt, original member of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, and his brother, playwright Billy Van Zandt, were given a ceremonial street renaming Friday in their hometown of Middletown.

The New Jersey Hall of Fame ceremonially dedicated part of Wilson Avenue Van Zandt Way.

The Van Zandt brothers grew up in a house at 263 Wilson Avenue. Van Zandt reached international fame playing with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, and he is also a SAG-award winning actor for his memorable role of Silvio on "The Sopranos."

Former NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams, who also grew up in Middletown, was also at Friday's ceremony. Williams went to high school at the Catholic Mater Dei Prep High School (now closed and may become a charter school), where he was editor of the Mater Dei high school newspaper (Williams was raised in a Catholic household). While in high school, Williams was a volunteer firefighter with the Middletown Fire Department. His first job was reportedly as a busboy at the local Perkins in Hazlet.

Those present at the Friday morning ceremony included Williams, Middletown Mayor Tony Perry, Chairman of the Board of the New Jersey Hall of Fame Jon F. Hanson and New Jersey Hall of Fame President Steve Edwards.

The naming ceremony was held at 11 a.m. April 26 on Wilson Avenue at the corner of Cherry Tree Farm Road. Both Van Zandt brothers graduated from Middletown High School. As a teenager, Little Stevie performed at the now-closed Hullabaloo club and that's where he first met Springsteen in 1965, NJ.com reported.

After graduating from Mater Dei, Williams attended Brookdale Community College, and then transferred to Catholic University and then George Washington University, both in D.C., but he never completed his college degree.

A street will not be named after Williams.

“The dedication of Van Zandt Way points to the enduring legacy of Stevie and Billy Van Zandt, symbolizing their perseverance, creativity and passion. Their accomplishments will continue to resonate for generations to come, inspiring future New Jerseyans to realize their dreams,” said Edwards. "We’re grateful to Middletown Township for commemorating these two Jersey legends.”

“Middletown is proud of how our community members have contributed to the betterment of our society as a whole,” said Mayor Tony Perry. “We are always looking to honor residents who have made an impact, whether it be our fallen veterans who served from the Revolutionary War to the War on Terror, dedicated public servants, or those who have had a significant influence on arts and culture.”

"We have both been awarded for our work, but being honored by our hometown is obviously very special,” said Stevie and Billy Van Zandt. “We want to thank Mayor Perry and everybody in the Middletown administration, as well as the New Jersey Hall of Fame, for this recognition."

Van Zandt has earned multiple Screen Actors Guild Awards and an Emmy nomination. He is an inductee of both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the New Jersey Hall of Fame.

Billy Van Zandt is a celebrated playwright, actor, director, and producer. He is the writer of the best-selling TV memoir "Get in the Car, Jane (Adventures in the TV Wasteland)" and was nominated for an Emmy Award for his television special "I Love Lucy: The Very First Show."