Sit Down with Eileen Chapman

Pull up a chair for a fascinating conversation with Eileen Chapman – Director of The Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music at Monmouth University (springsteenarchives.org). This episode will leave you ready to jump in the car and head for the Jersey shore. Eileen has a rich history in arts management, volunteerism and getting the job done. Eileen tells us how she got the Bruce Springsteen collection (now 15,000 pieces and includes Bruce’s personal papers) to Monmouth University. She shares Bruce’s philosophy that he is but one chapter in the story of American music and many more artists should be recognized through the Center for American Music (opening in Spring 2026). Eileen fills us in on an incredible exhibit that will be in Bruce’s portion of the Center – and you heard about it here!

Finally, we are given a detailed account of the 2024 American Music Honors from one of its organizers! On April 24^th, the sold-out (in less than three minutes) ceremony honored John Mellencamp, Jackson Browne, Mavis Staples and Dion DiMucci for their careers, activism and promoting opportunities for change. Each honoree performed a song during their portion of the ceremony before everyone took the stage for a once-in-a-lifetime finale.

Please consider making a small donation to The Bruce Springsteen Archives and the Center for American Music’s building fund or day-to-day archive expenses. You will see the GIVE tab at the top of the website.

Hear more conversations at Compassionate Measures dot org and invite another music friend to pull up a chair. Join our community on Facebook or Instagram. Thanks always to YOU for listening, to Eileen Chapman for preserving and providing these musical treasures, and to Chris Downey for putting it all together.