Bruce Springsteen (1949– ), born on this day in Freehold, New Jersey, has spent a lifetime writing songs that honor work, love, and hope. From Greetings from Asbury Park to the raw poetry of Tunnel of Love, his music speaks for the streets and the soul — tender, flawed, and true.

“Rumble young musicians, rumble! Open your ears and open your hearts. Don’t take yourself too seriously, and take yourself as seriously as death itself,” Bruce once said. That fearless idealism still fuels his performances, every chord a reminder that joy is a choice worth fighting for.

He has changed the direction of popular music and inspired generations, not just with anthems but with kindness. Writer Eric Alterman once shared the story of a terminally ill boy who wished for an autographed copy of Born to Run. Bruce didn’t just sign the album, he delivered it himself, spent the afternoon with the boy, and asked for no publicity. That’s the Boss: onstage and off, heart first.

Onstage, he holds nothing back. He makes you dance, laugh, cry, and believe. “You’re a witness... a witness to your time,” he explained once. And that’s exactly what he is — a second chance, a beacon of hope, a passionate revelation. Ain’t no sin to be glad you’re alive. Bruce proves it every night, guitar in hand, smile wide, heart wide open.