Authors to discuss Springsteen books at Asbury Park library

Authors Robert Santelli and Dave Marsh and photographer Eric Meola, whose new books on Bruce Springsteen are among the most highly anticipated music publications of the year, will participate in an authors' series this fall at the Asbury Park Public Library, sponsored by the Friends of the Bruce Springsteen Special Collection.

Santelli will discuss and sign "Greetings From E Street" on Oct. 1 at 2 p.m. Published by Chronicle Books, "Greetings From E Street" follows the E Street Band from the early days in Asbury Park clubs to stardom. In an illustrated interactive format, it contains more than 200 photos, documents, handwritten notes and souvenirs, including removable facsimiles of E Street memorabilia.

Meola and Marsh will share the program on Oct. 14 at 1 p.m. Meola will discuss and sign "Born to Run: The Unseen Photos," published by Insight Editions, which presents more than 100 black and white photographs taken by Meola during a two-hour session in 1975 that produced the iconic Born to Run album cover, capturing Springsteen and E Street Band saxophonist Clarence Clemons at a turning point in Springsteen's career.

Marsh will discuss and sign "Bruce Springsteen on Tour: 1968-2005," the first-ever tour-by-tour retrospective of Springsteen's career. Published by Bloomsbury Publishing, the book includes photos from Springsteen's personal collection plus tour artifacts and memorabilia. The book was packaged by Sandra Choron, who worked as Springsteen's art director for almost two decades and has been an unofficial archivist of his photographic images.

Joining Meola and Marsh at the library will be author and historian Daniel Wolff, who wrote the introduction to Meola's "Born to Run: The Unseen Photos."

Seating for both events is limited. Reservations are strongly advised and can be made by e-mailing springsteencoll@yahoo.com.

According to a press release, with more than 4,500 publications, the Bruce Springsteen Special Collection is the world's largest publicly accessible collection of books, magazines and other printed works covering Springsteen's life and career. The collection is housed at the Asbury Park Public Library.

Santelli has written extensively about Springsteen and the E Street Band since the early 1970s. He is currently the artistic director of the Experience Music Project in Seattle, Wash., and has served as education director at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.

Santelli is the author of nearly a dozen books on American popular music and a frequent contributor to numerous music magazines. He also worked with E Street Band drummer Max Weinberg on his book, "The Big Beat," and with Springsteen on his book, "Songs."

Meola is a self-taught photographer whose prints hang in museums including the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C., and the George Eastman House. He has photographed three Time covers, and his work has appeared in Esquire, Life, Travel and Leisure, and other magazines. All of Meola's royalties from the sales of "Born to Run: The Unseen Photos" are being donated to the Community Food Bank of New Jersey, which is the largest source of donated food in the state.

Marsh is one of rock's best-known critics. He was a founding editor of Cream and worked for Rolling Stone as associate editor from 1975-1990. He is the author of numerous books, including three previously on Springsteen: "Born to Run," "Glory Days" and "Bruce Springsteen: Two Hearts: The Definitive Biography, 1972-2003." His articles have been syndicated in more than 200 newspapers, and appear regularly in major publications from Playboy to TV Guide.

Wolff is the author of "Fourth of July, Asbury Park" and the award-winning "You Send Me: The Life and Times of Sam Cooke." His collaborations with photographer Ernest C. Withers include "The Memphis Blues Again" (2001) and "Negro League Baseball" (2005). He was nominated for a 2003 Grammy award, and his journalism has appeared in Vogue, The Nation and Doubletake, among others.

The Asbury Park Public Library is at 500 First Ave., Asbury Park. Copies of books will be available for purchase at the library on the day of the authors' appearance.