Steven Van Zandt

Steven Van Zandt is an American musician, songwriter, producer, actor, and radio host best known as a member of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band and for playing Silvio Dante on *The Sopranos*.

Steven Van Zandt is an American musician and actor best known for the E Street Band and *The Sopranos*. He has also built a career in radio, education, and activism.

What it is

Steven Van Zandt (born Steven Lento, November 22, 1950) is a guitarist, songwriter, producer, actor, and radio host. He rose to fame as a key member of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band and later gained widespread recognition for playing Silvio Dante on HBO’s *The Sopranos*. He also goes by the nicknames Little Steven and Miami Steve.

Key details

Van Zandt co-founded Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes before joining the E Street Band in the 1970s. His acting career expanded with the Netflix series *Lilyhammer*. Since 2002, he has hosted the syndicated radio show *Little Steven's Underground Garage*, and he founded Wicked Cool Records in the mid-2000s.

Why it matters

Beyond music and television, Van Zandt has been a prominent activist. He helped organize the 1985 anti-apartheid project Artists United Against Apartheid. In 2007, he launched the Rock and Soul Forever Foundation and the TeachRock program, which provides K–12 music education resources. His work has reached Canadian audiences through radio and television.