Steven Van Zandt (1950–), also known as Little Steven and Miami Steve, has truly lived a rock-and-roll dream. As a beloved member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band and the unforgettable Silvio Dante on HBO’s The Sopranos, he’s had not just one—but two—of the coolest jobs in America.

"Being an autobiographical songwriter helped with acting," he said. "You're always trying to discover the truth about yourself." That self-reflection paved the way for authenticity on stage and screen. Honored by the United Nations for his human rights work, Van Zandt is as committed off-stage as he is in the spotlight.

Raised in New Jersey by a strict ex-Marine stepfather, Van Zandt fell in love with music early. “From the age of 14, I wanted to be a rock-and-roll star,” he said. “It was a ridiculously impossible dream.” And yet, by the early ’70s, he’d met Springsteen—and the dream became real.

On stage, he performs with heart and swagger: signature boots, bandana (a nod to a youthful injury), and soul. As a mobster on The Sopranos, he transformed completely—thanks in large part, he joked, to his towering wig: “It’s the hair that’s doing the acting!”

To master his role, he watched The Godfather over 50 times. “You try to spread it out,” he quipped. “At least that way you forget a few things.”

In 2002, he launched Little Steven’s Underground Garage, a syndicated radio show spinning rock and roll with edge, heart, and history. “There’s this endless stream of cool rock and roll that comes in different shapes and forms,” he said.

With tremendous heart and unwavering passion, Steven Van Zandt has single-handedly kept the soul of rock and roll alive—celebrating its roots, championing its rebels, and making sure its spirit never fades.