The Long Island Music Hall of Fame

A group of professionals from almost every area of music met on a fall evening three years ago in a conference room at Stony Brook University and the Long Island Music Hall of Fame was born. Richard L'Hommedieu, owner and publisher of Long Island Entertainment Magazine had called every music organization on Long Island because he wanted to discuss an idea he had to finally pay tribute to Long Island's many musicians, bands and artists who have given the area such a rich and diverse history of music.

"Richard L"Hommedieu was inspired by the Georgia Music Hall of Fame to create one here on Long Island. He selected a Board of Directors with very diverse talents," said blue historian Dr. Mark Gresser, who is also a member of board.

Among those present at the first meeting were Norm Prusslin, General Manager of WUSB 90.1 FM., Charlie McKenna founding director of the Long Island Blues Society, Richard Hughes, who writes about the music scene for various publications, including Inside Connection and James Faith, promoter and booking agent for the Brookhaven Amphitheatre Arts & Cultural Center

They realized that the Long Island music scene was missing something that would allow its contribution to music to be recognized. They wanted the Long Island Music Hall of Fame to be the element that would push that Long Island music industry into a vibrant Long Island music industry.

"More music has been recorded by Long Island artists than any one else in the world. They had to record in Manhattan, but they couldn't afford to live there," James Faith said.

At the first meeting they also talked about music programs being the first to be cut from school programs and how theatres that present live music continue to struggle to operate. They realized there was no place where those who wanted to could learn about the contributions Long Island artists have made to the music scene.

"Artists from Long Island have always felt stigmatized. Yet the contributions from this area have been diverse-everyone from Gershwin to the Ramones," James Faith said.

Faith, also a member of the board of directors, added that record companies and handlers often pressure Long Island musicians to say they are from New York rather than say they are from Long Island.

The group decided it was time to form the Long Island Music Hall of Fame and became dedicated to doing so. When the New York State Department of Education approved their application for not-for-profit and museum status only eight months after they applied, they became even more convinced they were doing the right thing, The Long Island Music Hall of Fame was seen as a "valuable" asset to the community.

"We started by doing promotion at the Brookhaven Amphitheatre. We had no money and began by selling blinky lights, which enabled us to have the induction gala," James Faith said.

The next step was the LISA (Long Island Sound Award), which was given to artists such as Pat Benatar, Arlo Guthrie, Blue Oyster Cult and Melanie for outstanding contributions to Long Island's Musical heritage.

Inductees to the Long Island Music Hall of Fame were chosen by the Board of Directors from a changing and growing list of artists and singers who were born, raised and have lived on Long Island for a significant portion of their lives or careers. During the next two years the first fifty inductees will be honored.

The gala occurred on October 15 at the Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts in Patchogue where artists such as Tony Bennett, John Coltrane, Harry Chapin and Little Anthony and the Imperials were among those inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame.

"Basically we wanted the list to be diverse-from everywhere. We wanted it to represent all types of music," James Faith said.

The piano man, Billy Joel was among the first inductees as was Joan Jett, who performed in Manhattan that night. Joel's daughter Alexa Rae was asked to introduce him, but couldn't because she was on tour, so the job went to Alec Baldwin. Jen Chapin performed a moving tribute to her father.

"That we really got it done after three years of hard work and three months of frenzy and three weeks of insanity was amazing," said Dr. Mark Gresser.

Other performers included Jeff Biegel playing excerpts from Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" and Little Anthony and the Imperials, who sang "Tears On My Pillow" with songwriter Jimmy Webb sitting in.

Stony Brook University was honored for being a pioneering host of concerts featuring such legendary artists as Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Miles Davis and the Who.

"We want to thank Pace's Steak House in Port Jefferson for the amazing job they did of feeding seven hundred people at no charge. We want to thank all the people who were involved," James Faith said.

At the current time the Long Island Music Hall of Fame is looking for its first home and has a few offers, including one in Huntington, one in Port Jefferson and one in Stony Brook.

"We are sitting back and trying to make a decision," James Faith said.

The Long Island Music Hall of Fame also plans to award some $150,000 in scholarships to deserving high school students. All they need to do now is raise the $75,000 to put on the event.