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.