STONY BROOK, N.Y., September 26, 2006—Stony Brook will be among the inaugural inductees for the Long Island Music Hall of Fame ceremony on Sunday, October 15 at the Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts. The University will join such leading names of Long Island music as Harry Chapin, Perry Como, Vanilla Fudge, Billy Joel, Cyndi Lauper, Richie Havens, George Gershwin, Tony Bennett, Run-DMC and others in the first class of 28 inductees.
This first class will be joined in 2007 by 22 others and by succeeding induction classes in coming years. The complete "First 50" list for 2006 and 2007 can be found at www.limusichallfoffame.org.
Stony Brook is being inducted for its role as a pioneering host of legendary concerts featuring the top artists in rock, jazz, pop, folk and classical going back as far as 1962. Among the headline acts that have performed at the University are Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, the Doors, Miles Davis, Pink Floyd, U2, the Who, Jefferson Airplane, the Kinks, Janis Joplin, James Taylor, and the Band. Many of the performers made their East Coast debuts at Stony Brook, including the appearance of the Grateful Dead on June 3, 1967.
The primary producer of these legendary concerts was the Student Activities Board (SAB), a branch of the Undergraduate Student Government. Many of the SAB producers went on to successful careers in the music industry as did alumni of WUSB radio (90.1 FM), which supported the SAB’s efforts with publicity and promotion.
Inductees were selected by The Long Island Music Hall of Fame Board of Directors from an evolving and growing list of people, artists, groups or entities that were born, raised, founded, or have resided on Long Island for a significant portion of their career or existence, according to the organization’s web site. Entry into the Hall is based on historical importance and the significance of their contribution to Long Island's rich musical heritage. The organization defines Long Island by its geographic boundaries, which includes Queens, Kings, Nassau, and Suffolk counties.
Hall of Fame Chairman Richard L'Hommedieu said, "This first group of 50 inductees, which we will be honoring over the course of the next two years, represents Long Island's long and diverse contributions to the world's musical landscape. The Long Island Music Hall of Fame has taken great care to celebrate within that "First 50" the Long Islanders who represent some of the extraordinary contributions Long Island has made to history of music, not only in America but throughout the world. It is our hope that these "First 50" will demonstrate that Long Island has been, and will continue to be, a consistent and never-ending wellspring of world class musical talent."
The Long Island Music Hall of Fame is dedicated to the idea that Long Island's musical heritage is an important resource to be celebrated and preserved for future generations. It was created as a place to inspire in each person the desire to explore and celebrate music in all its forms and to be a place where the music community will find the support, resources and leadership necessary to aid them in that exploration. The Hall of Fame sponsors the Long Island Sound Award, traveling educational exhibits and is working to create a permanent home for the story of Long Island's musical heritage.
The Long Island Music Hall of Fame is located at 71 East Main Street in Patchogue. For information and tickets to the event, please visit www.limusichallfoffame.org.
