STONEY BROOK, NY – Long Island is in the process of acquiring a Hall of Fame Museum of Music and Entertainment to honor and preserve Long Island’s musical heritage.
It opens Nov. 25, and CBS2’s Carolyn Gusoff gets a sneak peek as it’s in progress.
After two decades in business, the music lovers who turned the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame into a touring show are moving to a permanent home on Main Street in Stony Brook.
It’s a place rich with the artist’s century-long geographical Long Island achievements: Suffolk, Nassau, Queens and Brooklyn.
Lyme Hall of Fame President Ernie Canadio said. “I urge people to find a place that produces a lot of musical talent, not just in the country, but in the world.”
Rocker Joan Jett gave away her first car, an old Jaguar.
Other donations came from 120 people: Billy Joel’s motorcycle, Harry Chapin’s Congressional Medal, Blue Wester Cult’s cowbell, Good Rats guitar, Perry Como’s Emmy, DMC’s signature suit, and Debbie Gibson’s sequin dress.
“This is a monument to the vibrant and truly revolutionary music scene on Long Island,” said Norm Praslin, co-founder of the Lyme Hall of Fame.
From Carole King to Taylor Dane to Twisted Sister, there’s a tapestry of music history.
“These are original Dee Snyder costume designs,” said Lime Hall of Fame designer Kevin O’Callaghan.
Even the leg posing for the album cover of Stay Hungry.
“It could very well be the holy grail of the genre,” says O’Callaghan.
The first exhibit takes you to the Long Island club scene, where many artists got their start from the 1960s to the 1980s.
“Hammerheads, Ram Bottoms, OBI, My Father’s Place,” says O’Callaghan.
Later, their line-up included entertainers: Long Island comedians, screen and stage stars.
“Almost every stand-up comic I can think of is from Long Island,” O’Callaghan said.
Exhibits will be changed to keep fans coming back.
Doors open on Black Friday. The Hall of Fame Museum is open year-round, Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. For more information, visit limusichalloffame.org .
