Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame Museum Celebrates Achievements of Long Island Artists

Stoney Brook, New York — Long Island will soon receive the Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame Museum to honor and preserve Long Island’s musical heritage.

It opens Nov. 25, and CBS2’s Carolyn Gusoff gets a sneak peek at the work as it goes.

For two decades, the music lovers who created the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame as a traveling exhibit are moving into their permanent home on Main Street in Stony Brook.

Here, you can immerse yourself in the accomplishments of artists across geographic Long Island—Suffolk, Nassau, Queens, and Brooklyn—spanning a century.

“I would venture to say that one has to find a place not just at home but in the world that produces so much musical talent,” said LIME Hall of Fame President Ernie Canadeo.

Rock singer Joan Jett donated her first car, a vintage Jaguar.

The other 120 inductees also donated: Billy Joel’s motorcycle, Harry Chapin’s congressional medal, Blue Öyster Cult’s cowbell, a Good Rats guitar, Perry Cuomo’s Emmy, DMC and Debbie Gibson’s sequined dress.

“These memorabilia reflect the vibrant and truly pioneering music scene here on Long Island,” said Norm Prusslin, co-founder of the LIME Hall of Fame.

From Carole King to Taylor Dayne to Twisted Sister, music history is like a tapestry.

“These are actual drawings of Dee Snider’s costume,” says LIME Hall of Fame designer Kevin O’Callaghan.

Even his bones shot for the “Stay Hungry” album cover.

“It’s quite possibly the holy grail of the genre,” O’Callaghan said.

The first exhibit will show you the Long Island club scene from the ’60s to the ’80s, where many artists got their start.

“Hammerheads, Rum Bottoms, OBI, My Father’s Place,” says O’Callaghan.

Next, they’ll bring in entertainers — comedians, screen and stage stars from Long Island.

“Almost every stand-up that comes to mind comes from Long Island,” O’Callaghan said.

Exhibits will rotate, giving fans a reason to come back.

Open on Black Friday.The Hall of Fame Museum is open year-round, Wed-Sun noon-5pm For more information visit limusichalloffame.org.

Caroline Gusoff

Carolyn Gusoff covers some of the most high-profile news stories in the New York City area and is known for being a trusted, tough, consistent and caring voice on Long Island issues.