Are you ready to rock? At the newly opened Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame (LIMEHOF) in Stony Brook Village, New York, the exhibits are filled with memorabilia donated by its celebrity inductees. The first exhibit in the new physical location of the Hall of Fame looks back on Long Island’s club scene from the 1960s through the 1980s. From piano man Billy Joel’s motorcycle to Joan Jett’s jet-black Jaguar, the Hallf of Fame highlights musicians and entertainers from Nassua and Suffolk counties, as well as Brooklyn, and Queens.
On January 28th or February 18th, you can join Untapped New York Insiders for a free curator-led tour of the new 8,800-square-foot Hall of Fame! Not an Insider yet? Become a member today and get your first month free with code JOINUS!
LI Music Hall of Fame Tour
One of the most prominent items on display is a black 1983 Jaguar XJ -S H.E. This vintage ride was the first car belonging to Joan Jett. Jett kicked off her rocking career in the all female group The Runaways, before having major solo success. The car was previously on view at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, OH, but will stay on Long Island for at least a few years. It is set up in front of a replica entrance of Maibu Shore Club, a Lido Beach spot where Jett and the Blackhearts played in 1981. Though Jett was born in Pennsylvania and raised in California, she has been a longtime resident of Long Beach on Long Island’s south shore.
The new exhibit, Long Island’s Legendary Club Scene – 1960s-1980s, inside the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame takes visitors on a “club crawl” through iconic establishments and live performances of the era. “We used to go everywhere from Speaks in Island Park to The Mad Hatter in Stony Brook,” reminisced North Babylon Resident Cliff Schlesinger, the Hall’s first public visitor. Visitors like Schlesinger are able to revisit those places and memories through performance videos, ads, posters, instruments, and an exact replica of a typical 1960’s stage in the exhibit. The stage is even equipped with vintage equipment and a vintage sound system.
Along with the rotating exhibit space, the new location boasts a “Hall of Fame” with plaques and exhibits recognizing over 120 inductees, among them are Mariah Carey, LL Cool J, Gene Simmons, Pat Benatar, Debbie Gibson, and Twisted Sister to name a few. There is also a library, classrooms for educational programs, a surround-sound theater, and a gift shop. The Hall of Fame is located near other cultural Long Island attractions such as The Long Island Museum, The Jazz Loft, and The Reboli Center. Many of the Hall of Famers came out to celebrate the museum’s opening in November including current members of Blue Öyster Cult, Zebra guitarist Randy Jackson, bassist Felix Hanemann and drummer Guy Gelso, and music journalist Wayne Robins.
The Long Island Music Hall of Fame was founded in 2004. The non-profit organization is dedicated to preserving Long Island’s musical heritage and providing resources for people to pursue musical education. Now finally in a physical space, the Hall of Fame will host live musical performances and offer on-site ducational programming. The Hall of Fame and Museum is open Wednesdays through Sundays from 12 noon through 5 pm. You can purchase tickets and see who’s playing on the Museum’s website.
LI Music Hall of Fame Tour
On January 28th or February 18th, you can join Untapped New York Insiders for a free curator-led tour of the new 8,800-square-foot Hall of Fame! Not an Insider yet? Become a member today and get your first month free with code JOINUS!
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