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The Hassles, from left, Billy Joel, Richard McKenna, Jon Small, John Dizek and Howie Arthur Blauvelt. Photo courtesy of The Hassles/Jon Small

The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame (LIMEHOF), 97 Main St., Stony Brook has announced it will be inducting Long Island’s own 1960s era seminal rock-soul group, The Hassles — best known as Billy Joel’s first major record label band — including acclaimed drummer-turned-video-director Jon Small. 

Additionally, there will be a special celebration event co-produced by Stephen Marcuccio on Saturday, June 28, at 8 p.m. The event is open to the public with a special event ticket purchase of $50 (online purchase includes $3.50 fee) and includes access to the LIMEHOF’s current exhibit, Billy Joel My Life: A Piano Man’s Journey which features a section about the Hassles.

“The Hassles were a dynamic and influential part of Long Island’s musical fabric in the 1960s, known for their powerful performances and infectious sound,” said Tom Needham, LIMEHOF Vice Chairman. “Their recordings and live shows left a lasting impression on the region, and their role in launching Billy Joel’s career only adds to their enduring legacy.”

The Hassles were formed in 1964 and performed until 1969. They played in a wide range of Long Island venues and produced two full-length albums. Original members included Richard McKenna (guitar), Jon Small (drums), John Dizek (vocals, harmonica, tambourine), Harry Weber (bass, organ) Billy Joel (keyboards, vocals), and Howie Arthur Blauvelt (bass). Jon Small, a resident of Northport, and Richard McKenna, surviving members of the group, are expected to be in attendance to accept the induction. Billy Joel is not expected to appear, but this induction makes him a two-time LIMEHOF inductee.

LIMEHOF inductee Liberty DeVitto (Billy Joel’s Band) is expected to officially induct the group. The event will feature live performances from current LIMEHOF inductees, including the hit-making duo The Alessi Brothers, and two-time LIMEHOF inductee drummer Mike Ricciardella of Barnaby Bye and The Illusion. Joining them on guitar will be legendary guitarist Jimmy Rip. 

These musicians will honor the legacy of The Hassles by performing some of the group’s most popular songs, including “Every Step I Take,” “You Got Me Hummin’,” and “I Can Tell.” Also, LIMEHOF inductee Albert Bouchard (founding and former member of Blue Öyster Cult) is expected to speak as well.

The event will be co-produced by music visionary Stephen Marcuccio, whose long-standing presence in the Long Island music scene includes his work as co-founder of The Downtown (Long Island’s iconic live venue), and his decades-long collaboration with The Alessi Brothers.

“This night is about honoring the legacy of Long Island music,” Marcuccio said. “The Hassles were a critical part of that history. Recognizing Jon Small and his incredible impact on both music and visual storytelling is long overdue.” 

To purchase tickets, visit www.limusichalloffame.org. For more information, call 631-689-5888.

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From left, Candice Night, Robert deBrauwere and Barry Fisch
Candice Night performing songs from her new album Sea Glass. L-R Jessie Haynes (Lady Jessie), Candice Night, and Claire Birmingham ("The Scarlett Fiddler"). Photo by Steve Leung
Candice Night with the LIMEHOF Board of Trustees. L-R Barry Fisch, Rob deBrauwere, Candice Night, Ernie Canadeo, Tom Needham, Norm Prusslin and Jeff James. Photo by Steve Leung
Festive fans turned out to celebrate the performance. Photo by Steve Leung
Candice Night accepting her award trophy. Photo by Steve Leung

The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame (LIMEHOF), in coordination with earMUSIC, hosted an evening celebrating Candice Night and the release of her new album, Sea Glass, on May 13. The celebration featured a live solo performance by Night, performing three songs from her new album followed by the official induction of Ritchie Blackmore and Candice Night of Blackmore’s Night into LIMEHOF at its museum, located at 97 Main Street in Stony Brook.  Night accepted the induction by LIMEHOF executive board member Robert deBrauwere on behalf of Blackmore’s Night as Blackmore was not able to attend.

“I am so honored to be inducted into the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame,” Night said. “Being surrounded by some of the greatest musicians, knowing we all have the same roots here is an incredible feeling. I’ve lived on Long Island my whole life and am constantly inspired by the energy here and the beauty of our nature.”

Ritchie Blackmore

Blackmore’s Night, the minstrel rock band founded by legendary guitarist Ritchie Blackmore and ethereal singer and multi-instrumentalist Candice Night began in 1997 as a labor of love and an escape from the pressures of the modern-day world. They formed their own musical world, creating a new genre of music. The group has recorded 11 albums. Weaving together melodies from the Renaissance times with modern day instrumentation, original arrangements, and new lyrical content, Blackmore and Night have achieved many awards, critical acclaim and gold records worldwide, consistently topping the Billboard New Age charts.

Together with their 7-piece touring band, they perform in castles and historical venues worldwide. Thousands of fans show up to the shows dressed in period garb to be a part of the musical festivities. They record in their home studio, here on Long Island, and have gained the love and loyalty of millions of fans over the past 28 years.

“It’s an amazing honor for me to induct my long-time friends and clients Candice and Ritchie as Blackmore’s Night into the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame,” said deBrauwere. “It’s incredible how popular their music is throughout the world. Particularly in Europe and Japan, but really everywhere, there are Blackmore’s Night fans throughout the world. There’s a huge community of folks that love them.”

The two inductees met on Long Island and have strong Long Island community ties. Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple and Rainbow) grew up in the UK and moved to the USA in 1974, moving to Huntington, Long Island in the 1980s.

Candice Night

Candice Night grew up in Hauppauge and is a lifetime Long Island resident and a graduate of NYIT in Old Westbury.  While interning at WBAB in 1989, she met Ritchie Blackmore at a charity soccer game where Deep Purple played against the station’s DJ’s and Staff. After the game, Candice asked Ritchie for his autograph and the two became friends, later developing into more. They started living together in 1993 and co-founded Blackmore’s Night in 1997.

They have been very involved in many local charity efforts and community events across Long Island including Save a Pet in Port Jefferson, STAR animal rehabilitation, Little Shelter in Huntington, and the North Shore Animal League. They have raised funds, awareness and supplies for them and set up donation booths over the years at every Blackmore’s Night show, even hosting adopting events at their concerts for some.

Night started singing at Lillian Carans Little Theater Workshop in Smithtown and has recorded music at Richie Cannatas Cove City Sound Studios in Glen Cove with local producer/engineer Brendan Keenan. Candice was also the Snow Queen in the Dickens Festival at Port Jefferson for 2 years, including receiving the 1st artist in residence award.

“In recorded and live performances, Long Island’s Blackmore’s Night has been thrilling and entertaining audiences all around the world for nearly three decades,” said LIMEHOF Co-Founder Norm Prusslin. “Blending renaissance melodies, instrumentals, and folk-rock original songs into a style uniquely their own, Blackmore’s Night is beloved by their fans for their exceptional musicianship, extraordinary vocals, and legendary performances. Blackmore’s Night’s induction into the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame recognizes and honors their artistry, creativity and legacy.”

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Stephen Schwartz, center, poses with the Broadway talent and LIMEHOF board of directors. Photo by Steve Leung

Broadway came to Long Island recently as a range of vocalists from the “Great White Way” and musicians gathered to honor and induct award-winning Broadway and movie lyricist and composer Stephen Schwartz (“Wicked,” “Godspell,” “Pippin,” “Pocahontas,” “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” “The Prince of Egypt,” and the new movie adaptation of “Wicked,” among other titles) into the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame (LIMEHOF) in Stony Brook on March 23.

The award presentation was preceded by an hour-and-a-half concert emceed by musician Paul Shaffer, which featured performances from Schwartz’ musicals.

Musician Paul Shaffer officially inducts and hands off the award trophy to Steven Schwartz. Photo by Steve Leung

Although well-known on Broadway and Manhattan, Schwartz has solid Long Island roots, having grown up in Williston Park and graduated from Mineola High School. With a career that includes winning four Grammy Awards, three Academy Awards, and numerous other accolades, Schwartz says that being recognized on Long Island is an extra-special honor for him.

Schwartz joins other legendary Broadway lyricists and musicians inducted into LIMEHOF with ties to Long Island, Brooklyn, and Queens, including George Gershwin (2006) and George M. Cohan (2006). LIMEHOF currently includes over 120 inductees.

Broadway performers and singers who performed at this event included Teal Wicks and Carrie St. Louis (“Wicked”), Dale Soules (“The Magic Show”), Alysia Velez (“Into the Woods”), Sam Simahk (“Into the Woods”) and DeMarius Copes (“Some Like It Hot”). The concert featured Music from “Wicked,” “Godspell,” “Pippin,” “Working,” “The Magic Show.” and “Pocahontas.” 

In addition to the music performances, Schwartz’s friend Stephen Reinhardt, who was a keyboard player and musical director for “Godspell” and “The Magic Show,” took the stage and gave a heartfelt speech. Sprinkled throughout the concert were various recorded video messages from Schwartz’ friends and colleagues who couldn’t be there but wanted to celebrate his induction, including Idina Menzel, Alan Menken, and Kristin Chenoweth, who had worked with Schwartz before in “Wicked,” and is working with him now on “The Queen of Versailles.”

After being inducted, Stephen closed out the evening by performing a song from his upcoming musical, “The Queen of Versailles,” which is set to debut later this year. 

After the event, Schwartz called it “a lovely evening” and said it was like a big reunion. “All those videos were surprises… from my son and my friends … and it was really a moving evening for me,” Schwartz said. “I didn’t really expect this, so it was very meaningful to me.”

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From left, Kool Rock-Ski accepts LIMEHOF’s induction of The Fat Boys from EPMD’s Erick Sermon and Public Enemy’s DJ Johnny Juice. Photo courtesy of LIMEHOF
Photo from LIMEHOF
Kurtis Blow, another LIMEHOF inductee, has a personal connection to The Fat Boys, as he produced their first two albums.
Photo from LIMEHOF
Photo from LIMEHOF

Hip-hop group The Fat Boys was recently inducted into the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame (LIMEHOF) at its newly opened museum location in Stony Brook on Aug. 6. Kool Rock-Ski (Damon Wimbley), the last surviving member of The Fat Boys, accepted the induction in person from hip-hop legend and LIMEHOF inductee Erick Sermon of EPMD. Public Enemy’s DJ Johnny Juice (also a LIMEHOF inductee) was also on hand to show support and speak about the group. 

“It’s definitely an honor on behalf of the group, two members who are no longer here,” Kool Rock-Ski said. “To accept this on their behalf is huge, because they brought so much to the culture. Their legacy lives on with an award like this. We got to the pinnacle of our success—and we got there the hard way, by doing a lot of hard work.”

The Fat Boys rose to fame in the 1980s, where they pioneered their influential beatbox style of hip-hop music. The group was from East New York in Brooklyn and included “Prince Markie Dee” (Mark Morales), “Kool Rock-Ski” (Damon Wimbley), and “Buff Love” (Darin Robinson). They would heavily influence hip-hop culture through beatbox, comedic charisma, and rhymes. The trio released seven studio albums, four of which went gold by RIAA. In addition to their music, they went on to star in three feature films: Krush Groove, Knights of the City, and Disorderlies.  

The Fat Boys had several successful singles which included “Stick ‘Em,” “Can You Feel It,” “The Fat Boys Are Back,” “Wipe Out,” “Fat Boys,” and “Jail House Rap,” to name a few. Throughout their career, they participated in several tours, one of which was Fresh Fest. And despite having eventually broken up as a group, each of the three members maintained a strong brotherhood. The Fat Boys is credited as having had a strong influence on the development and growing popularity of hip-hop. 

“The Fat Boys introduced the beatbox, to the world and the song they made was funky to me,” said EPMD’s Erick Sermon, himself a LIMEHOF inductee, when he officially inducted The Fat Boys on stage. “I’m honored to do this because my memories of my kitchen on that ledge was playing The Fat Boys album.” 

Kurtis Blow, another LIMEHOF inductee, has a personal connection to The Fat Boys, as he produced their first two albums. 

“The Fat Boys being inducted into the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame is so well deserved,” Blow said in a written statement which congratulated the group on this honor. “These young men were talented and passionate about their craft at a very young age. Producing The Fat Boys was one the highlights of my career. Rest in peace, Buffy (the Human Beatbox Master) and Prince Markie Dee (Mark Morales). I will never forget you, and you are greatly missed. Continue to carry the torch, Kool Rock-Ski!”

LIMEHOF has long recognized the unique talent and contributions that Long Island artists brought to the hip-hop genre. Notable hip-hop inductees include LL Cool J, Run-DMC, Public Enemy, Eric B. & Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, Kurtis Blow, Whodini, Salt-N-Pepa, and EPMD. Earlier this year, LIMEHOF held an event to honor the 50th anniversary of hip-hop which had a strong participation and turn out from Long Island artists.

“This historic induction—coupled with our recent 50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop Concert—cements Long Island’s legacy as one of the most important regions in the country for contributing to hip-hop’s long-term success,” said Ernie Canadeo, LIMEHOF Chairman.  

“Inducting The Fat Boys into the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame is a tribute to their enduring influence—recognizing their role in shaping the genre and inspiring generations,” said Tom Needham, LIMEHOF Vice Chairman and longtime host of the “Sounds of Film” radio show, and who organized the induction event.

At the induction ceremony, Kool Rock-Ski announced that he is working on a documentary film about The Fat Boys and intends to hold the premiere at LIMEHOF when it’s released. 

For more information about events and future inductions, visit www.limusichalloffame.org/museum/. 

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Robin Wilson Photo from LIMEHOF

By Kevin Redding

As a teenaged self-taught singer and “bedroom songwriter” in Tempe, Arizona, Robin Wilson would comb through ads of local bands in the paper—dreaming about being in one someday. The powerful yet tender voice he’d honed, mostly in his room and car, ultimately landed him in a new band that was blowing up in Tempe called Gin Blossoms.

Not long after that, the group found major mainstream success. Throughout the 90s, Gin Blossoms’ catchy harmonies and jangle guitar-driven pop rock dominated the airwaves with massive hits like “Hey Jealousy,” “Follow You Down,” “Found Out About You,” “Til I Hear It From You,” “Allison Road,” and “As Long As It Matters.” 

Wilson and his bandmates had music videos on MTV, became mainstays on late night shows, and were nominated for a Grammy. They’ve not only contributed to the soundtracks for such movies as Wayne’s World 2, Empire Records, and Speed, but for many people’s lives. 

On Aug. 25, Wilson will be inducted into the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame in Stony Brook Village. He’s bounced between Arizona and Valley Stream since the mid-90s, but says he became a full-time Long Islander in 2001 and even more so over quarantine. 

TBR News Media had the opportunity to interview Wilson by phone last Sunday as the singer/songwriter took a trip down memory lane.

What does this induction mean to you?

It makes me very proud and it’s really great to be part of the “Big Rock Story” and to know that we’ve had the same sort of impact that so many of my favorite groups did. I was just onstage last night [in Reynoldsburg, Ohio] looking out at 6,000 people who all know the words to a song I wrote in my bedroom and I was thinking, ‘Ya know, we really did great. Nobody thought we could still be doing it this long.’ And here we are 35 years later…I’m very gratified and grateful that I still get to do this for a living. It’s bewildering to me.

We got inducted into the Arizona Hall of Fame back in 2017 alongside the Meat Puppets, one of my favorite bands. I still just shake my head in disbelief because one minute you’re a teenager going to open mic nights and thinking ‘God I hope someday I can be in a band that plays this bar’ and now we’re among the most successful acts to ever come out of our homestate, alongside Jimmy Eat World and Alice Cooper. 

More than anything else, I’m really proud for my family here. It really feels like their achievement and it means the world to me that so many of them are going to be there for the ceremony. My son’s band is rehearsing and his biggest influences all come from the 90s.

What was it like to be a rock band in the 90s?

There were so many great moments where we knew we were accomplishing something very rare. Most of it was the grind of doing the work and being a touring rock band…it’s only with the perspective of time that you realize how grandly we succeeded. We’re going on tour in a couple weeks with some of my all time favorite bands to tour with: Fastball, Tonic, and Sugar Ray. We’ve been on these package tours with Lit and Everclear and Smash Mouth and none of them have done “Saturday Night Live.” 

We performed at the American Music Awards and I got to front KISS on Letterman! There was a lot of diversity [in the 90s] but the bands that survived as the soundtrack of those times were delivering high quality music and really great, memorable songs. I think certainly the key to our success has been having really good songs.

How did you come to join the band?

As I was finally forming my first band with my best friend, Gin Blossoms called and asked me in for an audition. They had only been playing out for a few months but as soon as they hit the local scene, they were a big deal. I already knew our bass player, Bill Leen, and our original guitar player/songwriter Doug Hopkins [who penned many of their early hits and passed away in 1993]. We all went to high school together. They were a few years ahead of me, but they were the only kids that had a band and putting out records. I was listening to Bill’s and Doug’s music since I was like 15. 

Bill and Doug had heard me sing at a couple of parties so when they needed somebody for Gin Blossoms, I got the call. I auditioned on a Wednesday, they gave me the job that night, we rehearsed on Thursday, and then we did three days of shows that weekend, Friday-Sunday. I was playing rhythm guitar and they’d let me sing a couple tunes. Jesse Valenzuela [Gin Blossoms’ guitar player] was the lead singer. I got the job because he and I sounded so good together; it was really special right from the beginning. 

A few months in, Jesse said, “You and I are gonna switch. I’m gonna be the guitar player and you’re gonna be the lead singer.” I was just blown away. In the history of rock and roll, has a lead singer ever done that? It was just such good fortune and destiny…the right place at the right time with the right skillset.

What’s your favorite song to play live?

Doug started the band with this incredible batch of songs, including “Found Out About You,” so it was easy for me to just step in and sing them. And then there were a handful of songs he and I wrote together. The only one of them we ended up recording was “Hold Me Down” [off their 1992 LP “New Miserable Experience”] and that one’s really special to me. Playing the hits is very gratifying too. There’s a song I wrote for our last record called “Break” and it’s great to see them react to it and to know it’s a song that holds up to the rest of our catalog.

What was it like bringing your own songs to the band?

Being in Gin Blossoms with seasoned composers, it helped me to raise my [songwriting] game at an accelerated pace. It wasn’t until I wrote “Allison Road” that the whole band seemed to realize I was approaching their level as a songwriter. Earlier this year, our hometown of Tempe honored us by renaming a street Allison Road.

What’s the strangest bill the band has been on?

[Laughs] We did a show once with Missing Persons, MC Hammer, Joe Walsh, and Toto. And it was just like, ‘How did we end up on this bill?!’ Missing Persons was on before us and MC Hammer was on after us. That was like 12 years ago or something.

In honor of Empire Records, if you were in a record shop right now, what would you be looking for?

My favorite band right now is called White Reaper. They’re one of the best bands of their generation and I love them to death. If I walked in right now, I’d be looking for White Reaper on vinyl. My favorite band of the last couple decades is The Darkness, and I’m excited they’re going to be performing in Tempe in October and so my son and I are going to home to Arizona at a club I’ve played a bunch of times to see them. Another great rock band I love is called Volbeat.

What’s it like being a rock star on Long Island?

This is the first time since winter that I’ll be home here on Long Island for more than five days. I’m home until the Hall of Fame induction and then I leave town the day after that and I’ll be gone for about six weeks. But I have until the 26th to actually be in the same place so I’m fixing to make the most of it, spend time making the racket down in the basement in our new studio, exercising. I played a lot of video games during the pandemic. I bought a Switch and I love that system.

A few years ago, when the pandemic hit, that’s when I really got to meet my neighbors, and they’re like, ‘Oh, you’re in a band, huh?’ I’m like ‘Yeah’ and they’re like ‘Well, you keep at it!’ And then a few months later, the neighbor will come up and be like ‘Holy ___, apparently my brother has your record!’

It took me a while to get used to living here, but I’m finally a citizen. And I’m the only guy on Long Island who flies an Arizona flag on his front porch.

The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame, 97 Main St., Stony Brook will hold an induction ceremony for Robin Wilson on Friday, Aug. 25 from 7 to 10 p.m. Wilson will perform with special guests on the Exhibit Hall stage as part of the evening’s ceremony. Tickets are $40, $35 members at www.limusichalloffame.org or by calling 631-689-5888.

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