A most significant fact is that more music has been recorded by artists from Long Island - Nassau, Suffolk, Brooklyn and Queens - than anywhere else in the world. The reason is simple: musicians always had to record and perform in Manhattan but could rarely afford to live there. This more affordable home base resulted in an astonishing array of music genres: the Queens Jazz Trail of iconic musicians from the '30s, '40s and '50s, Rap music in Hollis and Brooklyn, Doo-Wop and Oldies from Brooklyn and Queens, any number of Brill Building tunesmiths, extraordinarily gifted and innovative Classical composers, and young Rock 'n' Rollers moving out of the garages of Nassau and Suffolk and onto the charts across the country and around the world. In addition, Long Island is the Cradle of Radio, without which very little of this extraordinary output would have been heard by the millions of music fans since the first broadcasts at the dawn of this technological age.

On an autumn evening three years ago, a group of professionals from almost every aspect of music on Long Island met in a conference room at Stony Brook University. Richard L'Hommedieu - who was owner and publisher of Long Island Entertainment Magazine - had put out the call to every music organization within a 100-mile radius to discuss the idea of starting a Long Island Music Hall of Fame which would pay tribute to the legion of artists, musicians, bands, venues and music-related businesses that gave Long Island such a rich and vibrant history of music. Over a dozen people answered the call: writers, concert promoters, historians, radio personalities, all familiar with the support system needed for the music scene to thrive.

These professionals recognized that the Long Island music scene was missing a cohesive component that allowed it to be recognized as an industry which can add to Long Island's appeal as a tourist destination, and one in which Long Islanders can take pride in having as part of their culture and heritage. They felt that the Long Island Music Hall of Fame could be that cohesive component that would propel the Long Island music scene into a vibrant Long Island music industry.

During the discussions, a number of other aspects relevant to the music scene were brought up: music programs are often the first to be cut from school budgets; the number of venues that welcome original music is dwindling, and theaters that present live music are in a struggle for their very existence; there are no resources where students of Long Island's music legacy can easily learn about its history; and the musicians themselves, who often feel pressured by handlers and record company PR men into saying they are "from New York", rather than being able to take pride in their true roots on Long Island.

This group decided that these issues were a worthy cause to address, and determined to dedicate themselves to the formation of the Long Island Music Hall of Fame. As time went on, additional people came on board, and the organization took shape. The process of achieving the not-for-profit and museum status was completed in almost-record time, as the State of New York Department of Education wisely saw that the Hall is a unique and valuable asset to the region, and gave its approval within eight months f the initial application.

As of this moment, the Long Island Music Hall of Fame is well on its way to opening its first home in a brick-and-mortar facility, which we anticipate opening sometime in 2008. We have a letter of commitment for a building in a community on the North Shore of Suffolk County, and we will be working with archivists in Queens to establish a base of operations there as well. We have a very significant amount of money committed for scholarships to be awarded next year, and our Education Program has begun with board members appearing on panels at Stony Brook University, and at the Independent Broadcasting/ National College Radio Convention in Manhattan. Two of our Advisory Boards have been established with the appointment of respected professionals Sammy Ash to our Music Industry Advisory Board, and Tom Needham to our Music Education Advisory Board.

"The Long Island Music Hall of Fame will provide not only an educational base for communities and schools to learn about music and Long Island's music heritage, but the Long Island Music Hall of Fame is looking to be that central cohesive element that will help Long Island musicians work together to create a Long Island Music Industry. I guess the best way to sum it up is by our mission statement: The Long Island Music Hall of Fame is dedicated to the idea that our musical heritage is an important resource to be celebrated and preserved for future generations. A place to inspire in each person, the desire to explore and celebrate music in all its forms. A place where the music community will find the support necessary to aid them in that exploration. This will be an environment to inspire, entertain, educate and engage each person in the creative process."