(October 4, 2012 -- Port Jefferson, NY) The Long Island Music Hall of Fame (LIMHoF) is proud to announce more of its 2012, and fourth Class of Honorees, to be inducted at its star-studded red carpet Fourth Induction Award Ceremony and Fundraising Gala on Thursday, October 18, 2012, at The Paramount in Huntington, NY. This very special event will also be a fundraiser for LIMHoF's new museum home in Port Jefferson Village.
The fourth induction class now includes hip-hop pioneers Salt-n-Pepa, singer Connie Stevens, longtime record industry executive Ron Alexenburg and hip-hop/electro pioneers Whodini.
Special guests will include southern rock legend Charlie Daniels, Gene Cornish of The Rascals, radio legend Bob Buchman, Vince Martell of Vanilla Fudge, the voice of WLIR radio Denis McNamara, Mark (Animal) Mendoza of Twisted Sister, Sandy Chapin, radio personality Opie, UTFO's Doc Ice and comedian Jackie Martling.
Scheduled performances include a musical tribute to Ellie Greenwich featuring Felix Cavalieri of The Rascals and LIMHoF inductee Gary U.S. Bonds, and performances by Charlie Daniels, The Lovin Spoonful, Whodini, Taylor Dayne and Barnaby Bye.
Additional special guests and performances will be announced as they are confirmed.
The previously announced 2012 class of Honorees also includes 2012 Harry Chapin Award recipient and previous LIMHoF inductee Dee Snider of Twisted Sister, classic rock band Barnaby Bye, The Lovin' Spoonful's Joe Butler and Steve Boone, singer Taylor Dayne, songwriter Ervin Drake, Concert Security Systems, Inc. and Founder Ira Maltz, songwriter Ellie Greenwich, Jones Beach Theater, classical composer Leo Kraft, musicians from the Shinnecock Indian Nation, metal band Suffocation, WALK-FM radio, jazz pianist Randy Weston and progressive rock band Zebra.
LIMHoF will also honor 2011 Music Educator of Note Robert W. Kreuger and 2012 Music Educator of Note William Katz.
General seating tickets for the October 18 Fundraising Gala are $50 and $75, and are available through The Paramount box office at 631-673-7300 or online at http://www.paramountny.com/. Premium VIP seating is available, to include full dinner and show. For information about Premium seating, please contact LIMHoF at 631-331-0808 or [email protected].
Inductees are selected by the LIMHoF Board of Directors from an evolving and growing list of people, artists, and entities that were born, raised, founded, or have resided on geographic Long Island (Brooklyn/Queens/Nassau/Suffolk) for a significant portion of their career. Induction is based on historical importance and the significance of their contribution to Long Island's rich musical heritage. Complete induction criteria and more about previous inductees at http://www.limusichalloffame.org/inductees_00.html.
Past inductees, presenters and/or those who have attended the previous Long Island Music Hall of Fame Galas include: Billy Joel, Paul Shaffer, Lou Reed, Eddie Money, Joan Jett, Twisted Sister, Mariah Carey, The Ramones, Barbra Streisand, Peter Criss (Kiss), DMC of Run DMC, John Zorn, Johnny Maestro and the Brooklyn Bridge, LL Cool J, Public Enemy, former Monkee Peter Tork, Felix Cavaliere, Gary U.S. Bonds, Stanley Drucker (New York Philharmonic clarinetist), Sam "Bluzman" Taylor, gospel singer Donnie McClurkin, Eric Bloom and Buck Dharma (Blue Oyster Cult), Simon & Garfunkel and Tony Bennett.
ABOUT THE LONG ISLAND MUSIC HALL OF FAME
Long Island Music Hall of Fame (LIMHoF) is a 501(c)(3) museum organization dedicated to the idea that Long Island's musical heritage is an important resource to be celebrated and preserved for future generations. The organization defines Long Island geographically as Kings, Queens, Nassau and Suffolk counties. The Hall of Fame is creating a museum home in Port Jefferson where the story of the Island's musical heritage will be told and where resources for musicians of the future will be available. They also sponsor traveling educational exhibits and a scholarship program. For more information about the Long Island Music Hall of Fame, please call 631-331-0808, or visit http://limusichalloffame.org/.
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2012 The Long Island Music Hall of Fame Inductee Brief Bios
Record Industry Executive Ron Alexenburg
Early years in the business representing companies like Dunhill, Mercury, Phillips and United Artists Records... In 1965, joined CBS Records... Became the youngest head of promotion for Columbia and worked with label's superstars and new talent... Received many industry awards... In 1971, Columbia promoted him to V.P. of Epic Records; a division of CBS Records group... In 1972, given responsibility for label's growth and in 1977, named Senior V.P. & General Manager of division... Grew Epic's sales from $6.5 million dollars to over $300 million in next seven years... For five consecutive years, organization signed, developed and successfully marketed more than 25 new artists each year... Among artists he brought to Epic were Boston, Meatloaf, Charlie Daniels and Michael Jackson and the Jackson Family... Michael Jackson's Thriller became largest selling album in history... In 1978, he left CBS Records and established Infinity Records... Label did $11.5 million its first year... He lives on Long Island with his wife and son.
Hip-hop pioneers Salt-n-Pepa
Hip hop trio from Queens and Brooklyn... formed in 1985... The group is Cheryl James ("Salt"), Sandra Denton ("Pepa") and Deidra Roper ("DJ Spinderella")... 1986's Hot, Cool & Vicious, 1988's A Salt with a Deadly Pepa and 1990's Blacks' Magic produced hits in the U.S. and U.K... 1993's Very Necessary brought them a wider public and featured hits "Shoop" (US #4, UK #13), "Whatta Man" (US #3, UK #7); and "None of Your Business", a Top 40 US hit and a Top 20 UK hit... Album sold 7 million worldwide, with 5 million in the U.S, making them the first female rap act to have a multi-platinum selling album... Won Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance in 1995 for "None Of Your Business"... First female rap Grammy winners... The album is the best selling album by a female rap act.
Singer Connie Stevens
Coming from a musical family, she joined the singing group called The Fourmost, in which the other three vocalists - all males - went on to fame as The Lettermen... At 16, she replaced the alto in a singing group, The Three Debs... First solo album was Concetta (1958)... Had hits with the standards Blame It On My Youth, Looking For A Boy (music by George Gershwin) and Spring Is Here... Recorded the novelty song Kookie, Kookie, Lend Me Your Comb (1959), a duet with Edward Byrnes, that reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100... Also had hit singles as solo artist with Sixteen Reasons (1960), reaching #3 on the Billboard Hot 100, and Too Young to Go Steady (1960)... Other single releases were Why'd You Wanna Make Me Cry?, Mr. Songwriter, and Now That You've Gone... Star of many films and TV shows... Her feature-length directorial debut, Saving Grace B. Jones, was released in 2009.
Hip-hop/Electro Pioneers Whodini
Members are Jalil Hutchins, John "Ecstasy" Fletcher and Drew "Grandmaster Dee" Carter... Among the first hip hop/electro groups to add R & B to their music, cultivate high-profile national following for hip hop and make significant inroads in urban radio... Contemporaries of groups such as the Fat Boys, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, and Afrika Bambaataa... 1984 release Escape included Five Minutes of Funk and The Freaks Come Out at Night... certified for platinum-level sales by R.I.A.A... 1986 release Back in Black received heavy local New York airplay... 1994 hit single with It All Comes Down to the Money, co-produced by Public Enemy DJ Terminator X on his album Super Bad�October 2007, Whodini was an honoree at the 4th Vh1 Hip Hop Honors.
2011 Music Educator of Note Robert W. Kreuger
From 1957-1982 served as Director of Music Education for Northport - East Northport Union Free School District... Developed one of the countries' premiere music programs... Served as president of Nassau Music Educator's Association (NMEA), Suffolk County Music Educator's Association (SCMEA) and New York State Council of Administrators of Music Education... Created Northport Community Band in 1959, which performs to this day in bandshell that now bears his name... Creator of Newsday Marching Band Festival, which celebrated its 49th year in 2011... Broadway legend Patti LuPone said of her past teacher, Krueger, in her book Patti LuPone: A Memoir, "Our bandleader, Robert Krueger, was a graduate of Northwestern University and was able to get the most current Northwestern musical arrangements and marching routines. People came to the football games as much to see the band as to see the football team."
2012 Music Educator of Note William Katz
Retired from East Meadow High School as Director of Bands and Department Chairman... Taught in that district for more than 40 years... At the age of 80 plus he remains an active performer, educator and conductor... Pioneer in Jazz education in public schools... Noted Bassoonist... Edited the Jazz section of the NYSSMA manual and spearheaded the creation of an All County Jazz performing ensemble... Director of the Nassau-Suffolk HS Jazz Ensemble for the past 15 years... Influenced the lives of hundreds of students during his tenure... Recipient of the NYSSMA Distinguished Service Award... Known as "Mr. Jazz" to many across the country and the state... His concert and jazz bands were among the top of both Long Island and the State... Has conducted All State Jazz ensembles in both New York and across the country.
