Billy Joel credits his band, some of whom were inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame Thursday night, with helping put “The Long Island Sound” on the map.
“After ‘The Stranger’ was released, people began to recognize that the ‘Long Island Sound’ wasn’t just a body of water,” Joel said in a statement to the Hall of Fame to honor the band members — saxophonist Richie Cannata, drummer Liberty DeVitto, guitarist Russell Javors and bassist Doug Stegmeyer.
The anticipation for the reunion of the band, who were set to play together for the first time since 1989, was high. “We rehearsed and it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up,” Cannata said. “It’s pretty insane.”
However, this year’s class of inductees showed how truly wide-ranging the area’s music scene is, as artists and executives from across the musical spectrum were celebrated.
The Long Island Music Hall of Fame also held a screening of Billy Joel: A Matter of Trust – The Bridge To Russia on October 20th. The event, a fundraiser for the Hall of Fame, included appearances by Emmy-winning director Jim Brown, Oleg Smirnoff and Russell Javors, moderated by Sound of Film Host Tom Needham.
Video from the screening:
Exclusive Photos From The Long Island Music Hall Of Fame 2014 Ceremony
