The Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame Podcast

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On this episode of the Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame Podcast, we present a highlight from the 2026 Billy Joel Symposium, featuring Amy Tenney Curren, co-creator of History Ignited, a children’s history podcast built entirely around the lyrics of Billy Joel’s iconic song “We Didn’t Start the Fire.” Introduced by Billy Joel Symposium Director Tom Needham, Amy explores how the song can serve as a living curriculum, connecting history, human behavior, and Billy Joel’s music across generations.

Amy’s presentation, “‘We Didn’t Start the Fire’ as a Living Curriculum: History, Human Behavior, & Billy Joel Across Generations,” examines how the song’s rapid-fire references to historical figures, events, and cultural milestones can inspire young people to engage with history in a creative and accessible way. By using popular music as an educational tool, History Ignited demonstrates how Billy Joel’s songwriting can spark curiosity, encourage critical thinking, and connect listeners of different generations to the events that have shaped our world.

The Billy Joel Symposium was presented by the Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame in Stony Brook, New York, on June 6–7, 2026. This two-day academic conference brought together scholars, critics, musicians, and students to explore Billy Joel’s music, lyrics, artistry, cultural impact, and enduring legacy. The weekend featured academic presentations, keynote conversations, special events, and a formal induction honoring Joel’s contributions to music and culture.

The Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame Podcast celebrates the artists, songwriters, musicians, and cultural figures who have shaped Long Island’s rich musical heritage. Past guests have included Stephen Schwartz, Taylor Dayne, Gary U.S. Bonds, members of Public Enemy, Twisted Sister, Zebra, and The Tokens. Through interviews, special presentations, and highlights from LIMEHOF events, the podcast preserves the stories behind the music and introduces listeners to the people and ideas that continue to inspire new generations.

Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & Amazon Music.

Buy tickets to visit LIMEHOF at:

https://www.limusichalloffame.org/tickets-and-gift-cards/

The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame is located at:

97 Main Street
Stony Brook, NY 11790
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 631-689-5888

Send us Fan Mail

Mike Smith, pioneering drummer and founding member of Long Island death metal band Suffocation, joins Tom Needham on the Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame Podcast for a conversation about his musical journey and the band’s lasting influence on extreme metal. Smith reflects on Suffocation’s beginnings, the development of its distinctive sound, the challenges of building a career in underground music, and the evolution of his approach to drumming.

Formed on Long Island in the late 1980s, Suffocation became one of the most influential bands in death metal, earning a reputation for its technical precision, crushing riffs, complex arrangements, and uncompromising intensity. Albums such as Effigy of the Forgotten helped establish the band as a major force in extreme metal and influenced generations of musicians. Inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame as a member of Suffocation, Smith remains an important figure in the history of Long Island’s metal scene and the broader evolution of heavy music.

The LIMEHOF Podcast, hosted by Tom Needham, features in-depth conversations with musicians, songwriters, filmmakers, authors, and entertainment industry figures whose work has shaped popular culture. Past guests have included Broadway legend Stephen Schwartz, Taylor Dayne, Gary U.S. Bonds, DMC of Run-DMC, Kurtis Blow, Garland Jeffreys, Liberty DeVitto, Carmine Appice, members of Twisted Sister, Blue Öyster Cult, Public Enemy, Foghat, Zebra, and The Tokens, among many others. The podcast celebrates the artists and stories behind Long Island’s rich musical and entertainment heritage and is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music.

Buy tickets to visit LIMEHOF at:

https://www.limusichalloffame.org/tickets-and-gift-cards/

The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame is located at:

97 Main Street
Stony Brook, NY 11790
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 631-689-5888

Send us Fan Mail

Tom Needham sits down with Tony Award-winning Broadway producer and Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Dori Berinstein for an in-depth conversation recorded on opening night of the 2026 LIMEHOF Music Documentary Film Festival. Berinstein discusses her latest documentary, Kenny Loggins: Conviction of the Heart, which launched the three-day festival, and the creative journey behind bringing the life and music of one of America’s most beloved singer-songwriters to the screen. Berinstein went on to receive the festival’s Best Director Award for the film.

A six-time Tony Award-winning Broadway producer and Emmy Award-winning director and producer, Berinstein has built an acclaimed career spanning theater, film and television. Her documentary credits include Carol Channing: Larger Than Life, Marvin Hamlisch: What He Did for Love, Gotta Dance, ShowBusiness: The Road to Broadway and A Man with Sole: The Impact of Kenneth Cole. She also executive-produced Unzipped and Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story, and produced the Netflix musical film The Prom, adapted from her Broadway production. Her work reflects a deep interest in the personalities, creative processes and personal stories behind influential artists and entertainers.

Kenny Loggins: Conviction of the Heart traces the five-decade career of the Grammy and Emmy-winning musician, from his breakthrough as one half of Loggins & Messina to his successful solo career and his lasting impact on film soundtracks. The documentary explores Loggins’ evolution from a shy young musician who struggled with self-confidence into an artist who found his voice through authenticity, perseverance and reinvention. Featuring the stories behind such enduring hits as “Footloose,” “I’m Alright” and “Danger Zone,” the film examines how Loggins helped shape the sound of a generation of movies while also establishing himself as an accomplished songwriter and recording artist. It offers an intimate look at the man behind the music and the personal journey that informed his remarkable career.

The LIMEHOF Podcast, produced by the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame, features engaging conversations with leading figures in music, film and entertainment, exploring their careers, creative influences and contributions to popular culture. Past guests have included Stephen Schwartz, Taylor Dayne, DMC, Garland Jeffreys, Elliott Murphy, members of Twisted Sister and Public Enemy, and The Tokens. Through these conversations, the podcast celebrates the artists and storytellers whose work has helped shape the cultural landscape.

Buy tickets to visit LIMEHOF at:

https://www.limusichalloffame.org/tickets-and-gift-cards/

The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame is located at:

97 Main Street
Stony Brook, NY 11790
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 631-689-5888

Send us Fan Mail

On the next episode of the Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame Podcast, Tom Needham speaks with acclaimed filmmaker Juan Mandelbaum, director of the documentary Paquito D’Rivera: From Carne y Frijol to Carnegie Hall. The film recently received the Roots and Rhythm Award at the Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame Music Documentary Film Festival.

Paquito D’Rivera: From Carne y Frijol to Carnegie Hall tells the remarkable story of the Cuban-born musical prodigy who became an internationally celebrated clarinetist, saxophonist and composer. From his early years in Havana and his time with Irakere to his departure from Cuba and extraordinary career in the United States, the film explores D’Rivera’s musical curiosity, collaborations, humor and enduring ability to cross the boundaries between Latin music, jazz and classical music.

The Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame Podcast celebrates the artists, musicians and creative visionaries who have shaped the musical and cultural history of Long Island and beyond. Featuring conversations with legendary performers, influential songwriters and important figures in the entertainment industry, the podcast explores the stories, experiences and creative journeys behind the music that has inspired generations. Past guests have included Stephen Schwartz, Taylor Dayne, Gary U.S. Bonds, and members of Public Enemy, Twisted Sister, Zebra and The Tokens.

Buy tickets to visit LIMEHOF at:

https://www.limusichalloffame.org/tickets-and-gift-cards/

The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame is located at:

97 Main Street
Stony Brook, NY 11790
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 631-689-5888

Send us Fan Mail

On the next episode of the Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame Podcast, Tom Needham speaks with legendary musician Paquito D’Rivera about the new documentary, Paquito D’Rivera: From Carne y Frijol to Carnegie Hall. The film, directed by Juan Mandelbaum, recently received the Roots and Rhythm Award at the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame Music Documentary Film Festival.

Paquito D’Rivera: From Carne y Frijol to Carnegie Hall tells the remarkable story of the Cuban-born musical prodigy who became an internationally celebrated clarinetist, saxophonist and composer. From his early years in Havana and his time with Irakere to his departure from Cuba and extraordinary career in the United States, the film explores D’Rivera’s musical curiosity, collaborations, humor and enduring ability to cross the boundaries between Latin music, jazz and classical music.

The award-winning LIMEHOF Podcast features conversations with musicians, filmmakers, authors and more. Past guests include Stephen Schwartz, Taylor Dayne, Melanie, and members of Twisted Sister, Blue Oyster Cult, Public Enemy, Foghat, Zebra, Run DMC and more.

The LIMEHOF Podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music

Buy tickets to visit LIMEHOF at:

https://www.limusichalloffame.org/tickets-and-gift-cards/

The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame is located at:

97 Main Street
Stony Brook, NY 11790
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 631-689-5888

Send us Fan Mail

On the next Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame Podcast, Tom Needham speaks with LIMEHOF inductee Albert Bouchard, founding member of Blue Öyster Cult, about his new album, Imaginos IV: Rhyme of the Star Clock. Bouchard will bring the Imaginos Band to the Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame in Stony Brook on Saturday, October 17 at 8 p.m. for a special release celebration featuring songs from the new album, Blue Öyster Cult classics and a special preview of the upcoming Imaginos film.

Imaginos IV: Rhyme of the Star Clock continues Bouchard’s decades-long musical collaboration with the late Sandy Pearlman and expands the sprawling Imaginos saga. After discovering a cache of previously unseen Pearlman writings in his former East Setauket home, Bouchard found additional lyrics that filled in previously unexplored portions of the story. The new album begins with “Young Imaginos,” which precedes the events of the original Imaginos, and continues the story through songs including “Four Winds Bar,” “Crystal Ship Plutonia,” “Edge of a Knife” and “Night and Fog.” The album features an impressive collection of guest musicians and represents another chapter in a project that Bouchard originally envisioned with Pearlman decades ago.

The Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame Podcast features in-depth conversations with musicians, filmmakers, authors, actors and other influential figures from the worlds of music and entertainment. Hosted by Tom Needham, the podcast has featured guests including Stephen Schwartz, Taylor Dayne, Gary U.S. Bonds and members of Public Enemy, Twisted Sister, Zebra, the Tokens and many more. The podcast is part of Needham’s long-running work in music, film and entertainment broadcasting, connecting listeners with the artists and creators behind some of the most memorable music, films and cultural moments

Buy tickets to visit LIMEHOF at:

https://www.limusichalloffame.org/tickets-and-gift-cards/

The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame is located at:

97 Main Street
Stony Brook, NY 11790
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 631-689-5888

Send us Fan Mail

Tom Needham speaks with director Maria Diane Ventura and Eraserheads frontman Ely Buendia about Eraserheads: Combo on the Run, an intimate and revealing documentary that captures the story of one of the Philippines’ most influential bands. Together, they discuss the creative process behind the film, the emotional journey of revisiting the band’s history, and how music, storytelling, and vulnerability can open the door to healing and reconciliation.

The film is an official selection at the Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame Music Documentary Film Festival.

Eraserheads: Combo on the Run traces the band’s evolution from their formation in 1989 to their rise as a defining voice in Filipino music and their powerful reunion decades later. Blending archival footage with candid, behind-the-scenes access, the film explores fame, fracture, and redemption, while placing the band’s journey within the broader cultural and political landscape of the Philippines. At its core, the documentary is not just about music, but about growth, accountability, and the enduring connections that can bring people back together.

The LIMEHOF Podcast is hosted by Tom Needham and features in-depth conversations with some of the most influential figures in music, entertainment, film and popular culture. Previous guests have included DMC of Run-DMC, Roger Earl of Foghat, Broadway legend Stephen Schwartz, Taylor Dayne, hip-hop pioneer Kurtis Blow, Garland Jeffreys, members of Twisted Sister and the Tokens and many other notable artists, filmmakers and cultural figures. The podcast is presented by the Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame and offers listeners an inside look at the careers, creative processes and stories behind some of the most important names in music and entertainment.

Buy tickets to visit LIMEHOF at:

https://www.limusichalloffame.org/tickets-and-gift-cards/

The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame is located at:

97 Main Street
Stony Brook, NY 11790
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 631-689-5888

Send us Fan Mail

On the next LIMEHOF Podcast, Tom Needham speaks with filmmaker Archie Snowden, director of The Long Island Underground Legends of Hip-Hop, an important new documentary exploring the artists, DJs, MCs and performers who helped establish Long Island as a significant force in the development of hip-hop. Snowden discusses the process of bringing this largely untold history to the screen, from researching the era and tracking down the people who lived it to gathering archival footage, photographs and music that help tell the story. The Long Island Underground Legends of Hip-Hop will be screened at the LIMEHOF Music Documentary Film Festival on September 26th.

The documentary takes viewers inside the Long Island hip-hop scene and examines the people and culture that helped shape it, including JVC FORCE, Son of Bazerk and other influential performers. Snowden discusses the challenges of documenting a music movement whose history has often been overshadowed by the better-known story of hip-hop’s New York City origins, as well as the importance of hearing directly from the artists who were there. The conversation explores the research, interviews, archival discoveries and storytelling decisions that went into preserving this important chapter of Long Island music history.

The LIMEHOF Podcast is hosted by Tom Needham and features in-depth conversations with some of the most influential figures in music, entertainment, film and popular culture. Previous guests have included DMC of Run-DMC, Roger Earl of Foghat, Broadway legend Stephen Schwartz, Taylor Dayne, hip-hop pioneer Kurtis Blow, Garland Jeffreys, members of Twisted Sister and the Tokens and many other notable artists, filmmakers and cultural figures. The podcast is presented by the Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame and offers listeners an inside look at the careers, creative processes and stories behind some of the most important names in music and entertainment.

Buy tickets to visit LIMEHOF at:

https://www.limusichalloffame.org/tickets-and-gift-cards/

The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame is located at:

97 Main Street
Stony Brook, NY 11790
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 631-689-5888

Send us Fan Mail

Peter Asher: Everywhere Man is screening at the Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame Music Documentary Film Festival on Sunday, September 27th at 2:45 pm.

Peter Asher’s extraordinary life has intersected with some of the greatest artists and musical moments of the last six decades. A child actor who became one half of the British Invasion duo Peter & Gordon—whose worldwide No. 1 hit “A World Without Love” was written by Paul McCartney—Asher went on to become head of A&R at the Beatles’ Apple Records, where he signed and produced a young James Taylor. He then moved to America and became Taylor’s manager and producer, helping establish him as one of the defining singer-songwriters of his generation. Asher also guided and produced the remarkable career of Linda Ronstadt, working on landmark albums including Heart Like a Wheel, Simple Dreams and What’s New. 

A multiple Grammy Award winner and two-time Producer of the Year, Asher has worked with an extraordinary roster of artists while remaining a vital creative force to this day. Zelig-like in his ability to appear at pivotal moments in music history, Asher’s story connects the Beatles and Apple Records to the rise of the California singer-songwriter, the careers of Taylor and Ronstadt, and generations of artists who followed. 

Featuring intimate interviews with James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, Carole King, Kate Taylor, Lyle Lovett, Natalie Merchant, Marianne Faithfull, Paul Jones, Danny Kortchmar, Waddy Wachtel, Lee Sklar, John Boylan, Paul Shaffer, and Paul McCartney [in voiceover], as well as cultural icons Steve Martin, Eric Idle, Twiggy, and Pattie Boyd. The soundtrack, woven from the timeless music of the artists whose lives intersected with Asher’s, creates a score as unforgettable as the story itself. 

Directors: Daniel Geller and Dayna Goldfine (Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, a Journey, a Song; Ballets Russes). 

Buy tickets to visit LIMEHOF at:

https://www.limusichalloffame.org/tickets-and-gift-cards/

The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame is located at:

97 Main Street
Stony Brook, NY 11790
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 631-689-5888

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of the LIMEHOF Podcast, we welcome legendary British singer, songwriter, bassist, and guitarist John Ford. From helping shape the sound of the Strawbs to enjoying chart success with Hudson-Ford, The Monks, and a celebrated solo career, Ford reflects on more than five decades in music while discussing his outstanding new album, Between a Rock and a Hard Place.

John Ford’s remarkable career has taken him from the psychedelic sounds of Elmer Gantry’s Velvet Opera to the progressive rock success of the Strawbs, where he co-wrote the classic hit “Part of the Union,” earning an Ivor Novello Award and multiple gold and platinum records. He later found success with Hudson-Ford and The Monks before launching an enduring solo career that continues today with Between a Rock and a Hard Place, a vibrant collection of new songs and thoughtfully chosen covers that showcases his timeless songwriting and musicianship.

The LIMEHOF Podcast features in-depth conversations with some of the biggest names in music, film, and entertainment. Previous guests have included Stephen Schwartz, Taylor Dayne, DMC, Garland Jeffreys, members of Twisted Sister, Public Enemy, The Tokens, Elliott Murphy, and many other artists, filmmakers, authors, and music industry leaders, preserving their stories and celebrating their lasting impact on popular culture.

Buy tickets to visit LIMEHOF at:

https://www.limusichalloffame.org/tickets-and-gift-cards/

The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame is located at:

97 Main Street
Stony Brook, NY 11790
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 631-689-5888