Send us a textListen to a special Q&A featuring host Tom Needham, director Ellen Goldfarb and iconic WLIR DJs Denis McNamara and Larry "The Duck" Dunn. This event took place during a screening of the acclaimed documentary "New Wave: Dare to Be Different" at the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame. The documentary, directed by Goldfarb, delves into the revolutionary role of Garden City-based radio station WLIR in transforming the 1980s music scene. The Q&A session provided an intimate glimpse into the station's groundbreaking efforts and the personal experiences of those who made it all happen.WLIR was a trailblazer in the U.S. music industry, being the first to introduce American audiences to now-legendary bands like The Cure, U2, The Smiths, and New Order. Under the guidance of program director Denis McNamara, who joined the station in the mid-1970s, WLIR shifted from album-oriented rock to a daring New Wave format in the 1980s. This bold move not only set the station apart but also played a pivotal role in shaping the national musical landscape. This podcast episode, recorded at the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame, also highlighted the station's significant influence on the local club scene.The special screening event and podcast recording at the Hall of Fame provide a nostalgic yet insightful journey into WLIR's legacy. Ellen Goldfarb, Denis McNamara, and Larry Dunn share anecdotes and behind-the-scenes stories that illuminate the station's fearless approach to programming and its enduring impact on music culture. 

Send us a textRon Alexenburg has over 60 years of experience in the music industry. In 1965, he joined CBS Records and soon moved onto Columbia Records, where he became the youngest head of promotion in the company’s history, working with the label’s top talent. He rose through the ranks at Columbia, eventually becoming senior vice president and general manager of Epic Records, a division of CBS Records Group. Over the years, Alexenburg has worked directly with many recording artists, including Boston, Meat Loaf, Charlie Daniels, and Michael Jackson. Under his helm, Michael Jackson’s Thriller became—and still is—the best-selling album of all time.

Send us a textKurtis Blow was inducted into the Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame in 2014.Kurtis Walker—known to the world as Kurtis Blow—kicked off his career in the 1970s as Kool DJ Kurt, spinning records and making waves. He became the first rapper to achieve commercial success and land a major record deal with Mercury. His 1980 debut album featured “The Breaks,” the first rap song to go certified gold. He is known for his songs "Basketball," "Christmas Rappin," "If I Ruled the World, and "Hard Times."Over his career, Blow has released 15 albums and crafted hits for The Fat Boys and Run DMC (with Run initially billed as “The Son of Kurtis Blow”). Blow has also produced or collaborated with legends like Lovebug Starski, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Full Force, Russell Simmons, and Wyclef Jean.Kurtis Blow also starred in the film Krush Groove along with Run DMC, Sheila E. and The Fat Boys.This interview originally aired on Tom Needham's The Sounds of Film.

Send us a textJay Jay French will be joining Tom Needham for an extended conversation about his documentary We Are Twisted F***ING Sister.  The film focuses on the ten grueling years leading up to Twisted Sister's commercial breakthrough as they cross-dressed their way all over Long Island bars and clubs to super-stardom.Twisted Sister was a dangerous combination of the New York Dolls’ glam, KISS’ theatrics, and the shock-rock styling of Alice Cooper. In 1972, Jay Jay French formed a glam-rock cover band modeled after the New York Dolls. An apprenticeship on the local Long Island club scene followed, and, by early 1976, French hired Dee Snider and along with fellow guitarist and high school buddy Eddie “Fingers” Ojeda,  gave the band’s glam sound a kick in the chops and also quickly developed into the dominant songwriter. After a rotating array of ex members who couldn’t maintain the work schedule of 250 nights a year x 4 shows per night for 10 years,  Long Island native, bass player Mark “The Animal ” Mendoza (formerly of the punk legends The Dictators) joined in 1978 which also made the band much heavier sonically. The Long Island  club scene exploded (drinking age was 18) with ever larger rooms Twisted Sister started setting attendance records in many Long Island Clubs such as Speaks in Island Park, Hammerheads in Levittown & East Islip, The Mad Hatter in Stony Brook, and the Mad Hatter in East Quogue which, after many rejections, led to a record deal. In 1982 drummer AJ Pero completed the band line up.  In 1984, with the simultaneous explosion of MTV, and their groundbreaking videos,TS released their third album Stay Hungry, (7 million sold worldwide and counting..) that included the monster hits “We’re Not Gonna Take It” and “I Wanna Rock.” The band recorded and toured extensively around the world  (they took a hiatus from 1988-2001) and returned to become one of the biggest bands on the European and South American rock and metal festival circuit from 2003-2016In 2006 TS released A Twisted Christmas, the most successful heavy metal Christmas album in history.Drummer AJ Pero passed away in 2015 and was replaced by legendary Long Island drummer Mike Portnoy for the band’s remaining live performances.This interview originally aired on Tom Needham's The Sounds of Film

Send us a textBlue Öyster Cult was inducted into the Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame in 2008. Albert Bouchard will be performing with some past and current members of the band at LIMEHOF's 20th Anniversary Concert Honoring Billy Joel on June 7th at the Tilles Center.Albert Bouchard, a globally recognized Grammy® Nominated songwriter and rock drummer, has sold over 24 million albums worldwide. As a co-founder of the renowned band 'Blue Öyster Cult,' his innovative drumming style has left an indelible mark on both fellow musicians and devoted fans.Early Musical JourneyAlbert embarked on his musical journey at a young age, growing up on a bustling family farm in Clayton, New York, amidst six siblings. His inaugural musical endeavor, 'The Regal Tones,' featured Albert on drums alongside his brother Joe and cousin Teddy. Their performances, often held on weekends, quickly gained popularity, with barn dances turning into sold-out sensations. Albert's musical pursuits led him to college, where he formed the successful band 'Travesty,' ultimately prompting him to leave college and establish what would later evolve into Blue Öyster Cult.Blue Öyster Cult and Global RecognitionIn 1967, Albert co-founded Blue Öyster Cult, a heavyweight rock ensemble originating from New York. The band's rapid ascent to fame saw the release of several albums, notably the 1976 hit 'Agents of Fortune,' distributed by Columbia Records, featuring their chart-topping single 'Don't Fear the Reaper.' This iconic track soared up the Billboard charts, achieving international acclaim and securing a permanent spot in rock history. Albert's influential presence within the band was instrumental in shaping its trajectory, even inspiring the legendary "More Cowbell" sketch on Saturday Night Live, starring Christopher Walken and Will Ferrell.Blue Coupe and Grammy AccoladesFollowing his tenure with Blue Öyster Cult, Albert collaborated with esteemed acts such as The Mamas & The Papas, the Spencer Davis Group, and Peter Noone of Hermans Hermits. After a brief hiatus to pursue academic endeavors, obtaining both a BA and MA in English, Albert formed 'The Brain Surgeons' before co-founding the successful outfit Blue Coupe, featuring renowned bassist Dennis Dunaway from Alice Cooper. Their critically acclaimed album 'Tornado on the Tracks' garnered multiple Grammy nominations and showcased the exceptional talent of The Doors' guitarist, Robby Krieger. Blue Coupe's ongoing tours across North America and Europe, including standout performances at the New York City Halloween Parade, continue to captivate audiences worldwide.Albert remains an active presence in the music scene, touring internationally and imparting his knowledge to aspiring musicians. 

Original sax player for Billy Joel, Richie Cannata, shares stories of collaborating with Billy, touring, and producing albums. Reflects on the challenges of a music career and emotional moments performing at Madison Square Garden.

Send us a textCarter Burwell was inducted into the Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame Hall of Fame in 2016.Carter Burwell was born on November 18, 1954. He graduated from Harvard College in 1977. While at Harvard, he studied animation with Mary Beams and George Griffin, electronic music with Ivan Tcherepnin, and pursued a course of independent study at the MIT Media Lab (then known as the Architecture Machine Group). After graduation he became a teaching assistant in the Harvard Electronic Music Studio. In 1979, his animated film Help, I’m Being Crushed to Death by a Black Rectangle won first place at the Jacksonville Film Festival and second place at the Ottawa International Animation Festival. From 1979 to 1981 Burwell worked as chief computer scientist at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in Long Island, where he wrote software for image processing, lab automation, and protein analysis. From 1982 to 1987, he worked at the New York Institute of Technology where he began as a computer modeler and animator but later became director of digital sound research. During this time, he worked on many computer-animated television spots and films, ultimately contributing models and animation to the Japanese anime Lensman. During the 1980s, Burwell pursued a parallel career in music, playing with a number of bands in New York City. He was also writing music for dance, theatre, and film. Since this time, he has scored a number of feature films—including Miller’s Crossing, Barton Fink, Being John Malkovich, and The Kids Are All Right—while teaching and continuing to compose dance, theater, and other work.This interview previously aired on Tom Needham's The Sounds of Film.The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame is located at: Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame 97 Main Street Stony Brook, NY 11790

Send us a textLong Island Music Hall of Fame Inductee, Elliott Murphy, joins Tom Needham on the Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame Podcast to discuss his film, BROKEN POET.BROKEN POET is the story of 1970's rock star Jake Lion, who was presumed dead in Paris until his former roadie Plynth happens to be riding in the Paris Metro forty years after Jake's much publicized suicide and happens to hear an aged street musician who sounds just like him.In search of an exclusive story, 'Rolling Stone' publisher Kathy Madison sends rock journalist Meg Trudeau to Paris to investigate. Before leaving Meg visits Bruce Springsteen and Patti Scialfa at their New Jersey home in hopes of gaining insight into Jake Lion's successful career and tragic death.BROKEN POET stars Elliott Murphy and is based on his original short story, "The Lion Sleeps Tonight." It features significant cameos from Bruce Springsteen and Patti Scialfa. The film, directed by Emilio Ruiz Barrachina, is an independent production that has received unique sponsorship from 'Rolling Stone Magazine.'Elliott Murphy is a musician, novelist, producer and journalist who lives in Paris. In 1973, he released the critically-acclaimed AQUASHOW. In 2018, he was was inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame by his friend, Billy Joel.This interview originally aired on Tom Needham's THE SOUNDS OF FILM

Send us a textTom Needham speaks with LIMEHOF inductees EPMD members Erick Sermon, Parrish Smith and DJ Diamond the Artist.Trailblazing hip-hop group EPMD consists of Erick Sermon (E Double) and Parrish Smith (Parrish Mic Doc), who met in high school in their hometown of Brentwood, New York. Inspired by funky hardcore acts such as Eric B. & Rakim and Public Enemy, the duo formed EPMD, the group name a fusion of their own names—“E” and “PMD”—creating the acronym for “Erick and Parrish Making Dollars.” EPMD’s first album, Strictly Business, dropped in 1988, and the group’s had six albums since, all with the word “business” in the titles—Unfinished Business (1989), Business as Usual (1990), Business Never Personal (1992), Back in Business (1997), Out of Business (1999), and We Mean Business (2008). (Every album also has a track with “Jane” in the title.) EPMD has been active for more than 30 years (not counting two breakups, in 1993 and 1999) and continues to be one of the most prominent acts in East Coast hip-hop.This interview previously aired on Tom Needham's Sounds of Film.

Send us a textFor more than fifty years, Wayne Robins has been recognized as one of America’s top music and pop culture journalists.Beginning with his first professional job in 1972 at CBS Records, Wayne’s mid-70’s writings for Rolling Stone, New Musical Express, Melody Maker, The Village Voice and Creem Magazine (where he also served as Editor) eventually brought him home to Long Island to serve as Newsday’s pop music writer in 1975. For the next 20 years, Wayne’s reviews, interviews and reporting were ‘must-reading’ for music fans locally and beyond. In 1986, Goldmine Magazine named Wayne as America’s Best Rock Writer.Wayne’s writing can be found on numerous album liner notes and booklets, including his 3,000 word essay for the 2014 Sony Music DVD package release of “Billy Joel : The Bridge to Russia.”Wayne’s post Newsday work included stints at Billboard and Radio and Records magazines. He currently writes the widely popular ‘Critical Conditions’ column on substack.com.The author of several books – including the influential “A Brief History of Rock; Off The Record’ – coupled with his many publications and book chapter contributions are highlights of Wayne’s resume as Adjunct Professor of Journalism at St. John’s University where, as an award-winning faculty member, he trains a new generation of journalists and critics. He serves as a member of the editorial board, Rock Music Studies (Routledge).Wayne Robins’ journalistic work has influenced the musical tastes and interests of a generation of Long Islanders. He covered the birth of the punk scene and new wave. He wrote about reggae entering the American music mainstream. Whether he was covering concerts at Nassau Coliseum and Westbury Music Fair or at one of Long Island’s many legendary clubs, he credits Newsday as giving him the space to write, think, examine, and interpret. His goal as a journalist has always been to educate, entertain, inform and illuminate. His readers trust him to be honest and fair while his interviews are ‘master classes’ in the art of songwriting and performing.