Send us a textJimmy Webb will be discussing his  autobiography, The Cake and the Rain. Jimmy Webb is one of America’s most celebrated songwriters and composers. He has written many platinum hits including “MacArthur Park,” “The Worst That Could Happen,” “By the Time I Get To Phoenix,” and “Witchita Lineman.” He is especially well-known for his work with Glen Campbell, the 5th Dimension and Art Garfunkel. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1990, received the National Academy of Songwriters Lifetime Achievement Award in 1993, and received the Ivor Novello Special International Award in 2012. He is also the only person to ever receive Grammy Awards for music, lyrics and orchestration. Jimmy Webb's memoir, The Cake and the Rain, delivers a snapshot of his life from 1955 to the 1970’s. Jimmy Webb is one of many artists who will be performing at the Long Island Music & Entertainment's 20th Anniversary Concert Honoring Billy Joel at the Tilles Center on June 7th 2024.This interview aired previously on Tom Needham's The Sounds of Film.

Send us a textLong Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame Inductee, Liberty DeVitto, played drums on every Billy Joel album from 1976-1993, including the albums Turnstiles, The Stranger, 52nd Street, Glass Houses, and An Innocent Man. He is also prominently featured in the documentary Billy Joel: A Matter of Trust - The Bridge to Russia. DeVitto said, "Long Island was a huge part of our success. All of the guys hung out and had fun together. In fact, the one thing that we could always relate to was that we all grew up on Long Island."Through the years, he has worked with a variety of artists including Karen Carpenter, Meatloaf, Carly Simon and Stevie Nicks. For the last several years, he has been part of the popular rock group the Slim Kings. In 2014, Liberty was inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame along with fellow Billy Joel band members Russell Javors, Doug Stegmeyer and Richie Cannata. After their induction, DeVitto, Javors and Cannata announced that they were reuniting and performing together as a group named the Lords of 52nd Street.This interviewed aired previously on Tom Needham's The Sounds of Film.

Send us a textLegendary member of the rock group Vanilla Fudge, Carmine Appice, will be Tom Needham’s exclusive guest for the Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame Podcast. He will be talking about Vanilla Fudge’s influential music career and their DVD/CD, ‘Live At Sweden Rock – The 50th Anniversary.’Originally formed in 1967, Long Island’s Vanilla Fudge members Carmine Appice, Mark Stein, Vinny Martell and Tim Bogart became famous for playing re-vamped rock versions of popular soul hits. They became one of the most successful psychedelic rock groups to emerge out of the 1960’s with sold out world tours, hit singles and albums, and a reputation for cutting-edge musicianship. At one point, they toured with Jimi Hendrix, and Led Zepplin was their opening act. Their hit single “You Keep Me Hanging On” landed them on ‘The Ed Sullivan Show,’ ‘The Dick Cavett Show’ and ‘The Merv Griffin Show.’  On October 15, 2006, Vanilla Fudge was inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame along with Billy Joel, Joan Jett and Twisted Sister.Vanilla Fudge’s ‘Live at Sweden Rock – The 50th Anniversary’ DVD/CD captures the group’s amazing performance in front of an audience of thousands.  The concert film features psychedelic re-workings of songs by The Doors, The Monkees, Donovan and Led Zepplin.  It also showcases five decades of rock ‘n’ roll history. 

Send us a textStephen Schwartz joins Tom Needham for a conversation about his career and his induction into the Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame. Stephen Schwartz was born in New York City and studied piano and composition at the Juilliard School while in high school and graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in 1968 with a B.F.A. in drama. Upon returning to New York, he worked as an A&R producer for RCA Records but shortly thereafter began to work in the Broadway theater. His first major credit was the title song for the play Butterflies Are Free, which was eventually used in the film adaptation as well. In 1971, he wrote the music and new lyrics for Godspell, for which he won two Grammys, among other awards. This was followed by the English texts, in collaboration with Leonard Bernstein, for Bernstein’s Mass, which opened the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. The following year, he wrote the music and lyrics for Pippin, and two years later, The Magic Show. At one point, Godspell, Pippin, and The Magic Show were all running on Broadway simultaneously.  He next wrote the music and lyrics for The Baker’s Wife, followed by a musical version of Studs Terkel’s Working, to which he contributed four songs and which he also adapted and directed, winning a Drama Desk Award for Best Director. He also co-directed the television production, which was presented as part of the PBS American Playhouse series. Other work for the musical theater includes lyrics to Rags (music by Charles Strouse), music and lyrics for Children of Eden, and two musicals produced overseas, Mit Eventyr (My Fairy Tale) in Denmark and Schikaneder in Austria. He has also written songs for two musicals for young audiences, Captain Louie and My Son, Pinocchio. Compilation revues of his work include Snapshots and, for Princess Cruise Lines, Magic to Do. For film, he collaborated with composer Alan Menken on the songs for Disney’s Pocahontas, for which he received two Academy Awards and another Grammy, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Enchanted. He also provided songs for DreamWorks’ first animated feature, The Prince of Egypt, for which he won another Academy Award for the song “When You Believe.” The Hunchback of Notre Dame and The Prince of Egypt have both been adapted for the stage. His most recent stage musical, Wicked, opened in the fall of 2003 and is currently running on Broadway and in several other productions around the world. He received another Grammy for the cast recording, and in 2008, Wicked reached its 1,900th performance on Broadway, making him the only songwriter in Broadway history ever to have three shows run more than 1,900 performances. His first opera, Séance on A Wet Afternoon, premiered at Opera Santa Barbara in 2009 and was subsequently produced by New York City Opera. His frequently performed choral works include Testimony, based on the It Gets Better Project, Keramos, and part of the Tyler Clemente Suite. He has also released two singer-songwriter CDs, Reluctant Pilgrim and Uncharted Territory. He has been awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and been inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. In 2015, he received the Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award for his humanitarian and mentorship contributions to the theater. A book about his career, Defying Gravity, was published by Applause Books.

Send us a textLong Island, New York, Music, Garland Jeffreys: The King of In Between Director, Claire Jeffreys, Up Next on THE LONG ISLAND MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT HALL OF FAME PODCAST"Garland Jeffreys: The King Of In Between" is a captivating music documentary directed by Claire Jeffreys, shedding light on the remarkable yet underappreciated career of Garland Jeffreys, a musician whose critical acclaim far outweighed his commercial success. The film explores Garland's life, shaped by his diverse heritage and early exposure to a wide range of musical influences, from doo-wop to jazz and rock'n'roll. Despite facing challenges in a music industry plagued by categorization, Garland emerged as a unique force with his solo debut album in 1973, earning praise from critics. The documentary delves into pivotal moments in Garland's career, such as the release of "Don't Call Me Buckwheat" in the early '90s, addressing racial struggles and musical diversity. Claire Jeffreys, Garland's longtime manager and spouse, skillfully navigates the delicate balance of filmmaker's distance, portraying not only the intricacies of his musical journey but also the love story between them. The film culminates in a celebration of Garland's career in 2019, providing a poignant reflection on his legacy and redefining the conventional notions of success in the music industry. Through interviews with music luminaries like Bruce Springsteen and Laurie Anderson, the documentary paints a vivid portrait of a musician who, despite not achieving mainstream fame, left an indelible mark on the American music landscape.The film just received the Audience Award at DOC NYC. This interview originally aired on Tom Needham's THE SOUNDS OF FILMTHE SOUNDS OF FILM is the nation's longest running film and music themed radio show. For the past 30 years, the program has delivered a popular mix of interviews and music to listeners all over Long Island, parts of Connecticut and streaming live worldwide on the internet. Past people interviewed for the show include Alec Baldwin, Billy Joel, Jimmy Webb, Garland Jeffreys, Laurie Anderson, Wallace Shawn, Dionne Warwick and Alexander Payne.Worldwide listeners can tune into the internet livestream on Thursday's SOUNDS OF FILM at 6 pm EST at wusb.fm.

Send us a textWOODSTOCK legend, Melanie, is Tom Needham’s special guests on THE LONG ISLAND MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT HALL OF FAME PODCAST Melanie died on January 23rd, 2024. In remembrance, Tom Needham shares a special conversation that he had with Melanie around the time that she was inducted into the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame in 2018.Long Island Music Hall of Fame inductee Melanie is originally from Astoria, Queens.  She is best known for her hits “Brand New Key,” “Beautiful People,” and “Lay Down (Candles in the Rain).”  In 1969, she performed at the historic Woodstock Festival. Afterwards, she scored hits with “Peace Will Come” and a cover of the Rolling Stones’ “Ruby Tuesday.  Throughout her career, she has sold over 80 million records. In 1989, Melanie won an Emmy Award for writing the lyrics to the theme song for the TV series ‘Beauty and the Beast.’  In 2012 she collaborated with John Haldoupis to create an original musical about her love story with her late husband, Peter, called ‘Melanie and the Record Man.’ They discuss her DVD called ‘Melanie: Live at the Meltdown Festival 2007.’ The film captures Melanie’s triumphant return to London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall.This interview previously aired on Tom Needham’s THE SOUNDS OF FILM. Worldwide listeners can tune into the internet livestream of THE SOUNDS OF FILM on Thursday at 6 pm at wusb.fm.

Send us a textMusic Legend Gary U.S. Bonds Joins Tom Needham on The Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame Podcast.  Gary U.S. Bonds had his first smash hit in 1960 with the relentless pounder "New Orleans.”The follow-up was the now legendary 'party' record, "Quarter to Three," a number one hit with a spirit and energy that would eventually inspire and influence a generation. In fact, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame lists "Quarter to Three" as one of the 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.Over the next three years, Gary co-wrote and recorded hit after good-time hit; "School is Out," "School is In," "Dear Lady Twist," "Twist, Twist Senora," "Seven Day Weekend" and others. He performed throughout the world, rising to a status so high that on a 1963 tour of Europe, he headlined above a group of relative newcomers... The Beatles.A rare distinction for Gary is that he managed to transcend the decades with hits. His inspiration for Bruce Springsteen and Stevie Van Zandt, who had grown up on Bonds' music led to a chance meeting in 1980. A friendship developed and, shortly after, a musical collaboration which resulted in Bonds' "Dedication" and "On the Line" LPs, with singles: "This Little Girl Is Mine," "Out of Work," "Jolé Blon" and "Daddy's Come Home". Reviews noted "...His gritty, soulful and powerful vocals... even better than before...". Gary received a Recording Academy / GRAMMYs nomination for Rock Male Vocalist in 1982 for "Dedication". In 2004, Gary released his critically acclaimed CD, "Back in 20" teaming up with Springsteen once again along with Southside Johnny, Dickey Betts and Phoebe Snow. That album went on to win The Blues Foundation's WC Handy Award for "Comeback Album of the Year".Gary's success as a songwriter goes beyond his own Rock 'n Roll and R&B hits. He has also garnered a nomination for the Country Music Association's "Songwriter of the Year" for Johnny Paycheck’s smash hit, "Friend Don't Take Her, She's All I've Got".Gary is an honoree of the Rhythm & Blues Foundation, an inductee of the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame and a "favorite son" of The Blues Brothers (you can see Gary in the "Blues Brothers 2000" movie, singing his classic "New Orleans" along with a multitude of music legends like Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Eric Clapton, Travis Tritt, Lou Rawls and many, many more).Gary is also a highly respected golfer, often invited to play at celebrity/PGA events. Among his proudest tournament achievements are his two time wins at the Chrysler Cup, with renowned legends, Lee Trevino and Chi Chi Rodriguez.Today, Gary U.S. Bonds has turned author with his acclaimed memoir "By U.S. Bonds - That's my Story," which Kirkus Reviews calls "A worthwhile Rock 'n' Roll memoir, and an inspiring story about following one's bliss."This interview originally aired on Tom Needham’s The Sounds of FilmThe Sounds of Film is the nation's longest-running film and music themed radio show. For the past 30 years, the program has delivered a popular mix of interviews and music to listeners all over Long Island, parts of Connecticut and streaming worldwide live on the internet. Previous interviewees include Laurie Anderson, Dionne Warwick, Congressman Steve Israel, Jimmy Webb, William H. Macy, Connie Stevens, Chuck D, Julie Andrews, Vanilla Fudge, and Billy Joel. Worldwide listeners of the SOUNDS OF FILM can tune into the internet livestream on Thursday at 6 pm EST at wusb.fm.

Send us a textThe Fat Boys' Kool Rock-Ski Raps with Tom Needham on the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame PodcastThe Fat Boys were an American hip hop trio from Brooklyn, New York, who emerged in the early 1980s. The group was composed of Mark "Prince Markie Dee" Morales, Damon "Kool Rock-Ski" Wimbley, and Darren "Buff Love" Robinson.The Fat Boys were one of the first rap groups to release full-length rap albums. They released seven studio albums, four of which went Gold.The first two albums of the group were produced by Kurtis Blow. Successful singles included "Jail House Rap", "Can You Feel It?", "Fat Boys", "Stick 'Em", "Don't You Dog Me", "All You Can Eat", "The Fat Boys Are Back", and "Pump It Up".The album Crushin' received a Platinum status due to their single "Wipeout", which was recorded together with The Beach Boys.The group also starred in Hollywood movies in the 1980s including Krush Groove and Disorderlies, as well as in several music documentaries.In 2023,  the Fat Boys were selected to be inducted into the Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame at a special Hip Hop 50th Anniversary Concert and Panel Discussion featuring Son of Bazerk, DJ Jazzy Jay, Leaders Of The New School’s DINCO D, JVC Force’s AJ Rok, Public Enemy's Johnny Juice and Keith Schocklee, Video Music Box’s Ralph McDaniels, and the SOUNDS OF FILM’S Tom Needham. This interview was originally recorded for Tom Needham's The Sounds of Film.

Send us a textLegendary Psychedelic Rock Band THE ILLUSION Up Next on The Long Island Music and Entertainment Podcast withTom NeedhamMembers of THE ILLUSION join Tom Needham this week to discuss their induction into the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame.THE ILLUSION was one of Long Island’s greatest bands between 1965-1972. They are remembered for their incredible harmonies, insane light shows, raw energy, intense mind-expanding sound effects, and great musicianship.THE ILLUSION’s first release was a single titled “My Party.” The song was written and produced by Mitch Ryder. In 1967 the band did their first national tour with Mitch Ryder. Later, THE ILLUSION began recording their first album which was produced by Jeff Barry. The album did very well, and the band had a hit with “Did You See Her Eyes?” The song went to #1 in some areas of New York and #22 in the nation. They went on to record two other albums.At the peak of their popularity, the group toured America opening for The Who, Jimi Hendrix, The Allman Brothers Band, Chicago and Sly and the Family Stone.THE ILLUSION’s drummer Mike Ricciardella, guitarist Rich Cerniglia and bassist Chuck Alder join Tom Needham to talk about their historic career, musical milestones and upcoming induction.This interview originally aired on Tom Needham's THE SOUNDS OF FILM.

Send us a textMusic Legend Taylor Dayne Talks Life & Career on The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame PodcastBoasting a remarkable global impact, Taylor has sold an astounding 75 million albums and singles worldwide. She has garnered three Grammy nominations, an American Music Award, multiple New York Music Awards, and prestigious recognition in the Long Island Music & Entertainment Music Hall of Fame. Her incredible versatility shines through as she holds the remarkable distinction of being ranked as the Number 18 Female Dance artist of all time by Rolling Stone magazine. She is also one of the few artists who has crossed over into various musical genres, conquering the charts in Pop, Dance, R&B, Adult Contemporary, and Rock. By the late 90s, Taylor's career grew further as an actress. She appeared in film, TV and stage, from Broadway favorites like Elton John's award-winning production of "Aida," and Mel Brooks "Archie" and "Mehitable," to working with legendary composer Jules Styne to reprise the role of Fanny Brice on Broadway. Taylor also appeared in movies including "Love Affair" with Warren Beatty and Annette Benning and co-starred in Denis Leary's TV drama "Rescue Me". She also starred in the HBO film "STAG" and co-starred on Showtime's original series "Rude Awakening.” Don't miss out on this extraordinary conversation with Taylor Dayne as she shares her remarkable career and experiences. This interview originally aired on Tom Needham's the Sounds of Film.