Outreach

The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame offers a dynamic multimedia lecture series—a traveling exhibit—for schools (pre-school through college) and libraries that is designed to celebrate music made by Long Islanders for over a century. The series has been featured in many Long Island facilities, including the Port Washington Library and Oceanside Library, and is presented by respected and experienced local musicians. For example, LIMHOF brought an exhibit titled “Music and Motorcycles” to Lighthouse Harley Davidson in Huntington that included a weekend of both music performances and the display of bikes and memorabilia, generously loaned by Hall of Fame inductees Bill Joel and members of Twisted Sister.

Some of LIMHOF’s other programs include:

• “The Sounds of Long Island Jazz”: Performer Napoleon Revels-Bey’s New Mo Swing Ensemble explores the history and cultural influence of jazz—how it migrated from the south to cities like Chicago and New York and to the shores of Long Island—through some of its most famous entertainers such as Count Basie, Mariah Carey, Ellie Greenwich, Guy Lombardo, and John Coltrane.
• “The History of Blues on Long Island”: Using authentic old-time instruments, musician Toby Walker paints music pictures of his travels throughout the southern United States, where he learned his art directly from old-time blues musicians. He coaxes the sounds of a locomotive, a Model-T Ford, and a little boy’s voice out of a harmonica. He demonstrates a one-string diddley bow, a 1930s steel guitar, and a modern Fender electric guitar. Walker also offers a blues songwriting workshop where students are taught to collaborate with one another to write their own blues lyrics.
• “Songs of Wonderful Women Musicians of Long Island”: Folk singer and children’s music artist Patricia Shih presents a music journey that visits some of the fabulous female stars that have been born or matured on Long Island.
• “Songs of Woody Guthrie, Grandfather of American Folk Music”: This program highlights how Woody Guthrie, one of the most influential pioneers of contemporary American folk music, was influenced by Long Island.

Most programs are 90 minutes long, unless otherwise noted, and can be tailored to an individual’s or organization’s needs. Fees vary depending on the musical act and number of shows booked in a day. Additionally, there is a suggested donation/honorarium of $150, which goes toward offsetting travel expenses of the volunteers who present and assist at the events. Please note that since LIMHOF’s goal is to make music programs available to all Long Island residents, the organization strives, whenever possible, to work within the budget of each individual or organization.