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On this episode of the Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame Podcast, host Tom Needham welcomes noted hip-hop historian JayQuan to discuss his new book Run-DMC and Raising Hell: 40 Years. The conversation celebrates the lasting impact of Run-DMC—trailblazers of hip-hop and inductees of the Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame—while revisiting one of the most influential albums ever released.

JayQuan’s book takes a comprehensive look at Raising Hell, the groundbreaking 1986 album produced by Rick Rubin and Russell Simmons. The record became the first hip-hop album to achieve multi-platinum status, ultimately selling more than three million copies in the United States. It helped redefine the genre’s reach, especially through the landmark single “Walk This Way,” a collaboration with Aerosmith that bridged rap and rock and brought hip-hop firmly into the mainstream. Drawing from interviews with Joseph “Run” Simmons, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, and key collaborators, the book offers track-by-track analysis, historical insight, and a detailed account of the album’s creation, promotion, and enduring cultural influence.

JayQuan is a respected voice in hip-hop scholarship, known for his deep research and firsthand interviews with pioneering artists and industry figures. His work documents the evolution of the culture while preserving the stories behind its most important recordings and movements.

The Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame Podcast, hosted by Tom Needham, features conversations with a wide range of artists and creators connected to Long Island’s vibrant music and entertainment scene. Past guests include Stephen Schwartz, Gary U.S. Bonds, Taylor Dayne, Carmine Appice, EPMD, Elliott Murphy, and Jimmy Webb, reflecting the depth and diversity of Long Island’s cultural legacy.

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: info@limusichalloffame.org
Phone: 631-689-5888

Send us Fan Mail

Recorded live at a packed screening of Best Man at the Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame, this LIMEHOF Podcast episode captures the energy of the Local Filmmakers Series in full swing. The conversation was recorded immediately following the screening, in front of a large audience that stayed for an engaging post-film Q&A. Moderator Tom Needham led a wide-ranging discussion that explored the making of the film and the creative journey behind it.

Guests Ryan and Anthony Famulari are Stony Brook–born brothers and emerging filmmakers whose debut feature Best Man has been making its way through the festival circuit. The film follows a character-driven story that reflects their collaborative approach to independent filmmaking and their shared Long Island roots. Their conversation highlights both their creative partnership and the personal history that shaped their work.

The LIMEHOF Podcast features in-depth interviews with musicians, filmmakers, and cultural figures connected to Long Island’s rich creative community. Past guests have included Stephen Schwartz, Taylor Dayne, Gary U.S. Bonds, DMC, and many more, continuing its mission to spotlight influential voices 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: info@limusichalloffame.org
Phone: 631-689-5888

Send us Fan Mail

In the next episode of the Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame Podcast, listeners are treated to a rare, previously recorded interview with filmmaker Dori Berinstein, director of the PBS documentary Marvin Hamlisch: What He Did for Love. The film offers an affectionate and comprehensive look at the life and career of Marvin Hamlisch—an official inductee of the Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame. This classic interview captures Berinstein reflecting on her creative process, the challenges of documenting such an iconic figure, and the remarkable legacy Hamlisch left behind. As a retrospective conversation, it also serves as a poignant reminder of Hamlisch’s enduring influence following his passing in 2012.

Marvin Hamlisch was one of the most accomplished and versatile composers of the 20th century, achieving the rare distinction of winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award (EGOT). A child prodigy who entered the Juilliard School at just six years old, Hamlisch went on to compose some of the most recognizable music in film, television, and theater. He won three Academy Awards in one night for The Way We Were (including Best Original Song for the title track) and The Sting (Best Original Score). On Broadway, he achieved monumental success with A Chorus Line, one of the longest-running shows in Broadway history and a defining work of American musical theater. Hamlisch also collaborated with legendary artists including Barbra Streisand and Liza Minnelli, and served as principal pops conductor for major orchestras such as the National Symphony Orchestra and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. His career bridged classical, pop, and theatrical traditions, leaving a catalog of work that remains deeply influential.

The Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame Podcast highlights the voices and stories of artists, industry leaders, and cultural figures connected to Long Island’s rich creative history. Hosted by Tom Needham, the series has featured a wide range of notable guests, including acclaimed musicians, filmmakers, and entertainment professionals whose work has shaped popular culture. Through a mix of new interviews and archival conversations, the podcast provides listeners with unique insights into the creative process and celebrates the legacy of Long Island’s most influential artists.

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: info@limusichalloffame.org
Phone: 631-689-5888

Send us Fan Mail

This episode of the Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame Podcast features audio from a talk by AJ Rok Woodson, founding member of the pioneering Hip-Hop group JVC Force. The program was recorded during a special event held on February 28, 2026 at the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame in Stony Brook, New York.

During the discussion, Woodson reflects on the early days of Hip-Hop and the development of JVC Force during the genre’s formative years. He also talks about recording and performing in the 1980s, the group’s connection to the New York Hip-Hop scene, and his continued involvement in music and culture. The conversation also touches on his book We Got Our Own Thang: A Look at Hip-Hop From the 914, the importance of documenting Hip-Hop history, and the experiences that shaped the group’s music and career.

The event at the Hall of Fame brought together fans, artists, and members of the local music community for an afternoon of storytelling, audience questions, and a book signing. The program highlighted Long Island’s role in the development of Hip-Hop and featured appearances by members of the regional music community.

The Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame Podcast features conversations, live recordings, and archival audio highlighting artists, industry figures, and cultural contributors connected to Long Island’s music and entertainment history. Episodes include interviews, panel discussions, and special events recorded at the Hall of Fame and throughout the Long Island music community.

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: info@limusichalloffame.org
Phone: 631-689-5888

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of the Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame Podcast, Tom Needham sits down with musician, songwriter, and educator Jack Licitra, the creative force behind Jack’s Waterfall. Jack joins us to talk about The Blue Light Club, a new album that unfolds like a late-night gathering place where stories, friendships, and music intertwine. Rooted in jazz, blues, and timeless songcraft, the record creates a vivid emotional atmosphere centered on connection, community, and the shared experience of live music.

Jack also shares insight into the collaborative spirit behind the project, highlighting the diverse group of vocalists and instrumentalists who helped shape its rich, textured sound. From expressive horn arrangements to soulful rhythm sections and layered instrumental colors, the album blends intimate performances with expansive musical moments. Beyond the recording, Jack discusses his work as an educator and bandleader, continuing to inspire the next generation of Long Island musicians while creating music that feels both classic and immediate.

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: info@limusichalloffame.org
Phone: 631-689-5888

Send us Fan Mail

In this special episode recorded live at the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame, director Robert Coppola Schwartzman joins Tom Needham just after the closing-night screening of his award-winning documentary, Hung Up on a Dream: The Zombies Documentary, and moments before being honored with the Best Director Award at the LIMEHOF Music Documentary Film Festival.

Schwartzman shares insights into the decades-spanning story behind the film, his thoughtful approach to capturing the band’s creative bond and resilience, and why their music continues to find new audiences. This conversation offers a behind-the-scenes look at a documentary that celebrates artistry, history, and the enduring emotional power of song.

The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame Music Documentary Film Festival returns September 25–27, 2026, in Stony Brook, New York. Recognized as America’s first and only music documentary film festival, it features screenings, filmmaker Q&As, panel discussions, and live performances, celebrating music’s history while inspiring future storytellers. Film submissions for the 2026 festival are now open at https://www.limusichalloffame.org/long-island-music-and-entertainment-hall-of-fame-music-documentary-film-festival/

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: info@limusichalloffame.org
Phone: 631-689-5888

Send us Fan Mail

In this special Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame Podcast episode, LIMEHOF Vice Chairman Tom Needham welcomes Rolling Stone senior writer and acclaimed author David Browne for an engaging conversation about Browne’s book Talkin’ Greenwich Village: The Heady Rise and Slow Fall of America’s Bohemian Music Capital. Drawing on years of original research and more than a hundred first-hand interviews, Browne recounts the rise of Greenwich Village as a creative epicenter where folk music, politics, culture, and reinvention converged to shape an era.

The discussion explores the Village’s powerful connections to Long Island and the greater New York region, highlighting stories of influential artists—many of them LIMEHOF inductees—whose roots and careers intersected with the folk music movement. Browne and Needham examine how musicians from Long Island and neighboring boroughs helped fuel the Village’s creative energy while contributing to a scene that would influence American music far beyond Manhattan.

Blending historical insight with personal reflection, Browne shares behind-the-scenes perspectives from his extensive interviews with legendary performers and cultural figures, offering a vivid portrait of a community that welcomed outsiders, nurtured innovation, and ultimately faced dramatic change by the early 1990s. This conversation captures the enduring legacy of Greenwich Village’s folk scene and its lasting ties to the artists celebrated by the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame.

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: info@limusichalloffame.org
Phone: 631-689-5888

Send us Fan Mail

On this episode of the Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame Podcast, host Tom Needham sits down with Brooklyn Bridge inductees Jimmy Rosica and Joe Ruvio for a rare, song-by-song look back at the group’s landmark debut album. Together, they revisit the creation of classics like “Blessed Is the Rain,” “Welcome Me Love,” “Which Way to Nowhere,” “The Worst That Could Happen,” “Piece of My Heart,” and more.

Rosica and Ruvio share vivid memories of working alongside music greats Johnny Maestro and Jimmy Webb, reflecting on the group’s signature blend of harmony vocals and full horn arrangements that brought them national acclaim.

Recorded during a packed live event at the Hall of Fame, the episode captures the energy of a room full of fans who later stayed to meet the band members and take photos. It’s an intimate celebration of a breakthrough album that helped define an era of New York soul-pop.

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: info@limusichalloffame.org
Phone: 631-689-5888