LI Music Hall of Fame Founder Reminisces On Contributions to Local Music Scene

Founding Chairman of the Long Island Music Hall of Fame Rich L'Hommedieu has enjoyed speding time with music royalty. As recent as this past Tuesday, he rubbed shoulders with the likes of Lou Reed, Johnny "Juice" Rosado of Public Enemy, Joan Jett, Felix Cavaliere of the Rascals and Jimmy Rosica of Johnny Maestro and the Brooklyn Bridge and more.

This recent event, however, marks one of the last he will have on Long ISland with the music hall of fame as he is preparing to move to Georgia after selling his home in Nesconset. The induction ceremony was yet another night of supporting Long Island music L'Hommedieu won't soon forget.

"The Long Island Music Hall of Fame ceremony was a lot of fun," L'Hommedieu said, who grew up in Smithtown and graduated from Smithtown Central High School in 1972. "It's nice to see what I started is alive and well and moving in a positive direction."

The idea for the Long Island Music Hall of Fame had its seed planted around 2002, when L'Hommedieu was at a festival in Georgia. On his way home he discovered the Georgia Music Hall of Fame.

"I was so taken by the displays of not only the national artists that came from the area, but also the regional ones that effected their music scene," he said. "I was also very taken by the outreach and educational programs that they had created as part of their mission."

He pondered about doing the same for Long Island, so when he returned home he did some research and was surprised to find a "hidden music heritage" in Long Island. The more he looked the more it became clear to him that there was plenty from which to collect.

"Long Island had a rich musical heritage that was disappearing in history because no one was acknowledging that they were from Long Island, only from New York," L'Hommedieu said. "With the exception of Billy Joel, nobody seemed to realize the rich history that existed here on Long Island. I was determined to change that."

Aside from being founding chairman of the hall from 2004-2008, L'Hommedieu has accumulated many other notable accomplishments. This includes publishing the monthly newspaper Long Island Entertainment and hosting a couple of radio shows at Stony Brook University's radio station, WUSB. One show, Making a Scene, centers on local music and the issues faced by local artists. He was also responsible for the All American Music Festival that raised over $20-thousand for Breast Cancer Awareness. Many locals in the scene acknowledge his contributions.

"Rich has always been an asset to the local music scene," said Stevie Cochran, who met him in 2002 at the American Music Festival. "He stays current on many issues that affect us. His festival in 2002 was one of the best ones ever on Long Island, plus he is a great sound person to boot."

"For as long as I have known Rich he has always been a strong supporter of the Long Island music scene," said Kenny Hahn, an acquiantance of L'Hommedieu. "Although his opinions about the way things should be done have alienated some people, no one can deny that at the end of the day all he really cares about is that the live music venues survive, young up and coming musicians get heard and we all have a good time."

"Just listening to his Making a Scene program you can sense the passion in his voice for trying his best to get bands a leg up on making it on the tough Long Island club/bar scene," said Joe Carbonaro, a deejay at WUSB.

Even as a teenager growing up in Smithtown, L'Hommedieu was gathering early experience. His band, Father Time, played at now-defunct Smithtown venues such as the OBI North, Gaslight Palace and the Hayloft. Since then, he has arrived at some realizations.

"We have such a rich pool of musical talent it's almost a shame that we are surrounded by water, which is the biggest problem with the Long Island scene," he said. "As a musician, you can't go north, south or east. If we don't make our scene happen, it's not going to happen."

Now retired and living in Nesconset, L'Hommedieu has put his house up for sale and plans to move to Georgia, where he wants to continue to work within the music industry. As excited as he is to move down south, he still prefers to call Long Island home, especially since it has been home to his family since Long Island was settled.

"All my family is still going to be here, this is where I have my roots," L'Hommedieu said. "This is where I became who I am. That will never change."