Billy Joel Band, Debbie Gibson, Clive Davis Among 2014 Long Island Music Hall of Fame Inductees

Photo: Billy Joel’s Band

A-listers were in full force at The Paramount in Huntington Thursday for Long Island Music Hall of Fame fifth induction ceremony.

Along with Billy Joel’s Band – featuring Richie Cannata, Liberty DeVitto, Russell Javors and Doug Stegmeyer – the new class includes Debbie Gibson, Clive Davis, Kurtis Blow, Ron Delsener, Gerry Goffin and Steve Thompson.

The night featured a who’s who in the music world. Roger Waters of Pink Floyd inducted Delsner and Dionne Warwick inducted Davis. Billy Joel, however, who couldn’t attend because of a previous commitment, sent in a letter of congratulations, read by Jim Faith, the LIMHoF’s vice chair.

Among the celebrities set to honor the new class: Dionne Warwick (who will induct Davis), Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters (who will induct Delsener), and Davis’ most recent signing, singer Avery Wilson.

During the gala, Long Island Music Hall of Fame officially announced that the redeveloped hamlet of Wyandanch will house the organization’s first permanent museum. County Executive Steve Bellone, who led the revitalization while serving as Babylon supervisor, said with the museum established, the area would become “a destination for Suffolk County residents and visitors throughout the metropolitan region.”

Russell Albanese, chairman of Garden City-based Albanese Organization, the master developers of Wyandanch Village, said his organization was “honored the Long Island Music Hall of Fame has selected Wyandanch Village” as its future home. 

Previous Long Island Music Hall of Fame inductees, who were either born, raised, or resided on Long Island or surrounding communities, include Billy Joel, Stanley Drucker, George Gershwin, Pat Benatar, LL Cool J, Neil Diamond, Louie Armstrong, John Coltrane and Simon & Garfunkel.