Steven Van Zandt to be honored at LI Music Hall of Fame
Steve Van Zandt is being honored for his work in music education, especially on Long Island. Credit: Getty Images / Mike Coppola
Steven Van Zandt will receive the Harry Chapin Award at the Long Island Music Hall of Fame’s upcoming induction ceremony, which will also honor guitar virtuoso Steve Vai and legendary music exec Charles A. Koppelman, according to sources close to the event.
A news conference is planned at The Space at Westbury for Tuesday morning to announce the full slate of inductees and Van Zandt’s special award. Tickets for the fundraising gala set for Nov. 3 at The Space are expected to go on sale Tuesday afternoon through the group’s website limusichalloffame.org.
The upcoming event will be the Long Island Music Hall of Fame’s sixth biennial gala since 2006 and may be the final one held outside of its museum, scheduled to open in Wyandanch in 2018. In previous galas, the Long Island Music Hall of Fame has inducted a wide range of the area’s musical legends from Billy Joel to Public Enemy, from Joan Jett to Salt N Pepa, from George Gershwin to Debbie Gibson.
Though Van Zandt, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer currently touring with Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, was born in Boston and raised in New Jersey, the Long Island Music Hall of Fame plans to honor him for his work with music education, especially on Long Island. Van Zandt is also known for his Little Steven’s Underground Garage SiriusXM channel and radio show, as well as his acting roles in “The Sopranos” and “Lilyhammer.”
Carle Place native Vai, best known for his distinctive solo work, including the classic “Passion and Warfare” album, as well as playing in David Lee Roth and Frank Zappa’s bands, is set to join that list, as is Koppelman, born in Brooklyn, raised in Queens and a graduate of Long Island University. Koppelman, currently chairman and CEO of C.A.K. Entertainment, which represents Jennifer Lopez, Nicki Minaj and Marc Anthony in their corporate deals, has moved in and out of the music business for decades, signing everyone from the Lovin’ Spoonful to Tracy Chapman to major-label deals and working with Barbra Streisand and Eddie Murphy on their hit albums. In addition to running EMI, SBK and CBS Records, Koppelman has also been at the helm of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia and Steve Madden’s fashion empire.
The Long Island Music Hall of Fame is expected to induct five other artists and institutions at the November ceremony.
