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Billy Joel may be moving to Florida, but his Long Island legacy will be on full display starting next month at the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame in Stony Brook.
Museum officials have just announced the first-ever exhibit dedicated exclusively to the Hicksville native and Hall of Fame inductee. The exhibit, called “Billy Joel – My Life, A Piano Man’s Journey” will open Friday, Nov. 24, at 12 p.m. at 97 Main St. in Stony Brook.
There, visitors will experience 50 years of Billy Joel’s most cherished items, including rare memorabilia, behind-the-scenes video, dozens of awards, rare audio and video recordings, vintage instruments and historic photos.
Many items have been donated by Billy Joel himself, and never seen before in public.
The announcement comes on the heels of news that Piano Man’s Long Island mansion on Centre Island hit the market for $49 million. Reports indicate he’ll be spending most of his time in Florida, while still maintaining some property on Long Island.
In the meantime, the exhibit is being described by museum officials as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience his life here on Long Island,” from Hicksville, Centre Island and the East End. With lots of L.I. stops in between, all while dazzling fans at jam-packed stadiums and arenas.
“It has been a thrill and an honor to work with Billy in creating this extraordinary testament to his life and music,” said Kevin O’Callaghan, the Hall of Fame’s creative director. “It is one of the highlights of my long career and I’m sure visitors will be thrilled with the result.”
“Billy has been very cordial and involved in the planning, and it is appropriate the exhibit is on Long Island, where he has long been identified, written so many songs and lived most of his life,” added the Hall of Fame’s CEO, Ernie Canadeo. “It is a fitting tribute to Long Island’s most successful entertainer and is guaranteed to thrill his legions of fans.”
This will be the museum’s second exhibit since it opened in November 2022.
Curator Kevin O’Callaghan, along with Canadeo, have been presenting the exhibit plans and designs to Joel throughout the past year and have received his input, culminating with the final design that’s almost ready for its big unveiling. The exhibit comes after more than a year of planning.
In what’s starting to look like a farewell tour, Joel also just had a street named after him in Oyster Bay:
Top: Billy Joel performs at Shea Stadium on July 16, 2008. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
