STONY BROOK, NY — Long Island’s own Dennis Arfa, longtime booking agent to Billy Joel and a pillar of the live-music business for 50 years, will be inducted into the Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame (LIMEHOF) at 7:00 PM on June 6 at the Hall’s Stony Brook Village location (97 Main Street). The ceremony — part of a two-day Billy Joel Symposium — will include special guests and a live performance. Tickets are required and available at https://www.limusichalloffame.org/tickets-and-gift-cards/.
The Billy Joel Symposium is a two-day conference exploring Joel’s music, lyrics and cultural impact, featuring more than 20 speakers including scholars, critics and musicians. For full details and the speaker schedule, visit https://www.limusichalloffame.org/billy-joel-symposium/.
“Dennis Arfa’s reputation and accomplishments are second to none,” said LIMEHOF Chairman Ernie Canadeo. “He joins over 140 other esteemed musicians and executives from Long Island.” Arfa, who began booking shows in 1976, called Long Island “home” and thanked the Hall for the honor.
Arfa’s career spans five decades and dozens of major acts. He helped create Independent Artist Group (IAG) in 2023 and serves as Chairman of its Music Division. His roster past and present reads like a who’s who of rock and pop: Billy Joel, Metallica, Rod Stewart, The Beach Boys, Def Leppard, Motley Crue, Linkin Park, Shakira, Neil Young and many more. He’s credited with architecting Joel’s record-breaking Madison Square Garden residency and massive stadium runs worldwide.
LIMEHOF, founded in 2004 and with a Stony Brook Hall of Fame site opened in 2022, celebrates Long Island’s musical and entertainment heritage and has inducted more than 130 figures from Nassau, Suffolk, Queens and Kings (Brooklyn) counties. The organization also offers education programs, scholarships and awards for students and educators.
For tickets and more information on the induction and the Billy Joel Symposium, visit: https://www.limusichalloffame.org/billy-joel-symposium/
