Thunder Bird Sisters Inducted Into Long Island Music Hall of Fame

A diverse group of musical talent, industry types and even a few high school music teachers came out to be inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame at its gala on Thursday night held at the Paramount in Huntington — including the Thunder Bird Sisters of the Shinnecock Indian Nation.

The Thunder Bird Sisters are Becky Genia, Holly Haile Davis and Tina Tarrant, gradnchildren of Chief Thunder Bird, who have been composing and performing music since the early 1970s, according to the Music Hall of Fame. In 2000, the group won the Native American Music Award - Best Folk/Country for their album "Still Singin’."

From hip-hop pioneers like Salt-n-Pepa and DJ Spindarella to the record industry legend Ron Alexenburg, who signed acts like Charlie Daniels and Michael Jackson to Epic Records, the red carpet was packed with local stars who contributed to the music business.

Jim Faith, director of the Long Island Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Port Jefferson said that the diversity in this year’s lineup is reflective of the talent on Long Island as a whole.

“It’s like that every year,” he said.

Long Island, according to Faith, is no one-trick pony.

“We don’t just have one type of music,” he said. “Long Island is called an embarrassment of riches. It’s pretty amazing.”

“We’ll see later but I think we did really well,” he said.

Faith said that the Hall of Fame ceremonies and forthcoming museum in Port Jefferson will help people realize what music on Long Island is all about.

“We’re helping to change perception,” he said. “I think we’re helping to put the focus on Long Island.”

RELATED: Hall of Fame Gala Helps Spotlight Diversity of Long Island Musical Talent