Richie Cannata may be best known for his song credits but his name will become a part of history this week. Cannata, a 28-year resident and business owner of Glen Cove, will be inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame on Thursday, Oct. 23 at The Paramount in Huntington.
As a member of the Billy Joel Band, the saxophone player was propelled to fame in 1975 when he joined the band and played on songs including “New York State of Mind” and “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant.”
“Finally, somebody paid attention,” Cannata says with a laugh. “Our legacy precedes itself; it’s way fun knowing that you’re going to be remembered. Now my work will be truly documented.”
Cannata grew up in Brooklyn and moved to Glen Cove in the late 1980s, around the same time he opened his recording studio, Cove City Sound Studios, a state of the art facility on Pratt Boulevard.
“When I built this building, we guaranteed them I would bring music and art into Glen Cove…and we’ve done that,” says Cannata, who now sits on the board of the Downtown Business Improve District (BID).
Major clientele including Mariah Carey, Jennifer Lopez, Banjo Boys, Mark Anthony, Whitney Houston, and of course, Billy Joel have recorded at Cove City Sound Studios. He says that some bands, such as Dream Theater, are in town recording for five months at a stretch, and they support the city’s restaurants and hotel, play golf at the city’s golf course and visit the local beaches.
“It’s special for us to show them that…and like what happened to me, I live here now. It attracts people, and it’s good attention,” he says.
His son, Eren, is a partner at the studio and they both are busy performing and working at the studio. Every summer Cannata plays a show as part of the Friday night Downtown Sounds Concert Series in Glen Cove.
“The Glen Cove gigs are always harder than regular gigs,” says Cannata. “First of all, I live here and walk around town the next day. But also, we do a barbecue at our house for 50 people before the show…by the time I hit the stage, I’m exhausted, and you can see it.”
Of course, he says, he loves doing it. “It’s a fun show. The restaurants do well and it’s fun to bring music into our city. It also brings other communities into our city.”
Gianni Paci, an up-and-coming singer-songwriter from Oyster Bay, recorded his album at the studio and has opened up for them the past two years.
“I think it’s imperative that we show local strength,” he says of the concert series.
Cannata expressed appreciation to the City of Glen Cove for “doing the artistic week-in, week-out Friday on the streets of Glen Cove. I commend Francine and Mary; they’ve been great and they pull it off every year.”
When asked about the current state of the recording industry, Cannata said, “It’s sad. It has clogged the avenues to real talent, where people could sing and play in time and in tune; these days you really don’t have to because there’s technology than can fix a drummer’s tempo and can fix a singer’s pitch, and anyone can go out and buy program to do that.
“So it has affected us in a big way, but we attract more bands and musicians that want to set up and play, because we have the real estate to do that…there’s no competition for us because we do have the large recording room with the best gear, that makes for a great sound. And young people are coming back looking for it.”
Outside of the studio, Cannata maintains a busy tour schedule and is the musical director for the Monday Night Jam Band at the Bitter End in the West Village every week.
Cannata will be inducted in the fifth class of honorees at the red carpet ceremony on Thursday along with the other members of the Billy Joel Band.
We are humbled to have such support from these industry giants who have contributed so much to the music history of Long Island,” said Jeff James, chairman of the Long Island Music Hall of Fame.
For tickets visit www.paramountny.com or visit covecitysoundstudios.com for more info.
