The Hassles, the soulful rock band best known as Billy Joel’s first group, were inducted into the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame –LIMEHOF, highlighting an important chapter in Long Island’s music history. The evening celebrated the friendships, challenges, and aspirations that defined the band and their place in the local scene.
Reflections from Jon Small and Liberty DeVitto
In an interview before the ceremony, drummer Jon Small described his pride in representing Long Island and recalled how The Hassles first came together in a basement rehearsal with Richie McKenna, John Dizek, and Harry Weber. After early cover gigs, the band evolved quickly—sometimes contentiously. Small recounted a fistfight that ultimately led to Harry’s departure and the unconventional recruitment of a teenage Billy Joel, lured with the promise of a brand-new Hammond B3 organ. “He was a little corny,” Small admitted with a laugh, “but I knew he had it.”
Small later reflected on how those early years laid the groundwork for his prolific directing career, which included music videos for Garth Brooks, Billy Joel, Frank Sinatra, and countless others. Being honored by the Hall of Fame, he said, was especially meaningful: “I’ve won Grammys, Emmys, but this is special because this is Long Island.”
Drummer Liberty DeVitto, who played with Billy Joel for decades, spoke briefly but warmly, joking that he shaped Billy as much as Billy shaped him. Asked what the induction meant to him, DeVitto simply said, “I’m really happy—very happy.”
Stories and Speeches at the Induction
During the ceremony, Small shared colorful memories of hauling equipment in a green Hassles bus, opening for Traffic, and even sneaking into Shea Stadium during a Beatles concert—only to be promptly ejected after being mistaken for the opening act. He described the thrill of hearing their single “Every Step I Take” on WLIR for the first time, pulling over on the Long Island Expressway with Billy Joel to dance in the street.
Irwin Mazur, the band’s longtime manager, reflected on how The Hassles shaped Billy Joel’s early development and revealed that a forthcoming film, Billy and Me, which will chronicle this little-known chapter. “As one gets older,” Mazur said, “you realize how much those friendships and those years meant.”
Other speakers included Mike Ricciardella of The Illusion, who credited The Hassles with inspiring countless Long Island musicians, and Albert Bouchard of Blue Öyster Cult, who remembered being blown away by the band’s powerful sound and professional equipment. “They had all the best gear,” Bouchard said, “and it just made them sound tremendous.”
Jimmy Rosica also addressed the crowd, reminiscing about his own roots in Hicksville and first encounters with live music in the same clubs The Hassles played. He noted that although the band never reached the chart heights of some of their peers, they were an undeniable influence on every local musician who came up in that era. Rosica expressed how honored he was to take part in recognizing the group’s legacy.
Russell Javors and Liberty DeVitto Deliver the Induction
Russell Javors and Liberty DeVitto took the podium to deliver the official induction, sharing personal memories of the tight-knit Long Island club circuit and the friendships that grew out of it. Javors spoke about how the Hassles’ story intertwined with his own, and though he hadn’t planned to speak, he called the honor “flattering” and well deserved.
A Rousing Jam Session
The night concluded with a spirited jam session that perfectly captured the camaraderie and energy of those early years. The Alessi Brothers joined Ricciardella and DeVitto onstage for lively renditions of Hassles favorites, including “Every Step I Take,” “You Got Me Hummin’,” and “I Can Tell.” As the music filled the room, it was clear that The Hassles’ story—and their contribution to Long Island’s musical legacy—still resonates powerfully decades later.
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