Roots of The Long Island Sound

 From Songwriting Secrets to Industry Insights: A Treasure Trove for Aspiring Musicians

The Long Island Sound Podcast isn't just for music fans – it's a valuable resource for aspiring musicians.  Throughout the interviews, Steve Yusko's guests share invaluable insights into the world of music. They offer practical tips on songwriting, from overcoming writer's block to crafting catchy hooks and lyrics that resonate with listeners.

But the learning doesn't stop there.  The podcast also delves into the music industry, with artists discussing topics like recording, promoting your music, and booking gigs. You'll gain valuable knowledge on how to navigate the complexities of the music industry and turn your passion for music into a successful career.

Join the Conversation: Become Part of the Long Island Sound Podcast Community

The Long Island Sound Podcast isn't just a one-way street. It's a vibrant community of music enthusiasts, aspiring artists, and established musicians who share a love for all things music. By subscribing to the podcast, you'll become part of this community and gain access to exclusive content, behind-the-scenes snippets, and opportunities to connect with other music lovers.

So, what are you waiting for? Dive into the world of The Long Island Sound Podcast and discover the hidden gems of the New York music scene. With its captivating interviews, original music, and valuable insights, The Long Island Sound Podcast is sure to become your go-to source for all things music.

Roots of “The Long Island Sound Podcast” April- 2022  

The Long Island Sound Podcast is about providing a platform for original singers/songwriters and the people and venues who support live music.

 It began as a germ of an idea to provide a convenient way to get to know the musicians behind the music while giving the audience samples of some great songs that might be hidden in the vast ocean of music platforms like Spotify and Apple Music.  As your podcast host, and curiosity seeker, I had the vision to build a podcast that provided a convenient way to interview musicians whose roots began on Long Island. 

 I soon came to find interesting backstories and original music, which created a growing community of music lovers who were willing to navigate new waters.   As a young high school teen in the late nineteen seventies, music was the soundtrack of my life and live bands thrived in the pubs and bars around Long Island. The likes of the Stanton Anderson Band, The Good Rats, The Stray Cats, and The Jim Small Band. Venues like My Father’s Place featured the soon-to-be-famous and the not-so-famous. Mulcahy‘s in Wantagh was just a bar back in the late seventies before the big expansion and Disco was on the horizon with clubs such as Uncle Sam’s in Levittown and Malibu in Long Beach just beginning to entertain the new dance genre.   

We always had the large arenas like Madison Square Garden, Nassau Coliseum, and the Jones Beach theater to keep us connected with the great Rock-n-Roll Hall of Famers, but there’s something about a hometown band, the connection to the audience and their ability to be energized by the crowd that makes small-town live music in a bar or pub just wonderful.   

Now as an older person, seeking live music and social engagements are intertwined and imprinted on my soul. 

I never had a dream to be any type of music promoter. 

I always held the hope there would be a resurgence of live music once again on the island.   Live Long Island Music Resurfaces  

I guess the roots of the GigDestiny.com site began when a good musician friend asked me to help him get gigs. That request along with a chance meeting would inspire me to start the website.  I met a prominent singer/songwriter of my misspent youth which led to a couple of episodes of a songwriting podcast and that eventually propelled me into the music interview podcast, “The Long Island Sound” which is experiencing exponential growth with guest and community.  

I finally got out of the noodling around with the guitar in my home office to finally play in public. I joined a newly formed contemporary Christian Worship band in my local parish which started out as an “experiment” in our Catholic Church and soon grew to be a respectful, collaborative joyful group. Unfortunately, with the demise of many bands, we suffered the same fate, and what was once the highlight of my week soon faded into memory. The weekly practices for the Sunday “Contemporary” Mass were like a weekly music lesson for me as my very patient bandmates would tutor me on the fine points of playing and singing with a group. 

When the group dissolved, I had to fill the void with some music lessons. As a self-taught guitarist, I need to tackle the essentials of learning the notes on the neck of the guitar and get into a better practice my instrument. 

But where to turn? Ah yes, my Sam Ash friend would point me in the right direction. He suggested that I call on Mike Nugent, a good friend and a well-known guitarist in his own right (Stanton Anderson Band, The Squires, Cadillac Moon, The Ed Traves Band, and the Walkers).   Mike Nugent would not only be my guitar teacher but become a good friend. 

Mike has his own Long Island Music Studio and has crafted some fine albums of his own 

along with local artists like Linda Sussman, Josie Bello, and Rorie Kelly.   

The global pandemic hit us all very hard and one segment of the population, very hard. 

The local musicians scratch by with a few dollars to make ends meet by performing live in our local bars and restaurants.  

 GigDestiny.com morphed into the home of “The Long Island Sound Podcast”. The podcast is to be the creative force to help our brothers and sisters in the music industry to explore new ways to get their art out to the public.   

Building Community through a Podcast What started out as a hobby to help musicians has grown into a platform of goodwill that exposes me to new people, new music, great stories, and lessons along the way.  

With each episode, I’m amazed at the artisans and their creative craft and how I’m introduced to many future guests for The Long Island Sound. Even the humblest musician has some great stories on the struggles of a music career and their personal formula to turn their muse into music! I hope you’ll explore the waters of the Long Island Sound podcast, discover new music, and musicians, and have some great conversations.   

Be my guest!

 The cost of becoming a guest is just their time. If you know someone with an interesting story with music to share, please send them my way! As I say at the end of each episode: “Be generous with your joy, and let the music take you on a journey!’  Peace,   Steve Yusko  

PS More to come about creating a music interview podcast. This is a podcast for musicians by musicians who live for live music.