My Father's Place: Photos from the beginning

By Newsday StaffJune 29, 2018

Michael “Eppy” Epstein built his career by seeing potential where others didn’t. At his legendary club My Father’s Place, Epstein proved that the suburbs would embrace cool artists just as much as city dwellers did, bringing Bruce Springsteen, Bob Marley, U2, The Ramones and countless other groundbreaking artists of the ’70s and ’80s to Roslyn.

Now, Epstein hopes to establish a new kind of club experience on Long Island when My Father’s Place at The Roslyn Hotel opens with an ambitious run of concerts starting with Buster Poindexter on Friday, June 29.

The original venue

Credit: Steven Rosenfield

Music fans gather outside My Father's Place in Roslyn in the 1970s.

Blondie

Credit: Steve Rosenfield

Debbie Harry, a.k.a. Blondie, with her band, backstage at the legendary Roslyn club My Father's Place in 1976.

Barnaby Bye

Credit: Steven Rosenfield

Barnaby Bye plays at My Father's Place in Roslyn in 1976. The Long Island band has a set of sold-out concerts out this summer/fall at the revamped My Father's Place at the Roslyn Hotel.

Bob Weir

Credit: Steven Rosenfield

Bob Weir, guitaist for the Grateful Dead, at My Father's Place in Roslyn, 1976.

Michael "Eppy" Epstein and Kenny Rankin

Credit: Steven Rosenfield

Michael "Eppy" Epstein, left, owner of My Father's Place, is joined by singer Kenny Rankin in the 1970s.

Billy Joel

Credit: Steven Rosenfield

Hicksville's Billy Joel performed at My Father's Place in 1979.

Lou Reed

Credit: Steve Rosenfield

Freeport's Lou Reed plays My Father's Place in 1977.

"Eppy" and Richie Furay

Credit: Steven Rosenfield

"Eppy" (impressario Michael Epstein), left, with Richie Furay -- a founding member of Buffalo Springfield, Poco, and the Southern Hillman Furay Band -- backstage at My Father's Place in the 1970s.

Joan Jett with The Runaways

Credit: Steven Rosenfield

The Runaways with Long Beach resident Joan Jett, foreground, and Jackie Fox on bass, at My Father's Place in Roslyn in 1976. The iconic club will reopen June 29, 2018, in a new setting at the Roslyn Hotel.

Rick Derringer

Credit: Steven Rosenfield

Rick Derringer performs at My Father's Place in Roslyn in 1977.

Toots Hibbert

Credit: Steven Rosenfield

Toots Hibbert, of Toots & The Maytals, at My Father's Place in Roslyn, circa 1976.

Robert Klein

Credit: Steven Rosenfield

Comedian Robert Klein came to My Father's Place in the 1970s.

Richie Havens

Credit: Steven Rosenfield

Richie Havens in 1976 holds a copy of Good Times, the Long Island music and entertainment magazine. Havens was the first to play the club when it opened in 1971.