Gary Portnoy Napoli and Judy Quay). He also recorded and released a self-titled album in 1980 for Columbia Records. Portnoy also wrote several songs for the NBC television series, "Fame", including the Emmy-nominated track for Best Original Song, "I Still Believe In Me" (co-written by Susan Sheridan) as well as "It's Gonna Be a Long Night" (co-written by Estelle Levitt). Both songs were featured on the 1982 album, "The Kids from "Fame"". Portnoy also received an Emmy nomination for the "Cheers" theme, as well as six consecutive ASCAP awards during the 1980s for the Most Performed Television Themes of the year. He
Mike Portnoy The Who, Iron Maiden, and The Beatles, among many others. Portnoy claims to be self-taught as a drummer, though he did take music theory classes in high school. During that period he began playing in local bands, two of which (Rising Power and Inner Sanctum) recorded and released independent albums. He left Inner Sanctum (his last high school band) after being awarded a scholarship to attend the Berklee College of Music in Boston. There, he met John Petrucci and John Myung. They formed a band, initially taking the name "Majesty" before changing their name to Dream Theater. They left Berklee