NYS Music 2023

Tag: Billy Joel

  • Billy Joel Exhibit Opens In Long Island, Fans Overjoyed

    The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame (LIMEHOF) has officially opened its long-anticipated exhibit—‘Billy Joel: My Life, A Piano Man’s Journey.’ This exhibit is the first of its kind, as it is dedicated exclusively to a LIMEHOF inductee. The attraction opened to the public on November 24 and had a strong opening weekend with eager visitors who flocked to visit the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame.

    This exclusive exhibit showcases over 50 years of Billy Joel’s most cherished items, which include rare memorabilia, behind-the-scenes video footage, dozens of awards, rare audio and video recordings, vintage instruments, and historic photos—many of which were donated by Billy Joel himself and have never before been displayed for public viewing. Billy Joel fans from near and far arrived to see the exhibit, which appeals to families and visitors of all ages.

    “It was a thrill to see a long line of eager fans at our opening,” said LIMEHOF Chairman Ernie Canadeo. “Over 500 fans of all ages, many from out of state, enjoyed the exhibit this past weekend, from families with young children to middle age and older adults. The smiles on everyone’s faces after they experienced the exhibit and the Hall of Fame was priceless.  Billy Joel truly touches people of all ages, and this exhibit is testament to his legacy as Long Island’s favorite entertainer.”

    ‘Billy Joel: My Life, A Piano Man’s Journey’ was created by renowned designer and LIMEHOF board member Kevin O’Callaghan, who designed the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame and this current exhibit to great acclaim.

    First in line were longtime Billy Joel fans, Joe and Jenn Mammina from Wading River.

    “Really well done,” said Jenn. “There’s a lot of stuff. It’s laid out great. You can get right up to it. We really enjoyed it.”

    Her husband, Joe, said he particularly enjoyed the interactive elements of the exhibit.

    “In each of the albums’ sections—starting from the early years to the later years—you put the headset on, and you can hear snippets of some of the songs, and it brought back memories from back in that time frame in our lives,” he said.

    Scott Wood, from North Carolina, visited New York to see Billy Joel perform at Madison Square Garden and stayed on to check out the opening of the exhibit.

    “It was fantastic,” Wood said afterward. “I saw in a news article recently that when Billy came through, he was pretty touched and said: ‘This is a lot more personal than I thought.’ And while I get it, there’s a huge gap between his personal and my personal. This was personal for all of his fans who came here, too. We’re reliving a lot of the memories he gave us over the years, and the things we were doing when those albums came out.” 

    As further proof that this event is an experience that genuinely appeals to all ages, Dan Bod and his family came from East Northport to see the exhibit. His eight-year-old son, Jared, said that he himself was thinking about learning to play the piano and was amazed by everything that was on display.

    “My favorite thing that I got to see was the screen with the spinning piano. I got to see lots of the concerts on the screen,” Jared said. 

    “The layout and all the items are just fantastic,” said Dan. “I loved to see The Hassles and the music kit and the drum kit and the organ—that’s fantastic. For the average fan, it’s definitely a learning experience and a walk down music history lane.”

    Marni Alexis Thomas, from Massachusetts, arrived at the exhibit where she showed off her license plate that reads ‘JOELFN’ after having seen him perform at Madison Square Garden.

    “I said: ‘I’ve got to be there the first day that it opens.’ He’s like the greatest show on Earth. Billy Joel rocks my world and soothes my soul,” Thomas said. Upon walking into the exhibit and seeing so many pictures of him, she joked: “This is like walking into my bedroom as a teenager.”

    This exhibit is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity where families and visitors from all walks of life may experience Billy Joel’s life-spanning career—from his roots in Hicksville/Levittown through his albums, tours, inspirations, and personal experiences.

    LIMEHOF is open Wed-Sun 11am-6pm. Tickets are available for sale at here or may be purchased in person at LIMEHOF (97 Main Street, Stony Brook, NY). This is a timed entry exhibit, so tickets will be sold by time block availability. There is also the option to purchase VIP ’any time‘ tickets—which may be presented at any time for the duration of the exhibit.

    For more information about LIMEHOF and ‘Billy Joel: My Life, A Piano Man’s Journey,’ visit this website.

  • Billy Joel Exhibit ‘My Life, A Piano Man’s Journey’ Arrives at the LIMEHOF

    As the Thanksgiving season approaches, Long Island prepares to offer a special treat to music enthusiasts and fans of the legendary Billy Joel. The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame (LIMEHOF) proudly presents the ‘Billy Joel – My Life, A Piano Man’s Journey’ exhibit, set to open this Thanksgiving weekend for a limited time.

    This exhibit invites visitors to embark on an extraordinary journey spanning over five decades, exploring rare memorabilia, personal experiences, and the remarkable career of the iconic “Piano Man.” Don’t miss your chance to be part of this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

    The team responsible for this remarkable exhibit, along with music enthusiasts and the press, came together on Friday, October 20, for an exciting press conference to unveil their plans. During the conference, they shared insights about the exhibit’s development, its significance in celebrating Long Island’s musical legacy, and the excitement of honoring Billy Joel’s storied career. We are thrilled and honored to present the Billy Joel exhibit everyone has been waiting for,” exclaimed Ernie Canadeo, Chairman of the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame (LIMEHOF). Canadeo’s enthusiasm reflects the dedication of the entire LIMEHOF team in making this exhibit a reality.

    Renowned designer and LIMEHOF board member, Kevin O’Callaghan, is the creative mastermind behind the exhibit. O’Callaghan has an impressive track record, having previously designed the Hall of Fame and its current exhibit to much acclaim. The collaboration between O’Callaghan and Canadeo has been instrumental in bringing the exhibit to life. They have worked closely with Billy Joel throughout the past year, presenting exhibit plans and designs to him multiple times and receiving his valuable input. Their dedication has culminated in a final design that is ready to be created, ensuring a captivating and authentic representation of Billy Joel’s remarkable journey. The expertise and vision of these individuals have played a pivotal role in making the ‘Billy Joel – My Life, A Piano Man’s Journey’ exhibit a reality that promises to exceed expectations.

    Key Features of the Exhibit

    1. Rare Memorabilia: The exhibit will feature an array of rare memorabilia, from original sheet music to instruments used during Joel’s performances. Fans can expect to see treasured artifacts that will transport them back to the moments that shaped Billy Joel’s career.
    2. Interactive Displays: Visitors can immerse themselves in the world of Billy Joel through interactive displays that allow you to get a feel for his iconic piano performances. These displays will transport you to the front row of some of his most memorable concerts.
    3. Behind-the-Scenes Insights: Discover the man behind the music with personal anecdotes and insights from Billy Joel himself. These glimpses into his life will provide a unique perspective on his journey.
    4. Music and Lyrics: Explore the creation process of some of his most famous songs through handwritten lyrics and original musical compositions, giving visitors an intimate understanding of his artistry.
    5. Videos and Interviews: The exhibit will also feature a collection of rare videos and interviews, shedding light on Joel’s thoughts, inspirations, and experiences over the years.

    The ‘Billy Joel – My Life, A Piano Man’s Journey’ exhibit at the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame is a Thanksgiving gift to music lovers and Billy Joel enthusiasts alike. With over five decades of rare memorabilia, personal insights, and limited-time engagement, this exhibit promises to be a memorable experience for all who attend. Join in the celebration of Billy Joel’s legendary career and the enduring power of music at this extraordinary event. Get your tickets now and make your Thanksgiving weekend truly special by discovering the remarkable journey of the iconic “Piano Man.”

    In addition to the thrilling ‘Billy Joel – My Life, A Piano Man’s Journey’ exhibit, the celebration of the iconic musician doesn’t stop there. Billy Joel’s profound connection to his hometown has been recognized and honored in a remarkable way. In a heartfelt gesture, Oyster Bay, Long Island, decided to pay homage to its musical legend by renaming a section of Audrey Avenue to ‘Billy Joel Way.’ This act of appreciation culminated in a poignant ceremony where the town also bestowed upon Billy Joel a Key to the City.

  • Billy Joel Announces 100th MSG Residency Show for March 2024, Adds Three More

    Billy Joel announced his 100th monthly and 146th lifetime show at Madison Square Garden on Thursday, March 28, 2024. This show is part of his record-breaking, sold-out residency, with his final show, and his 150th lifetime show at the venue, slated for July 2024.

    Joel also announced two performances at the iconic venue on April 26, 2024, May 9, 2024, and June 8, 2024.

    Billy Joel

    Billy Joel’s history with Madison Square Garden began with his first performance at The World’s Most Famous Arena on December 14, 1978. In 2006, with 12 consecutive performances, Joel set the record for “most consecutive performances by any artist,” commemorated with a banner stating “Joel – 12” in the venue’s rafters, making him the first entertainer in the venue’s history to accomplish this feat.

    He is one of the world’s most iconic musicians, having received The Kennedy Center Honors, one of the United States’ top cultural awards, in December 2013. He is also the recipient of six GRAMMY Awards, including the prestigious Grammy Legend Award. He has sold 150 million records over the past 25 years with 33 Top 40 hits.

    Joel received both The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song which honors living musical artists’ lifetime achievement in promoting the genre of song as a vehicle of cultural understanding; entertaining and informing audiences; and inspiring new generations, and the once-in-a-century ASCAP Centennial Award, which is presented to American music icons in recognition of their incomparable accomplishments in their respective music genres and beyond.

    In December 2013, he was named Madison Square Garden’s first-ever music franchise, joining the ranks of the venue’s other original franchises – the New York Knicks and New York Rangers. The record-breaking residency began in January 2014 with Joel playing one show every month at The Garden for, as Joel said at the time, “as long as the demand continues.” In January 2015, Joel broke his own record of the “most consecutive performances by any artist” with the 13th show of the residency, and a new banner was raised to The Garden’s rafters.

    In July 2015, with his 65th lifetime show, he broke another record for the “most lifetime performances by any artist,” for which another banner was raised. Both of Joel’s banners continue to hang at The Garden and are replaced each month with each performance. In July 2018, he performed his 100th lifetime performance at the venue, commemorated as “Billy Joel Day” in the state. His piano was put on display outside of Chase Square, and the performance saw Bruce Springsteen onstage with the Piano Man.

    A multitude of other incredible surprise guests have joined him on stage throughout the course of the ten-year run including Miley Cyrus, Jimmy Fallon, John Fogerty, Billy Gibbons, Brian Johnson, John Mayer, John Mellencamp, Olivia Rodrigo, Paul Simon, and more. He also sold more than 1.6 million tickets from all 50 states and more than 120 countries.

    Billy Joel speaking at his MSG Press Conference, June 2, 2023. Photo by: Lucas Kurzweil for NYS Music.

    In addition to his ongoing residency run, Joel has also performed alongside other music greats at two of Madison Square Garden’s most extraordinary benefit concerts – “12-12-12, The Concert For Sandy Relief,” which raised awareness and money for those affected by Hurricane Sandy, and “The Concert for New York City,” which was held to help aid 9/11 victims and heroes.

    Tickets for March 28, 2024, Billy Joel show at MSG will be available for purchase by the general public beginning at 10:00 AM (ET) on Friday, October 13. They will also be available at the Madison Square Garden box office on Saturday, October 14.

    Tickets for his April 26, 2024, are on sale now. Tickets for the May 9 and June shows go on sale at 10 a.m. on Oct. 27.

  • Billy Joel Returns Home for New Year’s Eve UBS Arena Show

    UBS Arena announced New York’s favorite Billy Joel will return to his hometown this New Year’s Eve for a landmark show at the brand-new arena. His first show at Belmont Park’s new arena and his first hometown Long Island appearance since 2018, Billy Joel will help crowds ring in the New Year beginning at 9:30 pm on Dec 31.

    Billy Joel New Year's Eve at UBS Arena

    A recurrent New York City area performer and Long Island native, Billy Joel is a staple of Madison Square Garden lineups. As a recipient of legendary awards such as the Kennedy Center Honors and multiple Grammy Awards, Joel is one of the most celebrated musicians of all time.

    Billy Joel MSG

    UBS Arena at Belmont Park is one of the New York area’s largest entertainment and sports venues. Opened in November 2021, the arena is home to the New York Islanders, one of the city’s own NHL teams.

    We are thrilled to welcome Long Island’s own Billy Joel to UBS Arena at Belmont Park. To have such an iconic artist as our New Year’s Eve show is an honor. We look forward to ringing in the New Year with him and our guests later this year.

    Kim Stone, UBS Arena president

    Pre-sale for Citi® Cardmembers begins Monday, September 11 at 10am through Thursday, September 14 at 10pm. Public on sale begins Friday, September 15 at 10am via Ticketmaster. More information is available at billyjoel.com.

  • MSG Entertainment and Billy Joel Announce the End of Historic Run of Shows

    On June 1st, Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp held a press conference in Chase Square at MSG to announce the end of Billy Joel‘s decade long residency. Joel has logged 136 shows at the Garden and holds the longest consecutive show streak in the venue’s history at 90 (as of 6/1/23). The residency will continue until July 2024, when Joel will reach 150 lifetime shows at The Garden.

    Billy Joel speaking at his MSG Press Conference. Photo by: Lucas Kurzweil

    To date, the residency has racked up more than 1.6 million tickets sales to fans from all 50 states and over 120 countries. The legendary musician and New Yorker was joined on stage by Mayor Eric Adams, Rangers Legend Henrik Lundqvist, Executive Chairman and CEO of MSG Entertainment James L. Dolan, Executive Vice President of Live at MSG Entertainment Josephine Vaccarello, and Q104.3 host Jim Kerr.

    I’m kind of flabbergasted that it lasted as long as it did. My team tells me that we could continue to sell tickets, but ten years, 150 shows – all right already!

    Billy Joel.

    The 6-time Grammy winner and 23-time nominee’s first performance at MSG dates back to December of 1978, where he performed on three consecutive nights during the 52nd street tour and 45 years later the curtains are closing.

    Billy Joel and Eric Adams at Billy Joel x MSG Press Conference. Photo by: Lucas Kurzweil

    “There’s only one thing that’s more New York than Billy Joel – and that’s a Billy Joel concert at MSG,” said NYC Mayor Eric Adams. “For more than 50 years, Billy’s music has defined our city and brought us together. On behalf of 8.5 million New Yorkers, congratulations, Billy, on a historic run of sold-out shows at MSG, and thank you for a lifetime of bringing joy to us all.”

    Henrik Lundqvist praised Joel’s icon status, “Throughout my career I remember so many moments being on the ice looking up to the rafters and seeing all of these legends names, Knicks Legends, Rangers Legends and of course Billy Joel.”

    The first of the final ten shows in Billy Joel’s MSG franchise run will take place on October 20, 2023. Due to demand, a special date was added on Thanksgiving Eve – November 22, 2023, marking his 96 monthly and 142 lifetime show at The Garden. Tickets will be available for purchase by the general public beginning at 10:00AM (ET) on Friday, June 9 via ticketmaster.com. Tickets will also be available at the Madison Square Garden box office on Saturday, June 10.

    Henrik Lundqvist speaking at Billy Joel x MSG Press Conference. Photo by: Lucas Kurzweil

  • Sports Playoff Schedules Postpone MSG Concerts

    Two shows, Billy Joel and Juan Luis Guerra, have been postponed at Madison Square Garden due to the New York Knicks and New York Rangers playoff games.

    Madison Square Garden

    The New York Rangers will be going up against the New Jersey Devils in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Billy Joel’s concert scheduled for Saturday, April 22, 2023, has been rescheduled for Tuesday, April 25, 2023, due to this event, and all tickets purchased for the previous date are valid at the new one. Joel’s MSG franchise run will resume as scheduled on May 5, 2023, but fans should note it is subject to change if it conflicts with a playoff game.

    Potentially, the New York Knicks will be playing Game 6 of the NBA Playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers at MSG, therefore Juan Luis Guerra’s concert scheduled for Friday, April 28, 2023, has been rescheduled a night earlier on Thursday, April 27, 2023, with all tickets honored for the new date.

    Madison Square Garden

    To stay up to date on the status of MSG events as playoff games keep ramping up, visit here.

  • Billy Joel Announces August Performance at MSG

    By popular demand, long time New York music sensation Billy Joel will continue his concert residency at Madison Square Garden. The venue announced that Joel’s August 29 performance will mark his 93rd monthly and 139th lifetime show at the arena. Named a franchise by MSG in December 2013, the upcoming 93rd performance for Billy Joel comes nearly 10 years after he started his residency.

    Billy Joel MSG
    Billy Joel pictured on the cover of his debut album, Cold Spring Harbor, in 1971

    Billy Joel’s career spans more than 50 years, earning him a number of awards. The sixth best-selling recording artist of all time, his song “Piano Man” was chosen for preservation by the Library of Congress in 2016 for its “cultural, historic, and artistic significance.” Joel ranks as one of the most popular and respected entertainers in history.

    Significantly, in Dec. 2013, Joel received one of the top cultural awards in the country, The Kennedy Center Honors. He has won six Grammy Awards, including the Grammy Legend Award, and is a member of the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Joel has won various industry awards, awards including a Tony Award for “Movin’ Out,” a Broadway musical based on his work.

    In Nov. 2014, Joel received the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. The award honors living musical artists’ lifetime achievements in promoting the genre of song as a vehicle of cultural understanding, entertaining and informing audiences, and inspiring new generations. Moreover, that same month, he won the ASCAP Centennial Award, which is presented to American music icons for their achievements in their respective genres.

    Joel performed at MSG’s benefit concert, “12-12-12, The Concert For Sandy Relief,” to raise awareness and money for those affected by Hurricane Sandy. Similarly, he performed at “The Concert for New York City,” to provide aid and relief to the victims and heroes of 9/11. Adding another milestone to his career, Joel has also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

    Tickets for the Aug. 29 show go on sale to the general public starting Friday, Feb. 10 starting at 10 a.m. through Ticketmaster. Tickets will also be available at the MSG box office on Saturday, Feb. 11.