Billy Joel Band
Encyclopedia
The Billy Joel Band is the band that backs singer Billy Joel
on both studio, and live recordings. The band stabilized around 1975, but has undergone lineup changes since then. The first lineup of the band played with Billy Joel
on his live album Songs in the Attic
. The current band is also support for Joel's 2009-2010 tour. The band is often not recognized as a formal entity, and is instead referred to simply as Billy Joel's band.
This was also the lineup for Joel's first live album, Songs in the Attic.
and Mark Rivera
joined and remain in his band to this day. Rivera had taken over the prominent saxophone solo in the song "New York State of Mind
" that had previously been performed by Cannata (and was re-recorded by Phil Woods for the Greatest Hits
version of the song). The 1993 River of Dreams tour saw the addition of David Rosenthal
on keyboards who also remains with the band. Tommy Byrnes has become a frequent band member on guitar and was both a musical consultant and band member in the Movin' Out
musical
.
In August 1995, Billy Joel's long-time bassist
Doug Stegmeyer committed suicide in his Long Island
home. Stegmeyer had played on every one of Joel's albums from Turnstiles
through The Bridge
. Stegmeyer also performed as bassist on Joel's live album KOHЦEPT.
For the 2006 tour, Joel did not invite DeVitto back as drummer. Chuck Burgi
(from the Broadway production of Movin' Out) replaced DeVitto. Cannata returned on saxophones, along with Rivera and Taliefero, with Cannata again performing the "New York State of Mind" solo. Carl Fischer plays trumpet and trombone when needed, most notably in the song "Zanzibar."
. It includes:
Billy Joel
William Martin "Billy" Joel is an American musician and pianist, singer-songwriter, and classical composer. Since releasing his first hit song, "Piano Man", in 1973, Joel has become the sixth best-selling recording artist and the third best-selling solo artist in the United States, according to...
on both studio, and live recordings. The band stabilized around 1975, but has undergone lineup changes since then. The first lineup of the band played with Billy Joel
Billy Joel
William Martin "Billy" Joel is an American musician and pianist, singer-songwriter, and classical composer. Since releasing his first hit song, "Piano Man", in 1973, Joel has become the sixth best-selling recording artist and the third best-selling solo artist in the United States, according to...
on his live album Songs in the Attic
Songs in the Attic
Songs in the Attic is the first live album by Billy Joel, released in 1981 .At the time of its release, it was unique as being the first widely available appearance of music from his first album, Cold Spring Harbor from 1971....
. The current band is also support for Joel's 2009-2010 tour. The band is often not recognized as a formal entity, and is instead referred to simply as Billy Joel's band.
Early Days
In the mid 1970s, the touring and studio lineup of Joel's band stabilized. The main lineup consisted of:- Billy JoelBilly JoelWilliam Martin "Billy" Joel is an American musician and pianist, singer-songwriter, and classical composer. Since releasing his first hit song, "Piano Man", in 1973, Joel has become the sixth best-selling recording artist and the third best-selling solo artist in the United States, according to...
- lead vocals, piano & keyboards, guitar, harmonica - Liberty DeVittoLiberty DeVittoLiberty DeVitto is an American rock drummer. He is best known as the drummer for Billy Joel, but has also played with the NYC Hit Squad and has been a session drummer on recordings of other artists.-Career:...
— drums, percussion - Doug StegmeyerDoug StegmeyerDoug Stegmeyer was a musician best known as the bassist for Billy Joel.-Career:Doug Stegmeyer met Russell Javors in high school. At age 15, Javors was performing songs with childhood friend Liberty DeVitto. From then, the boys, along with Howard Emerson, formed the band Topper.Together they...
— bass guitar, backing vocals - Russell JavorsRussell JavorsRussell Javors is an American rock guitarist. He is best known as a primary guitarist for Billy Joel from 1976 to 1989.-Career:...
— rhythm and lead guitars, harmonica, backing vocals - David Brown — lead and rhythm guitars, 12-string guitar
- Richie CannataRichie CannataRichie Cannata is an American music producer, multi-instrumentalist and studio owner. He is most notable for playing saxophone in the Billy Joel band alongside Doug Stegmeyer and Liberty DeVitto. After leaving the band in 1981, he opened Cove City Sound Studios in Glen Cove, New York...
— keyboards, saxophones, flute, clarinet, percussion
This was also the lineup for Joel's first live album, Songs in the Attic.
Success
The 1980s and 1990s saw significant changes to Joel's band. By the River of Dreams tour, the only remaining long-standing member of the band was DeVitto. T-Bone Wolk joined playing bass guitar, as well as other instruments, including accordion. Multi-instrumentalists Crystal TalieferoCrystal Taliefero
Crystal Taliefero is an American multi-instrumentalist and vocalist. Since 1989 she has been a touring and recording member of the Billy Joel Band...
and Mark Rivera
Mark Rivera
Mark Rivera is a musician, musical director and corporate entertainment provider. In addition to playing soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophones, Rivera's musical talents encompass vocals, guitar, percussion and keyboards.-Education:...
joined and remain in his band to this day. Rivera had taken over the prominent saxophone solo in the song "New York State of Mind
New York State of Mind
"New York State of Mind" is a song written by Billy Joel which initially appeared on the album Turnstiles in 1976. While not a hit when it was first released, it has received much more frequent airplay in recent years...
" that had previously been performed by Cannata (and was re-recorded by Phil Woods for the Greatest Hits
Greatest Hits (Billy Joel albums)
Billy Joel's Greatest Hits is a collection released in two sets, 12 years apart. The first set, consisting of two discs, titled Volume I and Volume II, was released in 1985. The second, single disc titled Volume III was released in 1997. All songs but the last three on Volume III, "To Make You Feel...
version of the song). The 1993 River of Dreams tour saw the addition of David Rosenthal
David Rosenthal (musician)
David Rosenthal is an American keyboardist, music producer, and songwriter mostly known for working with the English hard rock band Rainbow and Billy Joel...
on keyboards who also remains with the band. Tommy Byrnes has become a frequent band member on guitar and was both a musical consultant and band member in the Movin' Out
Movin' Out (musical)
Movin' Out is a jukebox musical featuring the songs of Billy Joel.Conceived by Twyla Tharp, the musical tells the story of a generation of American youth growing up on Long Island during the 1960s and their experiences with the Vietnam War...
musical
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
.
In August 1995, Billy Joel's long-time bassist
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
Doug Stegmeyer committed suicide in his Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
home. Stegmeyer had played on every one of Joel's albums from Turnstiles
Turnstiles
Turnstiles was the fourth album by Billy Joel, released in 1976. In part, the album was made to celebrate Joel's return to New York City after his sojourn in California. Three of the album's tracks reference New York: "Summer, Highland Falls", "New York State of Mind" and "Miami 2017 "...
through The Bridge
The Bridge (Billy Joel album)
The Bridge is Billy Joel's 10th studio album released by Columbia Records in 1986 and was his final album to be produced by Phil Ramone...
. Stegmeyer also performed as bassist on Joel's live album KOHЦEPT.
For the 2006 tour, Joel did not invite DeVitto back as drummer. Chuck Burgi
Chuck Burgi
Chuck Burgi is an American drummer and session musician. Born in Montclair, New Jersey, he is the brother of actor Richard Burgi....
(from the Broadway production of Movin' Out) replaced DeVitto. Cannata returned on saxophones, along with Rivera and Taliefero, with Cannata again performing the "New York State of Mind" solo. Carl Fischer plays trumpet and trombone when needed, most notably in the song "Zanzibar."
12 Gardens Live
Billy Joel's lineup for the 2006–2009 tour was also featured on his 2006 album, 12 Gardens Live12 Gardens Live
12 Gardens Live is a Sony music compilation of songs performed by American singer/songwriter Billy Joel during a record run of twelve sold-out concerts at Madison Square Garden in New York City in early 2006...
. It includes:
- Billy Joel - lead vocals, piano, keyboards, harmonica, guitar
- Tommy Byrnes - Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals
- Andy Cichon - bass guitar, backing vocals
- Dave Rosenthal - keyboards
- Chuck Burgi - drums, percussion
- Crystal Taliefero - percussion, backing vocals, saxophone, harmonica
- Mark Rivera - guitar, backing vocals, saxophone, percussion
- Carl Fischer - trumpet, trombone, saxophone (occasional member)