The Piano Man is going to be in a permanent New York State of Mind.
Billy Joel announced Tuesday that he will be performing monthly concerts at the newly renovated Madison Square Garden starting in January for as long as there is demand.
“Playing The Garden is an experience that never gets old,” the singer/songwriter from Long Island told reporters during a news conference while reminiscing about first stepping on stage there 35 years ago. “If you have a great audience you usually have a better show.”
The partnership with the venue, dubbed Billy Joel at The Garden, was termed MSG’s fourth franchise after the New York Knicks, Rangers and Liberty professional sports teams.
Joel, who performed a total of 46 shows at MSG, including a run of 12 in 2006, recently played a surprise charity concert at The Paramount in Huntington before he announced he’ll play The Barclays Center in Brooklyn on New Year’s Eve.
He had previously announced four upcoming dates at MSG: Jan. 27, Feb. 3, March 21 and April 18. MSG officials said Tuesday that he’ll also perform at the venue on May 9, his 65th birthday, with future monthly performance dates to be announced.
“Billy, having you as our music franchise feels a little bit like having the pope as your parish priest,” said James Dolan, executive chairman of The Madison Square Garden Company and CEO of Cablevision Systems Corp. “We look forward to so many unforgettable nights next year and beyond.”
Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who was also on hand for the announcement, noted that Joel—best known for hits such as “The Ballad of Billy the Kid,” “Only the Good Die Young” and “Movin’ Out,” which was turned into a Broadway musical—will be honored by President Obama this weekend at The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
“Billy tells the New York story because Billy is the New York story,” Cuomo said. “Billy Joel is truly one of New York State’s great treasurers.”
Ticket prices range from $64 to $124, according to the Ticketmaster website.
