Grand Rapids – Celebrating Billy Joel - America's Piano Man '50 Years of Billy’ comes to Grand Rapids, MI at DeVos Performance Hall on Friday, October 28th, 2022, at 8PM. Tickets go on sale Friday, August 26 at 10AM at DeVosPerformanceHall.com.
One of the foremost songwriters of the twentieth century, Billy Joel’s music is beloved around the world. Eclectic, but always uniquely recognizable, his songs tell stories to the backdrop of his virtuosic piano playing.
This show celebrates the songs and the style of Billy Joel, evoking the energy and passion of live performances in his 70s/80s pomp.
Playing international smash hits such as ‘Just The Way You Are’, ‘New York State of Mind’, ‘Uptown Girl’, ‘Vienna’, ‘Scenes from an Italian Restaurant’, ‘Piano Man’ and many, many more; this superb group of multi-instrumentalists featuring renowned vocalists and piano players Rob Stringer and Alex Dee pay tribute to one of American music’s greats.
About Alex Dee
Alex Dee is a singer and multi-instrumentalist who has been a professional musician for two decades. He has worked as a session musician for an eclectic range of artists, most notably playing keyboards and guitar for Graham Gouldman and 10cc from 2018. Other credits as a sideman include playing saxophone for soul legends The Flirtations and tenure as sax player for Jamie N Commons – a highlight of this period was opening for Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band in Holland.
Alex has worked as a session singer/recording artist for various national TV productions including ‘The Voice’, ‘Dancing on Ice’ and ‘Starstruck’ as well as appearing as a featured vocalist on-screen on primetime live TV in the UK.
As well as a busy performing schedule, Alex is an academic who recently received a PhD in Music Analysis researching patterns in pop song writing through the decades.
His role in ‘Celebrating Billy Joel’ sees him return to the artist and the catalogue of songs that ignited his passion for music in the first place. He says: “bringing the songs of Billy Joel to groups of people who love them as much as I do is a pleasure and a privilege”.
About Rob Stringer
An in-demand singer and pianist, Rob's performing work began in childhood as head chorister with Worcester Cathedral Choir, featuring on many recordings and performing in live concert tours to the USA, Europe and South Africa, where he performed Mendelssohn’s ‘Hear My Prayer’ with Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra at Cape Town Cathedral, aged 13.
Rob has performed extensively at many major venues across the world over the past ten years, including the Royal Albert Hall, Radio City Music Hall, Moscow Concert Hall, Paris Palais des Congrès, Montreal Bell Centre and Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado.
In addition to his touring work, Rob has worked professionally as a session musician for two decades, both in the studio and live TV and Radio work, including appearances on Later with Jools Holland and BBC prime time show Peaky Blinders.
Rob is a great lover of jazz music, renowned as a performer on the UK jazz circuit, his style influenced heavily by Harry Connick Jr, Ray Charles and Nat King Cole. Early in his professional piano career, Rob studied piano technique under the tutelage of Eleanor Hancock in New York City at The Taubman Institute.
A real highlight in Rob's career was performing at Stella McCartney’s 2008 Fashion Show to an audience including Sir Paul McCartney, Yoko Ono, Olivia Harrison and Sir George Martin all seated together in the front row!
Rob is relishing the opportunity to perform in this new show celebrating one of his favorite artists and the chance to combine two of his big musical passions, singing and playing piano!
About ASM Global
Van Andel Arena, DeVos Place and DeVos Performance Hall are managed by ASM Global. ASM Global is the world’s leading producer of entertainment experiences. It is the global leader in venue and event strategy and management—delivering locally tailored solutions and cutting-edge technologies to achieve maximum results for venue owners. The company’s elite venue network spans five continents, with a portfolio of more than 350 of the world’s most prestigious arenas, stadiums, convention, and exhibition centers, and performing arts venues Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter. asmglobal.com.
####