Billy Joel lives up to his title of The Piano Man yet again.
In a recent viral YouTube video the Hicksville native and Centre Island resident is shown giving an impromptu live performance on a discarded piano in Huntington.
“It’s a perfectly good piano,” said the successful singer-songwriter after testing the keys.
Like many musicians, Joel’s monthly Madison Square Garden residency concerts have been postponed until 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic. This was his first live “gig” in months.
Joel was on a motorcycle ride in Huntington when a piano on the curb caught his attention, according to reports. With his helmet still on he skillfully played an uplifting ragtime melody for a few onlookers, one of whom filmed it. As of this post, the video got nearly a million views since it was posted June 26.
“Not bad. The action is good. It just needs tuning and the finish is beat,” he said after checking out the instrument. “It’s a shame to throw it out, should at least be donated to St. Vincent de Paul or something.”
Fans identified the tune he played as Shelton Brooks’ 1917 ragtime roll “Darktown Strutters’ Ball,” according to the New York Post.
This may be Joel’s last in-person show for a while but fans can watch his recent performances from various COVID-19 Relief Benefits such as “Rise Up New York” and “Robin Hood Relief Benefit.”
Watch the video below.
Related Story: Billy Joel ‘Arc-thology’ TV Series In Development
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