Billy Joel ends MSG residency with a hundred and fiftieth present that includes daughters
It was the end of an era when Billy Joel played his last note of his 10 year residency at a sold out Madison Square Garden on Thursday, July 25.
The show not only marked the last of Joel’s 10-year-long residency at the World’s Most Famous Arena, but also the 150th lifetime performance, which is a record for any artist at the iconic venue.
It turned out to be a family affair for the singer as his daughters were brought out on stage by family friend Jimmy Fallon to help unveil a banner honoring him for his history-making show.
Joel had the honor of sitting behind the piano as his eight-year-old Della belted out vocals and danced, all the while her dad flashed a proud smile on his face.
His six-year-old daughter, Remy, got a up-close look at the performance while sitting on the end of her father’s piano, who just happened to be dressed identically as her older sister in a colorful burgundy minidress.
Billy Joel celebrated the end of his Madison Square Garden residency by ushering his two young daughters, Della, eight, and Remy, six, to the stage
For his history-making 150th show at the World’s Most Famous Arena, Della Joel took center stage for her performance with her father on piano and her sister sitting back in decked out in an identical minidress
After opening the show with Miami 2017 (Seen The Lights Go Out On Broadway), Fallon came out when for the banner revealing by the time they got to the fifth song Vienna.
But the crowd would get an unscripted gem when his young daughters were sitting on the piano for the next song, My Life. Early on in the performance, Della hopped off and walked to over to ask her father something, all while he’s singing and playing piano.
From that point, the little singer-in-the-making stood in front of the rotating piano and could be seen mouthing the words of the song, while keeping beat by clapping her hands and tapping one of both of her feet.
The live audience could be heard cheering her on in various videos posted on YouTube.
Billy shares his daughters with his fourth wife Alexis Roderick, 42, whom he married in 2015.
He also has another daughter, Alexa Ray Joel, 36, who he shares with ex-wife Christie Brinkley, 70.
The evening consisted of Joel belting out hit after hit that includes the likes of Pressure, Allentown, Only The Good Die Young, Piano Man, Scenes From An Italian Restaurant, It’s Still Rock And Roll To Me, and Big Shot, among many others.
He also brought out Guns N’ Roses frontman Axl Rose for a cover of Paul McCartney And Wings’ classic Live And Let Die, as well as You May Be Right.
The history-making residency began back in January 2014, with Joel playing one show a month at MSG.
Over the years he has welcomed such stars as Sting, John Mellencamp, Elvis Costello, Tony Bennett, Paul Simon and John Fogerty, along with recent hitmakers such as John Mayer, Miley Cyrus, Gavin DeGraw and Olivia Rodrigo.
Joel, who was born up in the Bronx and grew up in Long Island, delivered the hits
The music stopped momentarily when Jimmy Fallon and Joel’s daughters helped unveil the new banner marking his milestone 150 shows
The musician was all smiles as he snuggled up with his two daughters
Della snuck in a vocal or two during her dad’s residency finale
During Joel’s My Life, Remy sat on her father’s piano while Della mouthed the words
Della got animated as she sung along with her father during My Life in her stylish minidress
Joel gave his two girls a big hug before sitting back down behind the piano
Billy shares his daughters with his fourth wife Alexis Roderick, whom he married in 2015 (pictured at the Grammys in February)
Fans from as far away as Australia came to New York City to see the final show of the residency, according to WPIX New York.
Afterwards, the backstage area turned out to be a who’s who of celebrities and high-profile people before and after the show, which included former U.S. President Bill Clinton, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, actor and comedian Paul Rudd, and New England Patriots owner and CEO Robert Kraft, among others.
In a sign of respect, New York City Mayor Eric Adams presented Joel with the key to the city of New York backstage before the final residency performance.
Joel’s illustrious career as a musician began back in the mid-1960, which led to the release of debut studio album, Cold Spring Harbor (1971).
But it failed to gain any real traction until after the success of his follow-up, Piano Man (1973), that peaked at number 25 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number four on the Adult Contemporary singles chart.
At the top of the VIP guests for the sold out show was former U.S. President Bill Clintom
The 42nd President of the United States has been a lifelong music fan, who plays the saxophone, as many of his older constituents may recall
President Clinton could also be seen laughing it up with comediand and actor Paul Rudd
The two former politicians both looked handsome and stylish in their respective suits
Now an established name on the musical landscape, Joel became a million seller with the release of Streetlife Serenade (1974), but his commercial breakout making him a bonafide star came with the release of The Stranger (1977), which featured the hit singles Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song), Just The Way You Are, She’s Always a Woman, The Stranger, and Only The Good Die Young.
Plus, songs like Scenes From An Italian Restaurant and Vienna have become staples of his career and are frequently performed in his live shows over the years.
The Stranger album, which was the first Joel’s to be produced by Phil Ramone, went on to spend six weeks at number two on the US Billboard 200 chart, en route to selling more than 10 million copies worldwide.
Maintaining his momentum, Joel dropped 52nd Street (1978) the following year, and it would end making his fist number one album of his career, with the support of such hit singles as My Life, Big Shot, Until The Night and Honesty.
The Piano Man also chatted it up with Fromer New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, New England Patriots owner and CEO Robert Kraft and his wife Dana Blumberg
The Piano Man shared some laughs with Kraft and Blumberg
New York City Mayor Eric Adams presented Joel with the key to the city of New York backstage before the last show of his Madison Square Garden residency
With over 160 million records sold worldwide, Billy Joel is one of the world’s best-selling musical artists, and the fourth-best-selling solo artist in the United States
After 12 studio albums between 1971 and 1993, most of which have now gone platinum several times over, Joel announced his retirement from writing and recording the traditional pop/rock genre.
He would go on to release a 13th album – Fantasies & Delusions (2001) – that features classical compositions from Joel, a first for him during his career.
Ultimately, Joel broke his word with the release of the single Turn The Lights Back On, his first new pop song in years (and only his second pop song in more than two decades).
With over 160 million records sold worldwide, Billy Joel is one of the world’s best-selling musical artists, and the fourth-best-selling solo artist in the United States.
