Of all the love I have for people in music, when he performs and when he puts it out there and those songs connect with people, we all forget about life for a while. Cannata was born 3 March 1949 in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Ernest (26 March 1914 - 14 April 1993) and Anna (February 25, 1926 1 April 2007) Cannata. Fresh Cream had just come out. Then we get to that song Im Your Captain by Grand Funk Railroad. It was a six-piece band. I went out to Long Island with my alto. It has everything that anyone could possibly want. I dont know what happened. Thats how much it means to everyone. The group toured throughout the United States, including Puerto Rico.[3]. I felt like I fit in. Everyone will say the same thing. He used studio musicians for the recording and different guys out on the road. Hed spent the past eight years juggling his duties in Billy Joels band with his role as Ringo Starrs musical director and multi-instrumentalist, but the Piano Man booked a last-minute U.K. tour the same week he was supposed to tour South America with Ringo. His specialties are the keyboards, the clarinet, the flute and the saxophone. Until Richie created his own record this year, he had felt the need to revisit 'New York State of Mind' and develop his own version of the classic tune. He would sound like, [deep, indecipherable grumble]. The shine was definitely off. Onstage, you wouldnt know there was any animosity. I was like, I saw these guys in 67 and now its like 1997. Its like [hums the Twilight Zone theme]. They didnt want me to just start playing it, so Id open up the hope chest and stare at it while my parents were out and put it back in right with all the doilies and stuff. This line-up included Richie Cannata on saxophones and organ, Liberty DeVitto on drums, Russell Javors and Howie Emerson on guitars, and Doug Stegmeyer on bass.[1]. On Buzzlearn.com, Richie is listed as a successful Musician who was born in the year of 1948. Its the same with the vocals for Jukebox Hero or Tell Her About It or Uptown Girl. Any time those are in a movie or commercial, I get residuals. But no. If I could be frank, I said, Who the fuck is Mutt Lange? I get there and Im one of two white guys. Finally, Mutt said, How about this? And he played the tape and I swear it was the first thing I played when I walked in. Look, the funny thing about Storm Front is that Mick Jones produced it and Billy said he wanted to emulate Sledgehammer. Who dont you call? We get to rehearsal and, at the time, Felix Cavaliere, who I love dearly, like my dear uncle, he was supposed to be the musical director. Tons of other shows at the Fillmore like Deep Purple opening up for Creedence Clearwater Revival. Joel wound up bringing in saxophonist Andy Snitzer to sub in for the overseas shows, marking one of the only occasions where Rivera has missed a show since joining the band in 1982 for the Nylon Curtain tour, replacing Richie Cannata. Born in Brooklyn and raised on Long Island, Richie first studied classical piano and clarinet before picking up the tenor saxophone. I had two days to be home with my family. I had my road case with my alto, my tenor, my bari, harmonicas, guitars, and all this stuff. How old is Richie Cannata? - idswater.com In an online interview, DeVitto describes how Joel's classic late 1970s-early 1980s band first came together: Billy and I used to play the same club in Plainview, Long Island, called My House. I freaked out, says Rivera. This edition features saxophonist Mark Rivera. Joel also had Tommy Byrnes move over to lead guitar. However well you play will take you so far. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Without casting aspersions, can you sing one melody off the last three Elton John records? Ill play the bass and you sing it and Ill sort it out. Im singing Birthday with Paul on bass, my favorite bass player, and Im tripping. You can also read Ray on Newsmax. We had a group and wed back anybody. I stand behind him 100 percent. Mutt knew that I could sing because I sang with Tycoon. I had to call Bruce Grakal, Ringos manager and someone that has been with him forever. Then Mick [Jones] and Lou [Gramm] had a foosball table and they were mixing some vodkas. I remember asking Cannata at the time, how did he get into the Yankees locker room and he told me, Billy Joel and him were guests of Yankees bat boy Joe DAmbrosio. I will never forget the day a couple of young musicians were walking around the Yankees clubhouse like a couple of little kids. You dont want to make mistakes with the choreography. So now fast-forward to 1986 and Im back home after the Foreigner tour. When Richie recorded and performed that solo in 1976 on The "Turnstiles" record . You can be a great player and be a dick. You went out with Simon and Garfunkel the year after you joined Billys band. Im proud and so incredibly humbled that were coming on 38 years together. What tips would you give him or her for how to maneuver through that? Billy Joel will next perform on July 5th at Madison Square Garden. We still do. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqO8Cn_zuT8. He was supposed to have all these ideas and charts and know what vocals are going where. At the time, I only played alto saxophone. Richie Cannata official website with songs, photos, tour dates, CD purchase, contact info, and more. Be well. I thought that was the end of the conversation. Goodbye. At the very last moment, he says, Youll still be my musical director, wont you? I was like, There is a God!. As I was saying, I was with Foreigner and I only had two or three days to be home. Its attitude, aptitude and gratitude. Its that simple. Look, I love Temptation. This Is the Time is my favorite all-time Billy Joel song. Baby Grand is also on that and A Matter of Trust. But I know its hard for Billy to step away from himself as a writer. I remember chuckling to myself because in my mind, nobody could be as big as Elvis. In the mid-1990s, Cannata also toured with The Beach Boys. I brought a keyboard into my room and shedded that for about five hours. Sam kind of was able to temper his expectations. Lets do Conquistador instead. I slid myself out of that responsibility for the day. Yeah. He also added the percussionist and multi-instrumentalist Crystal Taliefero who would become a permanent fixture in his band while Stegmeyer was replaced by Schuyler Deale and Javors was replaced by Joey Hunting on the album and Tommy Byrnes for its accompanying tour. Just last year, DeVitto who still plays the hits with alums from Joel's band, Russell Javors on guitar and vocals and Richie Cannata on saxophone and keyboards in a group called the Lords of . Theres not even a saxophone on it. My three favorite Billy songs are This Is the Time, So It Goes and All About Soul. They are just great songs. The rest is history. Richie Cannata) - Single 2021 Attention (feat. Foreigner has so many enormous hit songs, but most people dont know the names of any of the band members, even Lou. Richie and other members of the then Billy Joel band have helped me do charity events for kids in the Bronx and in poor communities in Long Island. It turned out those two young musicians were great sax player Richie Cannata and his friend, a Long Island kid, who would become world-wide legend Billy Joel. See Jennifer Hudson, John Legend Duet on Bridge Over Troubled Water to Mark 100th Episode. Songs, photos, tour dates, news, contact info, My uncle Vinnie, my godfather, played the saxophone, in a wedding-type band. We need to forget about this. I have my own band. Unbelievable. Its great! Mutt said, That was his first take, gentleman. That reminds me that your first instinct is usually your best. Id sometimes sit on the side of the stage with [drummer] Carlos Vega because theyd be doing songs without any drums or saxophone. [18][19] Shortly thereafter, Cannata, DeVitto, and Javors officially formed The Lords of 52nd Street band; the band also includes a pianist and lead vocalist, keyboardist, and a guitarist, and plays faithful renditions of the recorded Joel originals. [2] The Lords of 52nd Street is a band formed by the original band members that previously played with Joel. Through the years there is nothing that Cannata wouldnt do to help the less fortunate in conjunction with the Yankees, or for that matter anybody that is trying to do good. On day one, I always make sure we do three Ringo songs and at least one by each of the guys. But 40-years later, DAmbrosio wasnt too far off and let me add, if theres a better sax player in this world like Richie Cannata, especially after you hear him in that solo New York State of Mind, he just doesnt exist. I wish there was more I could say. He said, There is nothing more you can say. I was waiting for him to say, Have a good day. Jimmy Iovine played in a rival band. I go, Sweetheart, thats the song I left to record on. She gave me a kiss. He is most notable for playing saxophone in Billy Joel's band alongside Liberty DeVitto, Russell Javors, and Doug Stegmeyer. The next time we run it, Paul jumped in two measures early to the were going to a party verse. [6] David Clark of the Joel tribute band Songs in the Attic[7] plays piano and provides lead vocals, Malcolm Gold plays bass, Ken Cino plays guitar, and Doug Kistner plays keyboards in the group.[8][9]. I said, I love you. I was a big fan. And Billy and [saxophonist] Richie [Cannata] had already parted ways. He is also ranked in the richest person list from United States. It was a high part and nobody wanted to touch that. It includes the following musicians: Billy Joel Band in 2007. I played it on tenor. I think all of humanity needs to take a step back and realize that were all in this together. George said, You gotta hear this guy, Mark Rivera. Ringo says, What does he do? Hes a sax player. Ringo said, I dont want a fuckin sax player. He had a bad taste in his mouth because, in his eyes, Clarence hung him up. It was then that Billy asked Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. Mark [Farner] turns around and was like, Wow. He was very impressed. I know that Billy is still writing classical music. At this point, the only remaining long-standing member of Joel's touring band was DeVitto. Who is Richie Cannata? Just get along with people. When Hurricane Sandy hit the Island the first call I got was from Cannata to conduct another benefit concert to raise money helping feed the families after the devastation. I was committed to Billy. We do Led Zeppelin, Hendrix all covers. Billy loves his covers. He knows everything. So, by default, I got the gig as musical director and its been the same ever since. I love you. Longtime Billy Joel Drummer Liberty DeVitto Talks Mending - Variety DeVitto says that switching the original reggae beat of "Only Good Die Young" to a shuffle as featured on the final version was his idea, telling Billy, "The closest youve been to Jamaica is Jamaica, Long Island, when you change trains on the Long Island Rail Road." In the Sixties, did you see any great concerts in New York? Ive worked with three duos [Sam and Dave, Simon and Garfunkel, Hall and Oates] and they didnt always get along. How is Billy Joel? Im standing next to Lou Gramm. Why are you the lone survivor of the class of 1982? Strine admitted to Newsdaythat she ultimately lost respect for Billy after finding out how shabbily the key players of his studio and touring band claimed they were treated upon being let go: "I was such a fan of his because he was such a great performer and songwriter. The band began with the recording of his first album as a solo artist in 1971; it stabilized around 1975 and underwent several lineup changes in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He has recorded and toured with Billy Joel's original band since 1975 and after being inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame in 2015, he has reunited with The Lords of . Thats how much it means to me. He was angry. They bought me a saxophone that fell off the back of a truck in Red Hook, Brooklyn, near the projects. The first tour, Ringo had three drummers with Levon Helm, himself, and Jim Keltner. Joel's original touring band, formed in 1971 to support the Cold Spring Harbor album, comprised Rhys Clark on drums, Al Hertzberg on guitar, and Larry Russell on bass. Richie Cannata (Billy Joel, The Beach Boys) enlisted Al Gomes and A. Michelle of Big Noise to oversee part of the publicity and promotion campaign for his acclaimed self-titled CD. And Joel continued to retain Taliefero and Rivera who both remain in his band. I was like, OK. It was a secret, covert operation. Since that record has been released, Richie has Its unbelievable to think about.. It went on and on and on. As far as being serious, I was always a kid in a band. I saw Hendrix four times. George was like, Just give him a shot.. Im very much looking forward to our first show back. How did you wind up on Foreigner 4? Having a good attitude will take you far and being grateful will take you across the finish line. The Ox. Some of Billy Joel's former backing band chat about their time with the "Piano Man" in director Fran Strine's new documentary on famous side-players, called Hired Gun, which opens in 320 movie houses nationwide on Friday June 29th. At the time, I was out with Hall and Oates. I was definitely bitten. Joe Walsh called me up and said, Hey, Mark. It was the third-to-last song before Ringos last tune, which is often Photograph.. Richie Cannata - Cove City Sound Studios [5] They officially formed a band, The Lords of 52nd Street, which plays faithful renditions of the original Joel recordings. The Beach Boys) enlisted Al Gomes and A. Michelle of Big Its a whole bunch of stuff. It was great. Ginger Baker guested at some shows, so two thirds of Cream were on the stage with you. Guidrys kind gesture, to Richie Cannata had an impact. Turns out Bruce decided in 1995 to get the E Street Band back together. She wanted to prepare me. I went and got a bari sax and a mouthpiece and reeds. But he ended up having to sit in the station wagon with us. Bernie Williams Band. I didnt own a Billy Joel record before the audition. The two of them would take a chartered plane after the show. Its myself and Wayne Jackson from the Memphis Horns. You want to say, This is Mick Jones. But you dont want to do that. I hung up the phone and immediately called Ringo. I had to bend down. He called me Stoker since everything was nautical with him. Dude, you werent really paying attention. Through the glasses, you could see Strawberry Fields. Id already been playing saxophone. During his last concert, he dedicated New York State of Mind to my late mother Jenny. It was just Paul and Roy Halee, producer. Wed be sitting there, looking at them and just flipping out. In 1950s his family moved to Garden City South where Cannata blossomed as a musician. We keep in touch. Were entertainers. His specialties are the keyboards, the clarinet, the flute and the saxophone. Im excited. Its funny. One day in 1975 when Cannata was in the studio, engineer Al Stegmeyer suggested that Cannata call his brother Doug, who had recently gotten a gig as Billy Joels bass player. Treat the people who arent like they are. I say, Nice to meet you. They went, Thats it! [17], On October 23, 2014, Cannata, DeVitto, and Javors (with Stegmeyer, posthumously) were inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame, primarily for their work with Joel. Its not too often we have a real musical legend on CT Style, but we sure do today. Longtime Billy Joel drummer Liberty DeVitto and musician Richie Cannata will also be special guests this Thursday on the Sounds of Film. I play all the time. Editors picks If you show gratitude when all is said and done, whoever the boss is, whoever the bandleader is, whoever is making the decisions, they will recognize you for that special talent. Some of Eren's accomplishments include working with Timbaland protoges Amar and Jim Beanz (both featured on Timbaland's album "Shock Value"), singing the National Anthem at Citi Field for the Mets alongside his musical veteran father Richie Cannata (saxaphone, Billy Joel, The Beach Boys & Bernie Williams Band), singing lead male vocal . How did you get the audition for Billy Joel? He has returned to perform with Billy on many occasions including performing on "Billy Joel Live on Long Island", a 1983 HBO TV Special, taped at the Nassau Coliseum on the previous New Year's Eve, the 12 Billy Joel concert performances at NYCs' Madison Square Garden in 2006 and for "The Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame 25th Aniiversary" (2009) also at Madison Square Garden. Recording Studios to listen to tracks for Billy's CD 'Turnstiles.'. I was like, Shit. Nobody knows their names. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Now theres Crystal, and she tears everything up, and Michael DelGuidice is a spectacular singer. But I grew up playing all those songs from all those guys in the band, between the Who and BachmanTurner Overdrive, Grand Funk Railroad, Billy Preston. I say, Well, actually Paul Everyone stops dead because here I am correcting Paul McCartney. The beauty of the New York Yankees is that people like Ron Guidry know whats important in life. 2023 Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame, Contact Us|Accessibility Statement|Privacy Policy|Sitemap, Support The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame.