Piano men have a piano, right? In a crazed world, there are a few things you can count on, and Billy Joel tickling the ivories is definitely one of them. In a viral video shot last month, Joel, 71, is seen stopping to play a tune on a sidewalk keyboard in Huntington, Long Island, recording an impromptu version of Shelton Brooks’ 1917 ragtime roll “Darktown Strutters’ Ball “.
Wearing a black jacket and pants and wearing a motorcycle helmet, Joel says, “Not bad, the action is good … You just need to fine tune, and the finish is perfect. It is a perfectly good piano.” Playing the upper end of the instrument, the singer adds: “It is a shame to throw it away,” before suggesting that someone donate it to Saint Vincent de Paul. He also checks out the pedals and key finish and again praises the action in the unloved upright position.
Newsday He reported that Joel was on a motorcycle ride when he saw the instrument and felt compelled to stop and try it out. Joel’s historic run at New York’s Madison Square Garden was cut short in March when a couple of shows in March were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Look the following video.
