Up-and-coming performer Billy Joel was looking to form a new band with a “New York sound” that would record and tour with him regularly. Playing under different band names at local clubs in Long Island at the time were Richie Cannata playing sax and keys, Russell Javors on guitar, Doug Stegmeyer on bass and Liberty Devitto on drums. They came together to help form what would be one of pop music’s most famous bands… The Lords of 52nd Street. In 1976, together, they recorded Billy Joel’s first successful album…. “Turnstiles”.
The Lords of 52nd Street-The Legends of The Billy Joel Band – is New York’s favorite band and they are coming to Vero Beach on Thursday, February 12 at 7 p.m. to perform on The Emerson Center Stage as part of the 2026 MusicWorks concert series. Tickets are on sale now ranging from $50-115 by visiting this convenient link: Tickets & Event Details
For more information visit the website: www.MusicWorksConcerts.com. This concert is a production of MusicWorks and will be held at The Emerson Center.
The “Turnstiles” album was a huge success because Joel and his new recording and touring band performed the songs with such a fresh and young driven beat. DeVitto, Javors, Stegmeyer and Cannata blew away audiences with their playing, and helped Joel sell millions of albums. The band went from playing local colleges and universities across the nation to performing at the world’s most famous arena, Madison Square Garden. They later went into Columbia Studios to record, “The Stranger” featuring #1 singles “Only the Good Die Young” and “Just the Way You Are” and recorded Grammy award-winning albums “52nd Street”, “Glass Houses”, and “The Nylon Curtain”. The band recorded and toured with Joel for over a decade. Fans declared that The Lords’ live performances sound just like the original recordings with Billy Joel, if not better! They have sold more than 150 million records. They helped establish Billy Joel’s formidable sound. And they continue to perform their legendary hits still to this day.
Joe & Denise Corr return again this season as our Presenting Sponsors. Show sponsors are Barbara Ruddy and Ocean Grill. Other sponsors include John and Linda Colontrelle, AC and Ann Starkey, Cindy O’Dare and Richard Boga of ONE Sotheby’s International Realty, AMAC Alex MacWilliam Real Estate and Printing Sponsor Image 360 of Vero Beach.
Our non-profit partners this year are Grand Harbor Community Outreach, Women’s Refuge, Senior Resource Association, The Emerson Center and Big Brothers Big Sisters of IRC., which is the non-profit partner of this Lords of 52nd Street concert. For more than 100 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters has operated under the belief that inherent in every child is the ability to succeed and thrive in life. As the nation’s largest donor and volunteer-supported mentoring network, Big Brothers Big Sisters makes meaningful, monitored matches between adult volunteers (“Bigs”) and children (“Littles”), ages 4 through 18, in communities across the country. They develop positive relationships that have a direct and lasting effect on the lives of young people.
The Emerson Center is conveniently located on the campus of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Vero Beach, 1590 27th Avenue, on the SE corner of 16th Street and 27th Avenue. The doors for Will Call access open at 6 p.m. and seating begins at 6:30 p.m. An elevator to the 2nd floor balcony is available as well as complimentary listening devices from the Emerson Center office. The venue will provide a wine/snack bar in the lobby. For more information call Stacey at 772-777-9321 or email [email protected]. The next concert is Simon and Garfunkel Through the Years Thursday, February 19.
