Big Shot

By Carol Silva

I got to be a big shot the other night! I took Elisa DiStefano's "What's  Going On" advice, and went to see the nationally known Billy Joel tribute band "Big Shot" at TR Park in Oyster Bay. Mike DelGuidice and the guys in the band call it the ultimate Billy Joel Experience. And it was.

Mike, the lead singer, started playing in piano bars - in Port Jeff in fact - when he got out of high school. The music that really clicked for him is that of "The Piano Man" himself, Billy Joel. So, 10 years ago, Mike put together "Big Shot" based on Billy's hit song. And since then, these guys have played all over the country.  "These guys," by the by, include drummer Sal DeVitto who is the brother of Billy's drummer Liberty DeVitto.

Also in the band - Nick Dimichino, Kenny Cino, John Scarpulla and Mark Alexander.

How good are these guys? So good that Billy Joel himself has been known to show up at some of their shows!

But what made that night in Oyster Bay especially special for me was the appearance of original Billy Joel band sax player Richie Cannata! Richie plays with "Big Shot" as his schedule allows - a couple of times a year. Richie started playing with Billy in the 1970s. That kid from Garden City South, aligned with the kid from Hicksville. Just making good music. Great music. I've always said Richie makes his sax "sing." It sounds like a voice to me.

Richie and I go way back. I mean way back...to the days of Ferns Wine and Cheese place in Roslyn village, just a few doors up from My Fathers Place. I was doing news at WLIR radio at the time, and we did a lot of promotional work at Ferns. Billy used to blow through there and play sometimes. A great treat. And that's where I got to know Richie. "Rico," as Billy shouts out to him in some recorded songs, is as soulful a man as he is a sax player. He's all energy on stage, and in his personal life.

For 20 years Richie's been the proud owner of Cove City Sound Studios - a recording studio in Glen Cove - where he's recorded everyone from Long Island's J-Lo and Marc Anthony, Ashante and Mariah Carey to N'SYnc, Jessica Simpson, Celine Dion, Ray Charles, The Beach Boys and that other LI boy, Billy Joel!

But when he's up there on stage himself, Richie brings true Billy Joel band magic. In fact, I saw an interview recently with one of Billy's producers who said he told Billy early on that his records with other musicians didn't have the same magic as his live shows. The producer credited "the band" that included Richie. Richie has played with the Beach Boys for years.

Now, back to "Big Shot." These guys do it for the fun of it all! They played everything from "Big Shot" (of course), "NY State of Mind" (Rico ripped it!), "Downeaster Alexa," and "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" (you know it - Christianos in Syosset).

I love that "Big Shot" takes requests, including one of my favs, "Only the Good Die Young."

Come out Virginia, don't let me me wait 

You Catholic girls start much too late

But sooner or later it comes down to fate

I might as well be the one

Only the good die young

Admittedly, I have a soft spot for that song, because I know Virginia and her family.  I grew up with the Callahans in Hicksville. They lived a few houses from Billy Joel. I went to school with MaryAlice. Virginia was the big sister. Her younger brother Mike was a guitar player in my brother's band "Hadrian Decree" for years. Mrs. Callahan was the organist in our church, Holy Family in Hicksville. In fact word is, Billy Joel brought Virginia and her mom "Mrs. Callahan" to a concert years ago - and sang to her! (How many girls can say they turned down Billy Joel, huh Virginia!?!)

As a Catholic School girl myself, I loved "Big Shot's" rendition. And if you like Billy Joel's music, get a little closer by going to see and hear "Big Shot" in person. That's what my buddy Elizabeth Hashagen does for her birthday every year!  Big Shot's website has their full concert schedule.

And it wasn't just the music I liked. These guys are just dolls. So nice to the audience. They actually take requests during the show! And lead singer Mike DelGuidice does other work too. In fact, he's got  his own website that tells you about the work he does beyond "Big Shot." But I've seen Mike's best productions ever! He brought 2 of his 4 children on stage with him for "We Didn't Start the Fire." Nothing personal, Dad, but these kids really stole the show from you!

I've also got to give photo credit here to my friend Mitch Schlimer who was also there that night. (Mitch's pictures are the better ones here. He's got a "big shot" camera compared to my little pocket one. In fact, he's got many beautiful pictures on his own two websites. ) Thanks Mitch, for the "tender moments."

Oh yeah, and about me being a "big shot" for a moment. When I got to the park that night and found out "Rico" Richie Cannata was playing, I went back to say hi. It was great for both of us to catch up with an old friend. Then Richie said, "I've got a great idea. Would you introduce us?" Would I? Ummm... Let me check my schedule. Um. OK! And so I did. And for one, brief shining moment, I was a rock n'roll star - well on stage with some rock stars - for a moment!