It was the end of an era when Billy Joel played the final 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 residency at the world’s most famous stadium, but also the 150th performance of his career, a record for any artist at the iconic venue.
It turned out to be a family affair of sorts when The Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon joined Joel’s daughters on stage to help unveil a banner honoring him for his landmark show.
In fact, Joel had the honor of sitting behind the piano while his eight-year-old daughter, Della, sang and danced, all while her father had a proud smile on his face.
Her six-year-old daughter, Remy, watched the performance up close as she sat at the end of the piano with her father, who happened to be dressed identically to her older sister, in a colorful burgundy minidress.
Billy Joel celebrated the end of his Madison Square Garden residency by bringing his two young daughters, Della, eight, and Remy, six, on stage.
For her historic 150th show at the world’s most famous stadium, Della Joel took center stage for her performance with her father at the piano and her sister sitting in the back, dressed in an identical minidress.
After opening the show with Miami 2017 (Seen The Lights Go Out On Broadway), Fallon stepped out onto the street to reveal the banner as they reached the fifth song, Vienna.
But the audience was treated to an unexpected gem when her young daughters sat down at the piano for the next song, My Life. Early in the performance, Della got off the piano and walked over to her father to ask him something, all while he sang and played the piano.
From that moment on, the budding little singer stood in front of the rotating piano and could be seen pronouncing the words of the song, while marking the rhythm by clapping and tapping with one of her two feet.
The live audience could be heard cheering her on in several videos posted on YouTube.
The evening consisted of Joel singing one hit after another, including songs such as 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 invited Guns N’ Roses frontman Axl Rose for a cover of Paul McCartney’s classic Live And Let Die And Wings, as well as You May Be Right.
The historic residency began in January 2014, with Joel playing one show a month at MSG.
Over the years it has welcomed stars such as Sting, John Mellencamp, Elvis Costello, Tony Bennett, Paul Simon and John Fogerty, along with recent hitmakers John Mayer, Miley Cyrus, Gavin DeGraw and Olivia Rodrigo.
Joel, who was born in the Bronx and raised on Long Island, delivered the hits
The music paused momentarily as Jimmy Fallon and Joel’s daughters helped unveil the new banner marking his 150-show milestone.
The musician was all smiles as he snuggled up to his two daughters, who he shares with his fourth wife Alexis Roderick, whom he married in 2015.
Della added one or two vocals during the finale of her father’s residency.
During My Life of Joel, Remy sat at his father’s piano while Della spoke the words
Della looked cheerful as she sang alongside her father during My Life in her chic mini dress.
Joel gave his two girls a big hug before sitting back behind the piano.
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.
The backstage area then turned out to be a who’s who of celebrities and high-profile people before and after the show, including 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.
As a sign of respect, New York City Mayor Eric Adams presented Joel with the key to New York City backstage before the residency’s final performance.
Joel’s illustrious career as a musician began in the mid-1960s, leading to the release of his first studio album, Cold Spring Harbor (1971).
But he failed to gain real traction until after the success of his next album, Piano Man (1973), which peaked at number 25 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number four on the adult contemporary singles chart.
Leading the VIP guests at the sold-out show was former US President Bill Clinton.
The 42nd President of the United States has been a lifelong music fan, playing the saxophone, as many of his older constituents can recall.
President Clinton was also seen laughing with comedian and actor Paul Rudd.
The two former politicians looked handsome and elegant in their respective suits.
Already an established name on the music scene, Joel sold a million copies with the release of Streetlife Serenade (1974), but his big commercial success, which made him a bona fide star, came with the release of The Stranger (1977), which included 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.
Additionally, songs like Scenes From An Italian Restaurant and Vienna have become staples of her career and are frequently performed in her live shows over the years.
The Stranger album, which was Joel’s first to be produced by Phil Ramone, spent six weeks at number two on the US Billboard 200 chart, on its way to selling more than 10 million copies worldwide.
Maintaining his momentum, Joel released 52nd Street (1978) the following year, and it would end up being his first number one album of his career, supported by hit singles such as My Life, Big Shot, Until The Night, and Honesty.
The piano man also spoke with New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, New England Patriots owner and CEO Robert Kraft and his wife Dana Blumberg.
The pianist shared some laughs with Kraft and Blumberg
New York City Mayor Eric Adams presented Joel with the key to New York City backstage before the final show of his Madison Square Garden residency.
With more than 160 million records sold worldwide, Billy Joel is one of the world’s best-selling music artists and the fourth best-selling solo artist in the United States.
After 12 studio albums between 1971 and 1993, most of which have been certified platinum several times over, Joel announced his retirement from writing and recording in the traditional pop/rock genre.
He would later release a 13th album, Fantasies & Delusions (2001), which includes classic Joel compositions, a first for him in 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 over two decades).
With more than 160 million records sold worldwide, Billy Joel is one of the world’s best-selling music artists and the fourth best-selling solo artist in the United States.
