The Lords of 52nd Street Perform the Music of Billy Joel

Back for the holiday season at The Suffolk, The Lords of 52nd Street, a band made up of past Billy Joel band members Richie Cannata on saxophone, drummer Liberty DeVitto and guitarist Russell Javors, will play The Nylon Curtain album in its entirety on Saturday, December 23.

They will also throw in some holiday tunes and other Joel hits. While the band toured with Joel for a decade, it wasn’t until the musician’s 2014 Long Island Music Hall of Fame induction that they decided to reunite. Unfortunately, Cannata is currently recovering from an illness and is out for this show, and while DeVitto and Javors eagerly wait for his return they are adapting without the saxophone. DeVitto said he is particularly looking forward to performing Joel’s 1982 album “The Nylon Curtain,” a first for the band.

“It’s probably my favorite album that I recorded with Billy Joel,” said DeVitto, who particularly looks forward to performing “Laura,” which reminds him of the Beatles. “It’s got some challenging songs on it, like ‘Scandinavian Skies.’ That is a bit of a production… it’s a different kind of album.”

The band chose to perform “The Nylon Curtain” because of Cannata’s absence on the original recording — that means there’s not a ton of saxophone work. In the spirit of Christmas, they will play classics like “Run Run Rudolph” or “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” two hits they performed there last year.

The Suffolk is a special place for DeVitto, having played there year after year.

“I mean, it’s always high energy,” he said. “It is a great place to play. It’s a wonderful venue, people to work for, and it’s two days before Christmas. The day before Christmas Eve. So hopefully, people are done with shopping.”

Gary Hygom, the executive director of The Suffolk, explained that the band had already been playing at the venue for years when he took over the helm of the theater in 2021. Since that time, he’s expanded their presence to three performances a year due to demand. “There’s always new people being introduced to the band, and I love that,” he said.

The year 2024 will mark a decade since The Lords of 52nd Street launched themselves into a band after noting several tribute bands popping up. DeVitto, who has been on tour around the world with Joel 12 times, played on 23 of his 24 Top 40 hits.

“That was a great experience for me. I mean, he took us on a ride that we will never forget,” DeVitto said. “So to start a band ... We were the real guys that played on the record. Why don’t we just do that? And we are called The Lords of 52nd Street because that’s what Phil Ramone, our producer, called us on the 52nd Street album credits.”

DeVitto noted he got Joel, whom he is still in contact with, to give him the seal of approval before starting the band. As for ever taking the stage with Joel again, DeVitto won’t shut that door.

“I know he’s gonna stop his residency at the Garden next year. And so I don’t know,” he said. “I won’t say no, I won’t say yes.”

The Lords of 52nd Street tours throughout the year. One of DeVitto’s top 2023 moments was performing in Altoona, Pennsylvania, which despite its rural setting, had the best Italian food. However, it’s Long Island fans who he feels are the base of Joel’s success, and he enjoys giving them a good show every time.

“Long Island is our home, and we were one of, if not the biggest thing to come off Long Island,” he said. “So walking out to the crowd that loves the fact that we’re there and we’re playing those songs is incredible. And it doesn’t cost $2,000.”

The Lords of 52nd Street perform at Suffolk Theater on Saturday, December 23, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $49 to $59 at thesuffolk.org. Suffolk Theater is at 118 East Main Street, Riverhead.