Mike DelGuidice

Mike DelGuidice

Mike Delguidice playing piano and vocals
Born Michael DelGuidice
(1971-03-09) March 9, 1971
Miller Place, New York City
Nationality American
Occupation Multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter
Years active 2000-present
Spouse(s) Melissa Cartwright-Delguidice
Children 4
Website bigshottributeband.com

Mike DelGuidice (born 9 March 1971) is an American musician, multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter, best known as rhythm guitarist and vocalist of Billy Joel band, and as the lead vocalist and pianist for the Long Island Band, Big Shot.[1][2] He had played 15 years as a Billy Joel cover artist and later joined Billy Joel band at Joel's invitation in 2013.[3]

Early life

DelGuidice was born in Miller Place, Long Island where he still resides today.[4] During his childhood, his mother listened to Barbra Streisand music, and his father listened to Billy Joel and Chicago.[5] He was 13 years old when he first started playing Billy Joel’s music. He grew up in the North Shore, where he spent a lot of time watching Joel’s Live from Long Island concert video and hanging out in the music room at Miller Place High School where he practiced the songs of Joel, Elton John and Paul McCartney.[6] DelGuidice required seven surgeries to address a congenital kidney condition when he was a child.[7]

Career

Mike DelGuidice with Billy Joel.

DelGuidice started his music career performing in Long Island piano bars and saloons.[8] He started singing songs of Billy Joel in Miller Place High School’s vocal jazz band in the late 80s.[9]

He struggled for many years to pay the bills pushing and performing his original music and finally releasing 2 music albums, "Miller Place" and "My Street."[10]

Mike DelGuidice performing with Billy Joel Band

In 2000 Mike started the band Big Shot, which is a tribute to the music of Billy Joel.[11] Big Shot played its first gig at the Village Pub in Port Jefferson in the same year. With DelGuidice on lead vocals and piano, it drew big crowds from the start. By 2011, some of Big Shot’s members were burnt out from playing over 100 gigs a year. DelGuidice’s solution was to call Billy Joel’s long-time lead guitarist, Tommy Byrnes.[12]

Byrnes and Burgi joined regular bassist Nick Dimichino, keyboardist Carmine Giglio and saxophonist John Scarpulla in filling out Big Shot’s lineup and DelGuidice continued to sing in concerts. Having Billy Joel's band members Tommy Byrnes and Chuck Burgi in Mike's band Big Shot in 2011 is what started the progression into the whole process of getting Mike involved with Billy Joel's band.[13]

DelGuidice in vocal and rhythm guitar

DelGuidice also writes his own music for his songs. At the Fourth of July in 2016, he played a set in Billy's backyard and performed in a show in August at Nassau Coliseum. Comedian Kevin James came out that night to play "Miami 2017." Months later, James texted DelGuidice to see if he had a song they could use as the theme to his CBS show Kevin Can Wait, DelGuidice sent over "Ordinary Guy," a tune he wrote for a 2011 reality show about tribute bands that never made it to air.[14] Kevin James accepted the song for his show and was shot in Bethpage.[13]

On 15 October 2013, Billy Joel came to listen to the rehearsal of DelGuidice at the Paramount Theater in Huntington.[7] After noticing the dedication to Joel’s music, DelGuidice was asked by Billy Joel himself to join his European tour of that year.[9]

At present DelGuidice is a member of the Billy Joel Band playing rhythm guitar and vocals.[15] He has been with Billy Joel since 2013. He continues to tour the world with the band including monthly show at Madison Square Garden in New York City.[13][16] Number of events ranges from 100 to 120 a year.[17]

On 24 June 2016, DelGuidice performed with his own band The Big Shot at the Paramount in Huntington. Billy Joel appeared at the show as a Surprise guest.[18]

On 28 July 2016, Big Shot teamed up with the Suffolk County Police Department to raise money through a concert named "Help Stop The Long Island Heroin Epidemic" at the Emporium in Patchogue, New York.[19]

On 9 August 2016, DelGuidice performed for the first time with Billy Joel at Madison Square Garden. He performed the opera classic "Nessun Dorma" at the show. Their second concert at Madison Square Garden was held on 28 October 2016.[20]

DelGuidice and John Mongiardo are working to release "Victoria's Song", an unreleased song by Stegmeyer, who committed suicide in 1995.[21]

Personal life

DelGuidice currently lives in Miller Place, Long Island. He has two children named Colby and Noah, with his second wife Melissa Cartwright-Delguidice. With his first wife, they have two more children.[7]

References

  1. ↑ News, Blasting. "Billy Joel tribute band Big Shot performs at Mulcahy's Pub and Concert Hall". Blasting News. Retrieved 2016-11-10.
  2. ↑ ABC, Laura Goldman Currently freelances for; Mail, the Daily (2016-07-13). "Billy Joel Scores A Home Run with Philadelphia Concert". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 2016-11-10.
  3. ↑ "How Billy Joel Tribute-Band Leader Landed Gig With the Real Piano Man". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2016-11-22.
  4. ↑ "Miller Place's Mike DelGuidice Talks Big Shot, Solo Career". Miller Place-Rocky Point, NY Patch. Retrieved 2016-11-10.
  5. ↑ "Miller Place's Mike DelGuidice Talks Big Shot, Solo Career". Miller Place-Rocky Point, NY Patch. Retrieved 2016-11-22.
  6. ↑ "How Mike DelGuidice Landed Gig With Billy Joel". Billy Joel Official Site – via Rolling Stone.
  7. 1 2 3 "Mike DelGuidice proves more than an 'ordinary guy' | NewBostonPost". newbostonpost.com. Retrieved 2016-11-22.
  8. ↑ "Things to Do on Long Island, June 28 to July 4, 2015". The New York Times. 2015-06-25. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-11-10.
  9. 1 2 ""Big Shot" singer tours with Billy Joel". News 12 Long Island. Retrieved 2016-11-22.
  10. ↑ Stockbridge, Kathy (2016-01-06). "Mike DelGuidice & Big Shot Rock The Showroom at Turning Stone". NYS Music. Retrieved 2016-11-10.
  11. ↑ "Watch Billy Joel Perform Surprise Set With Cover Band". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2016-11-10.
  12. ↑ "Mike DelGuidice Goes From Big Shot Cover Band To Touring With The Piano Man". Billy Joel Official Site.
  13. 1 2 3 "Joel tribute singer joins the Piano Man's band". Newsday. Retrieved 2016-11-10.
  14. ↑ "'Kevin Can Wait' theme came from a Big Shot". Newsday. Retrieved 2016-11-10.
  15. ↑ "Review: Billy Joel gives Mike DelGuidice the spotlight again at MSG show". 2016-10-29. Retrieved 2016-11-10.
  16. ↑ "How Billy Joel Tribute-Band Leader Landed Gig With the Real Piano Man". Rolling Stone.
  17. ↑ "Miller Place's Mike DelGuidice Talks Big Shot, Solo Career". Miller Place-Rocky Point, NY Patch. Retrieved 2016-11-22.
  18. ↑ "Billy Joel surprises fans at LI tribute band show". Newsday. Retrieved 2016-11-22.
  19. ↑ "Concert to benefit fight against heroin". Newsday. Retrieved 2016-11-22.
  20. ↑ "Review: Billy Joel gives Mike DelGuidice the spotlight again at MSG show". 2016-10-29. Retrieved 2016-11-22.
  21. ↑ Editor, Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times Senior Culture. "Friends reunite to give Doug Stegmeyer's last music project a push". latimes.com. Retrieved 2016-11-22.
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