MUSIC OF BILLY JOEL AND ELTON JOHN
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Michael Cavanaugh
Michael Cavanaugh is the new voice of the American Rock & Roll Songbook and a charismatic performer and musician made famous for his piano / lead vocals in the Broadway musical Movin ’ Out . Handpicked by Billy Joel to star in Movin ’ Out , Cavanaugh evokes a style rivaling the Piano Man . He appeared in the show for three years with over 1,200 performances and received multiple accolades . The show culminated in 2003 with both Grammy and Tony award nominations . Michael began playing at age seven , when his parents bought their first piano . Encouraged by family and friends , and inspired by his hero Billy Joel , Michael formed his first band at age 10 and began playing local functions , fine-tuning the craft that would become his chosen career . His first full-time gig as a musician was an extended engagement in Orlando , Florida , at a piano bar called Blazing Pianos . In January of 1999 , Michael received an offer that would unknowingly change his life : an opportunity to play Las Vegas at the famed New York , New York Hotel and Casino . It was there that Billy Joel spotted Michael and joined him on stage one fateful night of February 2001 . It only took two songs before Billy was convinced that he had found his new Piano Man : Michael Cavanaugh . Michael closed up shop at New York , New York and moved to New York City to work alongside Billy Joel and Twyla Tharp to shape the Broadway Musical that would be called Movin ’ Out . In the lead role , he received both Tony and Grammy nominations .
With the close of Movin ’ Out at the end of 2005 , Michael began touring in his own right , creating a show that reinterprets the modern pop / rock songbook . Michael soon became one of the hottest artists in the private events market , and he continues to perform worldwide for company and charity events , as well as sporting events including many PGA tour events , the SuperBowl , and the Indy 500 . His interpretation of the modern rock / pop songbook led to Billboard calling him “ The New Voice of the American Rock and Roll Songbook ,” and he was recognized by Reuters as Entertainer of the Year for the private events market .
It wasn ’ t long before symphony orchestras discovered Michael ’ s talents and audience appeal . He accepted his first orchestral booking , “ Michael Cavanaugh — The Songs of Billy Joel and More ,” which debuted in April 2008 with the Indianapolis Symphony and continues to tour today . In October 2008 , he signed with Warner / ADA to distribute his first CD , In Color . In June 2010 , Michael debuted his second symphony show in the Generations of Rock series titled “ Michael Cavanaugh : The Songs of Elton John and More ” and then debuted his third symphony show , “ Singers and Songwriters : the Music of Paul Simon , Neil Diamond and James Taylor ,” in 2012 . In 2015 , he debuted his fourth symphony show : “ Rockin ’ Christmas with the Pops .” He continues to tour all four symphony productions along with performing with his band in performing arts centers and other public venues .
The Way I Hear It , his second commercial album , was released in April 2017 , and it debuted at # 17 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart .
In 2020 , Michael Cavanaugh reached the POLLSTAR Live75 — the top 75 active touring acts in the country .
Michael Cavanaugh
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