Phil Ramone and Joel coined DeVitto, Cannata, Javors and Stegmeyer as The Lords of 52nd Street, and went into Columbia Studios to record, “The Stranger.” The album was a commercial success, it holds a RIAA diamond certification (10x platinum), and several #1 singles including, Only The Good Die Young and Just The Way You Are. Love my band.” Joel turned down The Beatles’ record producer, George Martin, and was pleased to work with the legendary, Phil Ramone. Joel would not create this new album without The Lords of 52nd Street, so he told Martin, “Love me. George Martin, the legendary Beatles record producer, offered Billy Joel a record deal, but he informed Joel he wanted to record with studio musicians. The band went from playing local colleges and universities across the nation to performing at the world’s most famous arena, Madison Square Garden.Īfter the success of the Turnstiles album, Joel and the band began looking for a music producer for their next album. DeVitto, Javors and Cannata blew away audiences with their playing, and helped Joel sell millions of albums. The Turnstiles album was a huge success because Joel and his new recording and touring band performed the songs with such a fresh, and young driven beat.
Cannata went into the studio and immediately recorded the unforgettable Empire State love song, “New York State of Mind.” What made the music on this album so special, were the dedicated and loyal New York musicians behind its creation. Joel, Stegmeyer, DeVitto and Javors recorded the tune a day earlier, and Cannata was blown away by their experienced playing and speed. Cannata walked into Ultrasonic Studios in Hempstead, New York, and heard for the first time the legendary hit, “Angry Young Man.” Al Stegmeyer, Doug Stegmeyer’s brother, was a sound engineer on the album, and recommended Richie Cannata to play saxophone and keyboards on the album. Doug suggested former band mates Liberty Devitto and Russell Javors, two guys that Billy had known well from his Long Island Music scene, and the band began to rehearse and truly become a unit.ĭoug Stegmeyer, Liberty DeVitto and Russell Javors joined Billy Joel in studio to record his 1976 album “Turnstiles.” Billy Joel was also looking specifically for a saxophone player who could play keyboards.
He asked Doug if he knew some musicians to help round out the band, Doug replied “You know them already”. His first choice to start to build the band was a fellow long islander and bass player, Doug Stegmeyer.
He had already released two studio albums with minimal success and was looking for a New York sound for his next record “Turnstiles”. In 1975 Billy Joel started looking for a new band.
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