Billy Joel has announced his long-running residency at Madison Square Garden in New York will be coming to an end after nearly a decade. Joel’s final performance as part of the series will take place in July 2024, making it his 104th show and 150th performance at the iconic venue.
On Thursday (June 1), Joel held a press conference to mark the occasion and discuss his final ten shows that will take place beginning in October. While the singer admitted he was “kind of flabbergasted” that the residency had lasted as long as it did, he was excited to end the series with a bang.
Joel has been a regular feature at the Garden for over 40 years, first performing in 1978 for his sixth album ’52nd Street’. The musician has become a household name in the venue, playing dozens of shows over the years and making history as the first-ever music franchise.
Since 2014, Joel has performed nearly monthly at the Garden, only taking a break in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Each show has been a sell-out, and Joel has brought out a range of special guests to perform with him, from Bruce Springsteen to Olivia Rodrigo.
New York City Mayor Adams spoke at the press conference to honor Joel’s remarkable achievement, saying “There’s only one thing that’s more New York than Billy Joel – and that’s a Billy Joel concert at MSG”. He was joined by MSG CEO James Dolan, who commented that Joel’s franchise had “made history – not only for Madison Square Garden, but also for the music industry overall”.
The end of Joel’s long-running residency will be a sad day for music fans everywhere. However, with Joel’s final ten shows, fans will be able to enjoy one last round of performances from the iconic singer-songwriter at the legendary venue.
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