Elio Pace brings the Billy Joel Songbook to Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham

Acclaimed singer-songwriter and pianist Elio Pace is hitting the road with the ultimate uptown experience as he tours his award-winning show, The Billy Joel Songbook.

Following a sell-out UK tour in 2021, Elio returns to the Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham, on Saturday (August 27).

The Billy Joel Songbook sees Elio and his band celebrate the legendary US musician with a blend of pop, rhythm and blues, jazz and rock ‘n’ roll.

Once again, audiences will be transported through a catalogue of Joel’s music with more than 30 hits, including The Longest Time, She’s Always A Woman, An Innocent Man, Uptown Girl, Tell Her About It, The River Of Dreams, We Didn’t Start The Fire and Piano Man.

Elio said: “We had an absolute blast touring The Billy Joel Songbook last year so I am thrilled we are set to do it all over again.

“The music of Billy Joel is timeless. He is a genius composer and, in my humble opinion, the greatest singer/songwriter of all-time. I really do feel humbled that so many people want to see us perform his music.”

The producer and arranger has performed with an array of stars, including Brian May, Huey Lewis, Glen Campbell, Mike Rutherford, Don McLean, Debbie Reynolds and Martha Reeves.

In 2013 and 2014 he was invited to fill Billy Joel’s shoes, starring in five reunion concerts in the US with Joel’s original 1971-72 touring band, which gave the idea for The Billy Joel Songbook.

But it was back when he was a teenager that he discovered Billy Joel’s music.

“I was 16 or 17 at sixth form college in Hampshire, where I grew up, when I fell in love with Billy Joel’s music,” he said.

“I was already music mad, already gigging, even at that age – in fact from 14 or 15 I was playing with bands in clubs.

“Then, when Billy came along it was like a light went on for me; the way he influenced my singing, writing, performance, piano playing – it was instant. Everything changed. And right from then, I envisaged, one day, singing my favourite Billy Joel songs on stage.”

Elio’s journey to The Billy Joel Songbook began in 1993, when he approached a contact in the entertainment industry, and suggested putting something together.

“I pitched the whole show concept,” Elio said. “I had a poster, everything, and called it Piano Man.

“He looked through it and said he could see my passion, that it was a brilliant idea, but there was one big problem; Billy Joel was still doing it. He said I was 20 years too early.

“And 20 years later, almost to the month, in 2013, I started booking shows for The Billy Joel Songbook.”

Since then the show has built up a loyal following across the country, from initial audiences of a few dozen people, to 1,400-plus for the 2021 tour.