Resort Piano Man sets off on Billy Joel tour

Andy Mudd is preparing to take his Billy Joel show on the road

But now musician Andy Mudd is preparing to take the limelight himself, with a new show dedicated to the music and life of Billy Joel.

Andy’s usually seen accompanying Joe Longthorne, as his musical director, as well as working with Freddie Starr, but a 30-year interest in the singer-songwriter sparked his move to centre stage.

He will launch The Story of Billy Joel tour at Viva in Blackpool, with dates up and down the country to follow.

“It’s something I have wanted to do for a while, a Billy Joel show,” Andy said. “Every song Billy Joel has written has a story behind it, a reason why he wrote it – either because of an experience or a relationship, there’s always something.

“I was talking with Tom Bright, the former compere of Legends, at Sands Venue, while we were in the studio about the story behind a certain song, and he was intrigued with the stories, and it came about from that.

“We started putting the show together last year, and now we’re ready to take it out.”

Andy’s been a fan of the Uptown Girl singer since seeing a concert on TV in 1984.

“From that day it was just ‘Wow’,” he explained. “I just knew him from The Way You Are at that time, but I went out to buy all his albums and I realised how much he had written.

“I’ve been known around Blackpool for years for doing Billy Joel’s songs, so this is taking it on to another level.”

This latest venture follows another new challenge for Andy, who was musical director for A Christmas Carol at the Opera House during the festive season.

Although an experienced musical director, it was the first time he had worked on an actual musical production.

“It was wonderful to be involved with that,” he said. “When I got the soundtrack for A Christmas Carol, to get my head around it, it was one of those I never got tired of. I had it in my car constantly and even up to the last show I never got sick of the music.

“I would like to do another musical, depending what it is, and if I like the music.”

* The Story Of Billy Joel, Viva, Church Street. Tickets from £8.50 on (01253) 297297.