Michael Cavanaugh: The Music of Billy Joel and Elton John

Michael Cavanaugh brings The Music of Billy Joel and Elton John to The Sheldon on Thursday, February 4, 2027. He's a pianist and vocalist who's built his career around the American rock and roll songbook, and this one pulls from two of its biggest names. If you're a fan of either Billy Joel or Elton John, you've probably heard the songs—this is a night where they share the same stage.

Cavanaugh isn't just a cover artist; he's got a direct connection to the material. He made his name in the Broadway musical Movin' Out, a show built from Billy Joel's songs, and Joel himself handpicked him for the lead. He played the role for three years—more than 1,200 performances—and picked up Grammy and Tony nominations along the way. After Movin' Out closed in 2005, he started touring on his own, and in 2008 he debuted The Songs of Billy Joel and More, an orchestral show he performed with the Indianapolis Symphony. This one adds Elton John to the mix.

He's been playing since he was seven and put together his first band at ten. He cut his teeth at Blazing Pianos, a piano bar in Orlando, before landing a gig at the New York, New York Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. That's where Billy Joel spotted him and invited him on stage in February 2001—the moment that eventually led to Movin' Out.

The show is at The Sheldon Concert Hall and Art Galleries, 3648 Washington Blvd, in the Grand Center Arts District. The Sheldon is a nonprofit arts organization that's been a St. Louis favorite since 1912. The concert starts at 8 PM, with doors opening at 7 PM, and tickets are $66, $56, $46, or $36.