movie uptown girl billy joel tribute band

In a tribute, musician Harry Belafonte joked that something should be done about Mexican immigration because he'd been overshadowed by Santana's fusion of rock, blues, African and Latino sounds. By the age of 22, he was playing at Woodstock. He first picked up the guitar after hearing blues and rock 'n' roll on the radio, and he wanted to be like his mariachi musician father. Fher Olvera, the lead singer of the Mexican rock band Mana, led off with a medley of Santana tunes, 'Corazon Espinado,' 'Black Magic Woman' and 'Oye Como Va' for a tribute to the 66-year-old Santana.Īn immigrant from Mexico who began learning English from American television, Santana is one of only a few Latinos who have received the honour so far. 'Despite all their success, all their fame, they've remained true to themselves - and inspired the rest of us to do the same.'Īfter criticism in recent years that the Kennedy Center Honors had been excluding Latinos, the first song this year was in Spanish. 'The diverse group of extraordinary individuals we honour today haven't just proven themselves to be the best of the best,' Obama said. President Barack Obama saluted the honorees Sunday night, and top entertainers offered tribute performances for each honoree. Impressing girls, though, is what hooked Joel into making a career of music, he said. There was always music in the house, he said. The 64-year-old musician born in the Bronx has been playing the piano since he was a boy, growing up on New York's Long Island. 'This is coming more from my country than just people who come to see me.

It's our nation's capital,' he told The Associated Press. Joel said the honour stands apart from his six Grammys. Rufus Wainright sang 'New York State of Mind' and led the audience in a finale of Joel's original hit, 'Piano Man.' Joel has explained he wrote 'Saigon' because he wanted to write a song about the soldiers' experience.

'Billy Joel is no less than the poet, performer, philosopher of today's American songbook,' Bennett said.ĭon Henley sang 'She's Got a Way' and Garth Brooks sang a medley of 'Only the Good Die Young,' 'Allentown,' and 'Goodnight Saigon,' joined by a choir of Vietnam veterans. Tony Bennett opened the tribute to Joel's long career and his songs written so often about ordinary people. All have been playing music, dancing or singing since they were children - and never stopped. WASHINGTON - The 'Piano Man' who became one of the world's bestselling artists of all time with such hits as 'Just the Way You Are,' 'Uptown Girl' and 'Allentown' was awarded the nation's highest honour Sunday for influencing American culture through the arts.īilly Joel joined Carlos Santana, Herbie Hancock, opera star Martina Arroyo and actress Shirley MacLaine in receiving the Kennedy Center Honors.

Movie uptown girl billy joel tribute band