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PHCC To Present 'The Piano Man'

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Jim Witter will perform in "The Piano Man," at Pasco-Hernando Community College West Campus, New Port Richey. The concert salutes the music of Billy Joel and Sir Elton John.

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By KLINT LOWRY | The Suncoast News

Published: February 16, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. - NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. - NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. - Shocking as it may be to some, whether it's hot funk, cool punk, even if it's old junk, hits from the '70s are now firmly entrenched in pop music's "oldies but goodies" category.

Music by two of the best and most prolific hit-makers of that era will be brought together when Pasco-Hernando Community College presents "The Piano Men" at 8 p.m. Friday at the Performing Arts Center on school's West Campus, 10230 Ridge Road, New Port Richey.

"The Piano Men" is a musical celebration of the 1970s, featuring the songs of piano-playing pop composers Billy Joel and Elton John.

"It's really interesting," said Jim Witter, who is the show's piano man and lead singer. "People say, 'I always thought their songs were so different from each other.'"

When played back to back, Witter said, it becomes apparent just how similar these musical peers really are. With a full band on stage, Witter explained, the show isn't "Beatlemania," in which singing actors impersonated the Fab Four from Liverpool.

"We don't dress up and try to sound like Elton," he said. Rather, the show is a combination of music and visual presentation.

"Really, I like to think the show is a trip back to the '70s," Witter said.

The songs in "The Piano Ma" are presented in roughly chronological order. As each song is performed, images from the era are projected onto screens.

When he plays Elton John's "Your Song," for example, newspaper headlines from 1970 – when the song was on the charts – appear on the screen. Joel's 1977 hit "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)" is illustrated with images of cars from that era.

As the music flows, so do the pop culture references; a collage of people, events, toys and TV shows that define the decade. The show has been on tour for seven years now through the eastern half of the United States, Witter's native Canada, Great Britain and Dubai.

Witter attributes some of the show's success to a fascination in today's pop culture with 1970s' pop culture.

Born in 1964, Witter is literally a child of the era. It was after his brother took him to a Billy Joel concert in 1976 that he announced to his family, "That's what I want to do."

Tickets for "The Piano Men," $30, $27 and $23, are available online, by phone at 727-816-3707, or in person at the PHCC West Campus bookstore from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The Performing Arts Center box office will open one hour before show time.

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