The CSO Presents The Music Of Elton John And Billy Joel Featuring Michael Cavanaugh At The Ohio Theatre

Grammy and Tony-nominated Michael Cavanaugh, "the new voice of the American Rock and Roll songbook" (Billboard), performs the greatest hits of the piano-rocking pop icons Sir Elton John and Billy Joel, including "Crocodile Rock," "Tiny Dancer," "Rocket Man," "Benny and the Jets," "I'm Still Standing," "Movin' Out," "Piano Man," and many more.

The Columbus Symphony presents The Music of Elton John and Billy Joel featuring Michael Cavanaugh at the Palace Theatre (34 W. Broad St.) on Saturday, April 4, at 8pm. Tickets are $25-$78 and can be purchased in-person at the CBUSArts Ticket Center (39 E. State St.), online at www.ColumbusSymphony.com, or by phone at (614) 469-0939.

Charismatic performer and musician Michael Cavanaugh was handpicked by Billy Joel to star in Movin' Out, the Broadway jukebox musical featuring the songs of Joel. Cavanaugh received critical acclaim for his more than 1,200 performances with the show over three years, culminating in 2003 with both Grammy and Tony Award nominations.

Cavanaugh began playing at age seven when his parents bought their first piano. Encouraged by family and friends, and inspired by hero Billy Joel, Cavanaugh formed his first band at age 10 and began playing local functions. His first full-time gig as a musician was an extended engagement at a piano bar in Orlando called Blazing Pianos.

In 1999, Cavanaugh received an offer to perform at the famed New York, New York Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. It was there that Billy Joel spotted him and he joined Joel on stage one night in February 2001. It only took two songs to convince Joel he had found his new "Piano Man." Cavanaugh closed up shop in Las Vegas and moved to NYC to work alongside Billy Joel and Twyla Tharp, helping to shape the Broadway musical that would be called Movin' Out.

With Movin' Out closed in 2005, Cavanaugh began touring his own show that reinterprets the modern pop/rock songbook. He soon became one of the hottest artists in the private events market and continues to perform worldwide for corporate, charity, and sporting events, including many PGA tour events, the Superbowl, and the Indy 500. Billboard called him "The New Voice of the American Rock and Roll Songbook," and he was recognized by Reuters as Entertainer of the Year for the private events market.

Symphony orchestras soon discovered Cavanaugh's talents and audience appeal, and in 2008, he debuted his first orchestral show, "Michael Cavanaugh - The Songs of Billy Joel and More," with the Indianapolis Symphony. In 2010, he debuted his second symphony show titled "Michael Cavanaugh - The Songs of Elton John and More" and then debuted his third symphony show, "Singers and Songwriters: The Music of Paul Simon, Neil Diamond, and James Taylor," in 2012. In 2015, he debuted his fourth symphony show, "Rockin' Christmas with the Pops." Cavanaugh continues to tour all four symphony productions as well as performs with his band in performing arts centers and other public venues around the world.

In 2008, Cavanaugh signed with Warner/ADA to distribute his first CD, In Color. The Way I Hear It, his second commercial album, was released in 2017, and debuted at #17 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart.

In 2020, Michael Cavanaugh reached the POLLSTAR Live75, designating the top 75 active touring acts in the country.