Few singer-songwriters have amassed a catalog of hits as impressive as Billy Joel. His music will be paid tribute to by Twin Cities performer Mick Sterling on January 18 when “A Billy Joel State of Mind” comes to the Chalberg Theatre stage on the Brainerd campus of Central Lakes College. As part of the Cultural Arts Series of the Central Lakes Community Performing Arts Center, Sterling’s group will perform at 3 and 7:30 p.m.
Series producer Patrick Spradlin calls this a much-anticipated event. “Mick appeared here a few years ago with the Fabulous Armadillos in their Motown tribute,” says Spradlin. “I’m really happy to have him back. He’s an incredibly gifted singer, one that doesn’t come along very often.”
In 2018, Sterling is celebrating his 38th year in the music business. His career, like any musician doing it as long as he has, has experienced many changes, highlights, low-lights and everything in between. Within those 37 years, Sterling has transformed himself from a young and energetic lead singer of throw-together bands to one of the most recognized names in the Twin Cities music scene. The band he led for 17 years and recently inducted in to the Midwest Music Hall of Fame, Mick Sterling and the Stud Brothers, falls in the category of the other legendary Twin Cities Soul and R&B bands such as Doug Maynard, Willie and the Bees, Lamont Cranston and others.
As a producer of many shows, his event production company Mick Sterling Presents has been proud to produce a large array of unique and diverse theatrical shows that feature some of the legendary names and songs of multiple genres. All of these large bands (minimum ten members per band) feature some of the top musicians in the Twin Cities. These amazing shows are performing in various theaters in the Midwest.
“A Billy Joel State of Mind” is one of those shows. Led by Sterling, the show includes a stellar four piece horn section, full percussion, the double piano combination of Peter Guertin and Charlie Peterson, two violins and an incredible band totaling 14 members, “A Billy Joel State of Mind” features hits such as ‘Piano Man,’ ‘Uptown Girl,’ ‘New York State of Mind,’ ‘Big Shot’ and many more. But the show also features deeper tracks such as ‘Billy the Kid,’ ‘Zanzibar,’ ‘Easy Money,’ ‘Summer Highland Falls,’ and others. This is a powerful statement of the incredible work of Billy Joel handled by a band that Mr. Joel would be proud to front himself!
Spradlin notes that there are two performances of the show. “When we first announced this show in August the evening performance nearly sold out immediately. We added the 3 p.m. matinee to accommodate what we know is very strong demand for this incredible show.”
Tickets are available from the CLC Theatre Box Office at (218) 855-8199 or online at www.clcperformingarts.com
The show is sponsored the Scott and Kari Christiansen Family. The entire season, and this activity, are made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.