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Billy, Elton In The Key Of See

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By KLINT LOWRY, The Suncoast News

Published: February 22, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - Whether it's hot funk, cool punk, even if it's old junk, hit songs from the 1970s are entrenched as "oldies but goodies."

Music by two of the most prolific hit-makers of that era - Billy Joel and Elton John - will be paired when Pasco-Hernando Community College presents "The Piano Men" at 8 tonight at the Performing Arts Center on the West Campus, 10230 Ridge Road.

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

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When played back to back, Witter said, it becomes apparent just how similar their music really is. With a full band on stage, the format isn't like "Beatlemania," an impersonation of the Fab Four from Liverpool.

"We don't dress up and try to sound like Elton," said Witter, who described the concert as a combination of music and visual presentation. "Really, I like to think the show is a trip back to the '70s."

The songs in "The Piano Men" are presented in roughly chronological order. As each is performed, images from that period are projected onto large screens.

When Witter plays John's "Your Song," for example, newspaper headlines from 1970 - when the tune was on the charts - appear onscreen. Joel's 1977 hit "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)" is illustrated with images of cars from that decade.

As the music flows, so do the pop culture references: a collage of people, events, toys and TV shows.

The show has been on tour for seven years through the eastern half of the United States, Witter's native Canada, Great Britain and Dubai.

He attributes some of the concert's drawing power to fascination with the pop culture of the 1970s.

Born in 1964, Witter is 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 are $30, $27 and $23; for purchases or information, go to www.phcc.edu/tix.

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