Robert Wayne Birch, bass player for Elton John, died Wednesday morning outside his home in Los Angeles at the age of 56. Bob began playing with Elton in 1992, touring the world many times over and was also involved in Elton’s hit single "Candle In The Wind." He also played with Elton John and Billy Joel during their Face2Face Tour, which started in Philadelphia at Veterans Stadium, July 1994.

Photo credit: Kevin Mazur

Billy Joel tops Long Island Newsday’s list of “Songs Every Long Islander Should Know” with “Scenes From An Italian Restaurant” voted #1, and five other Joel songs making Newsday’s top 100 list, more than any other artist. Billy spoke with Newsday writer Glenn Gamboa and discussed the story behind each of the six songs, which Newsday readers voted for every week beginning in June. Glenn wrote, “These are the 100 songs every Long Islander should know — songs by people from here, about here, and written and recorded here, that also have changed the world of music. And by here, we go along with the Long Island Hall Of Fame’s definition of Long Island: Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau and Suffolk.”

This week on Here’s The Thing – Alec sits down with fellow Long Islander Billy Joel – at the piano – for a conversation about life and the musical choices he’s made. Listen Here

Billy has launched a new website for 20th Century Cycles, centered around his motorcycle shop in Oyster Bay, NY!

Mark Rivera, sideman to the stars--Billy Joel and Ringo Starr--releases his debut album Common Bond.