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Billy Ward
- Clinton, CT
- Singing Pianist
- Travels up to 2 hours
- Contact for rates
Overview
Highly experienced Singing Pianist with many years of solo and Dueling Pianos gigs. Former dueling player at Howl at the Moon San Antonio; The Big Bang, Tempe; and Jake Ivories, Boston. Recently relocated to CT with full compliment of grand piano shells, keyboards, sound systems, and lighting. Classically trained, Peabody Institute; Jazz trained, Berklee College; Rock n' Roll trained out in the real world. A REAL music professional with a great work ethic and friendly, easy going personality.
2 Reviews
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After lots of searching, I came across Billy and hired him to play at my parents 50th wedding anniversary party. Billy exceeded my expectations! He showed up well before the party started to setup his piano, audio and lighting equipment. His energy was non stop and many people commented that Billy didn’t take a break for 4 straight hours, playing & singing the entire time!
Billy is super talented and has a deep setlist to cover just about every genre and era. He was a memorable part of my parents party and I’d highly recommend him!
Keyboard Player, Pianist, Singing Pianist
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Billy has been a favorite of ours for years playing at our favorite restaurant, but he is even more amazing if you hire him for a private event. Piano, singing, allows you to sing along too - he is a gem!
Singing Pianist
Booking Info
Price Range: Contact for rates
Gig Length: 30 - 240 minutes
Languages: English
What to Expect
I can perform everything from a high energy sing a long to light classical and jazz background music. From tuxedo clad formality to blue jean, blue collar rock and roll and everything in between. I can play a provided piano, or bring one or more of my professionally crafted 4 foot grand piano shells that I put a Yamaha piano keyboard in. I can provide a sound system and a lighting system as well.
About
Billy started piano lessons at age six and continued to study to be a classical concert pianist throughout his teenage years. From a musical family - his great, great grandfather was a member of John Phillip Sousa's band in the early 1900's - Billy played his first professional job at age 16 with his Uncle Dan Vece Sr. (who played professionally until the age of 100). He continued to study music at The Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University, and the Berklee College of Music.
Boston, Massachusetts became Billy's home in the early 80's where performed almost every night, playing everything from Dixieland to Rock & Roll, R&B and Punk in many of Boston's bars and concert venues. Some of his bands included Billy and the Boys, The Incredible Dixieland Band, The Tall Boys, Blue Moon, B.O.M.B., The Undertakers and The Ozone Rangers.
In the early 90's Billy got back to his roots and started rocking again on the grand piano at Jake Ivory's on Lansdowne Street in Boston and in West Bridgewater, MA. After leaving Boston in 1995 he performed at Howl at the Moon in San Antonio, Texas and Miami, Florida. Eventually Billy would become Entertainment Director of the San Antonio Howl at the Moon franchise. In the fall of 2003 Billy moved to Arizona to help open The Big Bang Tempe, where he was an owner, Entertainment Director and also a featured performer. After 8 years at The Big Bang, Billy decided to move away from the full time dueling pianos concept and once again get back to his roots. He got a residency at Vincitorio’s Restaurant in Tempe, and expanded that to include a Jazz Night as well as his solo piano/vocal evenings. Billy played at Vincitorios for close to a decade, eventually performing there five nights a week. He also performed with the lovely and talented Sarah Vanell Sundays and Thursdays at Vincitorios. And of course, he spearheaded the monthly Dueling Pianos Show at Vincitorios, joined by his good friends Julie Simpson on piano and Matt Medrano on drums. In May of 2024 Billy relocated back to his home town of Clinton, CT., and is currently spending the bulk of his creative energy in his recording studio, creating music from Country to Rock to Hip-Hop for his studio clients.
Because of his years of experience in almost every style of music, Billy performs in a way that few people can - incorporating elements of Bach to Big Band to Bon Jovi to Bruno Mars, while sprinkling in generous amounts of surprising music you didn’t think you’d hear on piano in his energetic, spontaneous performances.
Additional Booking Notes
The most important technical requirement I have is an electrical outlet provided within 50 feet of where I am expected to perform.
I can play a provided piano, or bring one or more of my professionally crafted 4 foot grand piano shells that I put a Yamaha piano keyboard in. I can provide a sound system and a lighting system as well.
Any stage should be at least 8 feet wide and 8 feet deep.
Set List
Prelude in C, J.S. Bach
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring, J.S. Bach
Prelude in C Minor, J.S. Bach
Invention #13 in A Minor, J.S. Bach
Canon in D, Johann Pachelbel
Fur Elise, Beethoven
Nocturne Op. 9, No.3, Chopin
Clair de Lune, Debussy
Alexander's Ragtime Band
St. Louis Blues
Five Foot Two, Eyes Of Blue
Maple Leaf Rag, Scott Joplin
The Entertainer, Scott Joplin
Sweet Georgia Brown
Bye Bye Blackbird
Mack The Knife
Ain't Misbehavin
Summertime
Pennies From Heaven
My Funny Valentine
In The Mood
Summertime
Basin Street Blues
I Got Rhythm
St. Louis Blues
September Song
Take The "A" Train
Autumn Leaves
But Beautiful
Green Dolphin Street
Stardust
Route 66
September Song
Fascinating Rhythm
It Had To Be You
Mona Lisa- Nat "King" Cole
Tennessee Waltz- Patti Page
How High The Moon- Les Paul
Unforgettable- Nat Cole
That's Amore- Dean Martin
Rock Around The Clock- Bill Haley
Shake, Rattle And Roll- Bill Haley
Fly Me To The Moon- Frank Sinatra
Tutti Frutti- Little Richard
Folsom Prison Blues- Johnny Cash
Don't Be Cruel- Elvis Presley
Be-Bop-A-Lula- Gene Vincent
In The Still Of The Night- Five Satins
Blueberry Hill- Fats Domino
Come Go With Me- Del-Vikings
Heartbreak Hotel- Elvis Presley
The Way You Look Tonight- Frank Sinatra
Day-O- Harry Belafonte
Jailhouse Rock- Elvis Presley
Whole Lot of Shakin' Going On- Jerry Lee Lewis
That'll Be The Day- The Crickets
Bye Bye Love- Everly Brothers
Great Balls Of Fire- Jerry Lee Lewis
All Shook Up- Elvis Presley
Louie Louie- Kingsman
Johnny B. Goode- Chuck Berry
La Bamba- Ritchie Valens
Rock-in Robin- Bobby Day
Love Potion No. 9- Clovers
Shout- Otis Day
Take 5- Dave Brubeck
Georgia On My Mind- Ray Charles
Stay- Maurice Williams
The Twist- Chubby Checker
Wonderful World- Sam Cooke
Stand By Me- Ben E. King
Crazy- Patsy Cline
Runaround Sue- Dion
Runaway- Del Shannon
The Lion Sleeps Tonight- Tokens
Some Kind Of Wonderful- Drifters
Twist and Shout- Beatles
Up On The Roof- Drifters
Twist And Shout- Isley Brothers
Louie Louie- Kingsmen
I Saw Her Standing There- Beatles
Another Saturday Night- Sam Cooke
Ring Of Fire- Johnny Cash
On Broadway- The Drifters
Surfin' USA- Beach Boys
Wipeout- Surfaris
You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling- Righteous Brothers
My Girl- Temptations
Eight Days A Week- Beatles
California Dreamin'- Mamas & Papas
California Girls- Beach Boys
King Of The Road- Roger Miller
Barbara Ann- Beach Boys
Hang On Sloopy- McCoys
Help Me Rhonda- Beach Boys
I Feel Good- James Brown
Satisfaction- Rolling Stones
Mustang Sally- Wilson Pickett
Summer Wind- Frank Sinatra
Yellow Submarine- Beatles
Soul Man- Sam & Dave
The Letter- Box Tops
Brown Eyed Girl- Van Morrison
Tears Of A Clown- Smokey Robinson
All You Need Is Love- Beatles
Happy Together- Turtles
Rocky Top- Osborne Brothers
Hey Jude- Beatles
Dock Of The Bay- Otis Redding
Mony Mony- Tommy James
Jumpin' Jack Flash- Rolling Stones
Born To Be Wild- Steppenwolf
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da- Beatles
Mrs. Robinson- Simon & Garfunkel
Susie Q- CCR
Come Together- Beatles
It's Your Thing- Isley Brothers
Suspicious Minds- Elvis Presley
Get Back- Beatles
Sweet Caroline- Neil Diamond
Cecilia- Simon & Garfunklel
Your Song- Elton John
Layla- Derek And The Dominos
Big Yellow Taxi- Joni Mitchell
Wild World- Cat Stevens
Close to You- The Carpenters
Colour My World- Chicago
Teach Your Children- CSNY
Cecilia- Simon and Garfunkel
Wild World- Cat Stevens
Ain't No Sunshine- Bill Withers
Tiny Dancer- Elton John
So Far Away- Carole King
A Horse With No Name- America
You've Got A Friend- James Taylor
Joy To The World- Three Dog Night
Take It Easy- Eagles
Rocket Man- Elton John
I Can See Clearly Now- Johnny Nash
Peaceful Easy Feeling- Eagles
Witchy Woman- Eagles
Amie- Pure Prairie League
Listen To The Music- Doobie Brothers
Free Bird- Lynyrd Skynyrd
Piano Man- Billy Joel
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road- Elton John
Drift Away- Dobie Gray
Ramblin' Man- Allman Brother
Long Train Runnin'- Doobie Brothers
Candle In the Wind- Elton John
Live and Let Die- Wings
Desperado- Eagles
Bad Bad Leroy Brown- Jim Croce
Nothin From Nothin- Billy Preston
Will It Go Round In Circles- Billy Preston
China Grove- Doobie Brothers
Chameleon- Herbie Hancock
Cat's In the Cradle- Harry Chapin
Some Kind Of Wonderful- Grand Funk
Black Water- Doobie Brothers
Takin' Care Of Business- BTO
Born To Run- Bruce Springsteen
Bohemian Rhapsody- Queen
Lyin' Eyes- Eagles
50 Ways To Leave Your Lover- Paul Simon
Love Rollercoaster- Ohio Players
How Sweet It Is- James Taylor
Rock & Roll All Night- Kiss
Squeeze Box- The Who
Hotel California- Eagles
Night Moves- Bob Seger
Dancing Queen- Abba
Life In the Fast Lane- Eagles
Turn the Page- Bob Seger
American Girl- Tom Petty
New York State Of Mind- Billy Joel
Stayin' Alive- The Bee Gees
We Are the Champions- Queen
Wonderful Tonight- Eric Clapton
Just the Way You Are- Billy Joel
Margaritaville- Jimmy Buffett
Dust In the Wind- Kansas
Running On Empty- Jackson Browne
Easy- Commodores
Only the Good Die Young- Billy Joel
Give a Little Bit- Supertramp
She's Always a Woman- Billy Joel
Peg- Steely Dan
Scenes From an Italian Restaurant- Billy Joel
Hotel California- Eagles
Lucille- Kenny Rogers
New York, New York- Frank Sinatra
Old Time Rock and Roll- Bob Seger
Werewolves Of London- Warren Zevon
Beast Of Burden- Rolling Stones
Bad Case Of Loving You- Robert Palmer
Cheeseburger In Paradise- Jimmy Buffet
Copacabana- Barry Manilow
September- Earth, Wind, and Fire
Greased Lightning- Grease
I Will Survive- Gloria Gaynor
Macho Man- Village People
My Life- Billy Joel
Summer Lovin- Grease
The Gambler- Kenny Rogers
YMCA- Village People
Crazy Little Thing Called Love- Queen
Video Killed the Radio Star- Buggles
The Devil Went Down to Georgia- Charlie Daniels Band
Heartache Tonight- Eagles
My Sharona- The Knack
Old Time Rock and Roll- Bob Seger
Escape (The Pina Colada Song)- Rupert Holmes
Babe- Styx
Against The Wind- Bob Seger
The Long Run- Eagles
Funky Town- Lipps, Inc.
Celebration- Kool and the Gang
Crazy Train- Ozzy Ozbourne
What I Like About You- Romantics
You May Be Right- Billy Joel
You Shook Me All Night Long- AC/DC
Jessie's Girl- Rick Springfield
Centerfold- J.Geils Band
Another One Bites The Dust- Queen
Don't Stop Believin- Journey
Tainted Love- Soft Cell
I Love Rock N' Roll- Joan Jett
Centerfold- J. Geils Band
Jack And Diane- John Cougar
867-5309 (Jenny)- Tommy Tutone
Open Arms- Journey
Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic- Police
(Oh) Pretty Woman- Van Halen
Billie Jean- Michael Jackson
Sweet Dreams- Eurythmics
Shame On The Moon- Bob Seger
Blister In The Sun- Violent Femmes
Maneater- Hall and Oates
Let's Dance- David Bowie
Little Red Corvette- Prince
The Safety Dance- Men Without Hats
You Can't Hurry Love- Phil Collins
We've Got Tonight- Bob Seger
1999- Prince
Faithfully- Journey
Overkill- Men at Work
When Doves Cry- Prince
Purple Rain- Prince
Footloose- Kenny Loggins
Jump- Van Halen
All Night Long- Lionel Richie
Ghostbusters- Ray Parker Jr.
Girls Just Want To Have Fun- Cyndi Lauper
Pink Houses- John Cougar Mellencamp
The Longest Time- Billy Joel
On The Dark Side- John Cafferty
Proud To Be An American
Like A Virgin- Madonna
Shout- Tears For Fears
Kiss- Prince and The Revolution
You Give Love A Bad Name- Bon Jovi
Take Me Home Tonight- Eddie Money
Your Love- Outfield
R.O.C.K. In The U.S.A.- John Cougar
Life In A Northern Town- Dream Academy
Baby Got Back- Sir Mix-a-lot
Keep Your Hands To Yourself- Georgia Satellites
Here I Go Again- Whitesnake
The Way It Is- Bruce Hornsby
Livin' On A Prayer- Bon Jovi
La Bamba- Los Lobos
Faith- George Michael
Sweet Child O' Mine- Guns N' Roses
Never Tear Us Apart- INXS
I'm gonna be (500 Miles)- Proclaimers
Every Rose Has Its Thorn- Poison
Love Shack- B-52's
Love Song- Cure
Love In An Elevator- Aerosmith
Free Fallin'- Tom Petty
Hard To Handle- Black Crowes
Friends In Low Places- Garth Brooks
Enter Sandman- Metallica
Baby Got Back- Sir Mix A-lot
Tears In Heaven- Eric Clapton
Under The Bridge- Red Hot Chili Peppers
To Be With You- Mr. Big
November Rain- Guns N' Roses
Life Is A Highway- Tom Cochrane
Smells Like Teen Spirit- Nirvana
Bohemian Rhapsody- Queen
Friday I'm In Love- The Cure
The River Of Dreams- Billy Joel
I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)- Proclaimers
Two Princes- Spin Doctors
What's Up- 4 Non Blondes
Dreams- Cranberries
Hey Jealousy- Gin Blossoms
Cantaloop- US3
I Can See Clearly Now- Jimmy Cliff
Mary Jane's Last Dance- Tom Petty
Prayer For The Dying- Seal
Dookie- Green Day
Waterfalls- TLC
Kiss From A Rose- Seal
Hold My Hand- Hootie and The Blowfish
Only Wanna Be With You- Hootie and The Blowfish
You Don't Know How It Feels- Tom Petty
All I Wanna Do- Sheryl Crow
Zombie- Cranberries
California Love- 2Pac
Breakfast At Tiffany's- Deep Blue Something
The World I Know- Collective Soul
Bitch- Meredith Brooks
Semi-Charmed Life- Third Eye Blind
The Freshmen- Verve Pipe
Tubthumping- Chumbawamba
Change The World- Eric Clapton
Sex And Candy- Marcy Playground
Believe- Cher
Bitter Sweet Symphony- The Verve
Jump Jive and Wail- Brian Setzer
Thank You- Dido
Baby One More Time- Britney Spears
Livin' La Vida Loca- Ricky Martin
Slide- Goo Goo Dolls
I Want It That Way- Backstreet Boys
All Star- Smash Mouth
Smooth- Santana
Save Tonight- Eagle-Eye Cherry
The Middle- Jimmy Eat World
My Sacrifice- Creed
Blurry- Puddle Of Mudd
Hey Ya!- Outkast
Harder To Breathe- Maroon 5
Your Body Is A Wonderland- John Mayer
Clocks- Coldplay
Stacy's Mom- Fountains Of Wayne
Bright Lights- Matchbox 20
This Love- Maroon 5
Let's Get It Started- Black Eyed Peas
Mr. Brightside- The Killers
Sitting Waiting Wishing- Jack Johnson
Sexyback- Justin Timberlake
I Write Sins not Tragedies- Panic! At The Disco
Dani California- Red Hot Chili Peppers
Dirty Little Secret- The All-American Rejects
Sugar We're Goin' Down- Fall Out Boy
Life is a Highway- Rascal Flatts
Upside Down- Jack Johnson
Snow- Red Hot Chili Peppers
Gravity- John Mayer
Hey There Delilah- Plain White T's
Paralyzer- Finger Eleven
So What- Pink
All Summer Long- Kid Rock
Viva La Vida- ColdPlay
I'm Yours- Jason Mraz
Poker Face- Lady Gaga
I Gotta Feeling- Black Eyes Peas
Gives You Hell- All American Rejects
Chicken Fried- Zac Brown Band
Sex On Fire- Kings of Leon
Omg- Usher (feat. will.i.am)
Forget You- Cee Lo Green
Little Lion Man- Mumford & Sons
Hey, Soul Sister- Train
Rolling in the Deep- Adele
Pumped Up Kicks- Foster the People
Just the Way You Are- Bruno Mars
Dynamite- Taio Cruz
DJ Got Us Fallin In Love- Usher
We Are Young- Fun
Rumour Has It- Adele
Red Solo Cup- Toby Keith
Get Lucky- Daft Punk
Happy- Pharrell Williams
All Of Me- John Legend
Sky Full of Stars- Coldplay
I'm Not the Only One- Sam Smith
Budapest- George Ezra
Uptown Funk- Bruno Mars
Shut Up and Dance- Walk the Moon
Can’t Stop the Feeling- Justin Timberlake
Ex’s and Oh’s- Elle King
Something Just Like This- The Chainsmokers
Believer- Imagine Dragons
Feel It Still- Portugal the Man
Broken- Lovely the Band
Havana- Camila Cabello
Old Town Road- Lil Nas X
Bad Guy- Billy Eilish
Shallow- Lady Gaga
Message in a Bottle- Taylor Swift
Driver’s License- Olivia Rodrigo
Influences & Inspiration
Pat Metheny
David Bowie
Prince
Led Zeppelin
Foo Fighters
Billy Joel
Elton John
John Mayer
The Cure
Bruce Hornsby
Burt Bacharach
Setup Requirements
An electrical outlet provided within 50 feet of where I am expected to perform.