ELTON JOHN, BILLY JOEL - NEW Face 2 Face tour dates for 2009 - Get your Tickets NOW on Dreamcatcher Online Event Calendars

Iconic performers Elton John and Billy Joel announced earlier this fall that they would revive their acclaimed and fast-selling Face 2 Face concert series in early 2009. Elton and Billy open the concert with a series of duets, playing twin pianos and trading vocals. Each artist then performs a set with his own band. A grand finale brings the two superstars and their supporting musicians back together for a closing encore. This includes some of both Elton and Billy’s greatest hits along with an unpredictable selection of rock and roll classics.  The piano rockers have unveiled the first round of dates for their 2009 Tour on March 2 at Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, FL, and continues through March 28 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, CA.

Other highlights for the jaunt across the Southern states and West Coast include a March 17 gig at the BOK Center in Tulsa, OK, and a March 19 performance at the Toyota Center in Houston, TX. According to a statement released by the artists, another round of U.S. dates will follow in May and then again later in 2009.  Most general on-sales for the currently confirmed dates began on Saturday, December 6, and Monday, December 8. The whole tour is expected to stretch over two years, with more North American and international dates coming sometime in 2010.

According to a statement on John’s Web site, each concert will open with a series of duets, with the “Piano Man” and “Rocket Man” seated at twin pianos and trading vocals. Joel and John will follow the title “face to face” routine with separate sets before closing the night with another joint performance backed by both artists’ supporting bands.  “It’s two people for the price of one,” John said during a televised appearance on “The View” in November. “Our ticket prices are the same as you’d see anyone else, but there’s two of us. In this day and age, we hope to be getting people value for their money.”  While the series is a good value for fans, the performers also enjoy the pairing, which a joint statement describes as the most successful and longest-running in pop history. Joel is quoted as saying, “The great thing about performing with Elton is that he is such a good piano player and that makes me have to dig deep to keep up with him, not to mention I’ve got the best seat in the house — only one piano away from Elton John!”  Joel and John first launched their Face 2 Face tour during the 1994-95 season. The piano rockers later revived the show in 2001 with dates booked through 2003’s sold-out 24-date trek.

Elton John & Billy Joel itinerary: (Dates are subject to change.) - March 2 - Jacksonville, FL , Veterans Memorial Arena, March 5 - Tampa, FL  - St. Pete Times Forum, March 7 - Charlotte, NC - Time Warner Cable Arena, March 10 - Cincinnati, OH - U.S. Bank Arena, March 14 - Atlanta, GA - Philips Arena, March 17 - Tulsa, OK - BOK Center, March 19 - Houston, TX - Toyota Center, March 21 - San Antonio, TX - AT&T Center, March 26 - Phoenix, AZ - U.S. Airways Center, March 28 - Anaheim, CA - Honda Center

SIR ELTON HERCULES JOHN, (Knighted 1998.) Born Pinner, Middlesex, England, March 25, 1947, Reginald Kenneth Dwight. Son of late Stanley Dwight and of Sheila (now Farebrother), changed name to Elton Hercules John.  Married Renate Blauel, Feb 14, 1984 (Dissolved Nov. 18, 1988), Civil Partnership with David Furnish, December 21, 2005. Student, Royal Academy of Music, London, 1959-64.  Singer, songwriter, musician, began playing piano 1951, joined group Bluesology, 1965-67. Since 1969 has toured across the world consistently as a solo performer and with the Elton John band.  Film (appearance): Tommy, 1975, Films (voice): The Lion King, 1994, The Road to El Dorado, 2000, Appearances: Live Aid, 1985, Freddie Mercury Tribute concert, 1992, Live 8, 2005, Composer: (Broadway musical) The Lion King, 1998 (6 Tony Awards); Aida, 2000 (Tony Award for Best Original Score); Lestat, 2006. (West End Musical) Billy Elliot the Musical, 2005 (Olivier Award for Best Musical).

Composer: (albums) Empty Sky, 1969; Elton John, Tumbleweed Connection, 1970; 11.17.70, Friends, Madman Across The Water, 1971; Honky Chateau, 1972; Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only the Piano Player, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, 1973; Caribou, Greatest Hits, 1974; Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy, Rock of the Westies, 1975; Here and There, Blue Moves, 1976; Greatest Hits Volume II, 1977; A Single Man, 1978; Victim of Love, 1979; 21 at 33, 1980; The Fox, 1981; Jump Up, 1982; Too Low for Zero, 1983; Breaking Hearts, 1984; Ice on Fire, 1985; Leather Jackets, 1986; Live in Australia, 1987; Reg Strikes Back, 1988; Sleeping With the Past, 1989; To Be Continued, 1990; The One, 1992; Duets, 1993; Made in England, 1995; Love Songs, 1996; The Big Picture, 1997; Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida, The Muse, 1999; One Night Only, 2000; Songs From the West Coast, 2001; Greatest Hits 1970 - 2002, 2002; Peachtree Road, 2004; The Captain & The Kid, 2006; Rocket Man- Number Ones, 2007.

Composer music (film): The Lion King 1994 (Best Original Song Acad. Award for Can You Feel the Love Tonight?) The Road to El Dorado, 2000. Chairman of Watford Football Club, 1976-90, president, 1990-. Established Elton John AIDS Foundation in 1992. Patron - IAVI (International AIDS Vaccine Initiative), Patron - Terrence Higgins Trust, Patron - The Globe Theatre, Patron - Amnesty International, Scholarship Fund - Royal Academy of Music, Chairman - Old Vic Trust.  Awards include Best British Male Artist Brit Award 1991, inducted into Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame, 1994, 5 Grammy Award 1986-2000, Grammy Legend Award, 2001, Kennedy Center Honor, 2004, 11 Ivor Novello Awards, 1973 - 2000.  Achievements include: first popular Western singer to perform in USSR, 1979; playing to over 2 million people across 4 continents, 1984-86. Made Commander of the Order of the British Empire, 1996; received knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II, February 24, 1998. Released biggest selling single of all time, Candle In The Wind 1997 (over 33,000,000 copies sold), 1997. Received Honorary Doctorate, Royal Academy of Music, 2002, became Fellow of the British Academy of Songwriters and Composers, 2004.

Co-written many international hit songs with Bernie Taupin (and others) including Your Song, Rocket Man, Crocodile Rock, Daniel, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Candle In The Wind, Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Me, Philadelphia Freedom, Don’t Go Breaking My Heart (duet with Kiki Dee), Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word, The Bitch IS Back, Song For Guy, I Guess That’s Why The Call the Blues, I’m Still Standing, Nikita, Blue Eyes, Sacrifice, Circle of Life, Are You Ready For Love, I Want Love, Electricity.

1949 - 2002: William Martin Joel is born in the Bronx, NY. on May 9. The family moves to the Levittown section of Hicksville on Long Island where he spends his childhood and young adult years.  Joins his first band, The Echoes, later known as The Lost Souls.  Joins The Hassles, a Long Island-based band, and records the The Hassles, the first of two albums for United Artists.  The Hassles record their second album Hour of the Wolf.  Forms Attila, a heavy metal duo with Hassles’ drummer, Jon Small. Attila records one album on Epic Records.  Signs a solo recording contract and releases his first album, Cold Spring Harbor.  Commences a world tour with his band to promote Cold Spring Harbor.

Disappears to the West Coast as a result of a contractual dispute, where he performs in piano bars under the name Bill Martin. WMMR-FM, a radio station in Philadelphia, starts playing a tape of a new  song, ‘Captain Jack,’ taken from a live concert broadcast.
Although he does his best to keep a low profile in Los Angeles, the notoriety of ‘Captain Jack’ prompts Columbia Records to track him down and offer him a recording contract. He is signed to Columbia Records by the legendary Clive Davis and records the album Piano Man in Los Angeles. 1974 - The song ‘Piano Man’ becomes his first top 20 single & first gold album. 1975- Records Streetlife Serenade in Los Angeles. The album garners the first of many music industry awards to come, including a Cashbox award for Best New Male Vocalist.
Begins to gather recognition as a live concert attraction as a result of extensive touring, culminating in a sell-out concert performance at New York City’s famed Carnegie Hall.  1976 - Returns to New York, assembles a new band and records Turnstiles. Embarks on his first headline concert tour. 1977- Writes, records and releases The Stranger, his first collaboration with producer Phil Ramone. From the time of its release in 1977 until 1985, The Stranger is Columbia Records’ biggest selling album.  1978 - The song ‘Just the Way You Are’ captures two Grammy Awards for Record of the Year and Song of the Year. Releases 52nd St. which becomes his first #1 album. 1979- Travels to Cuba for Havana Jam, an historic three day event at the Karl Marx Theater.  Headlines a benefit concert for the Long Island based Charity Begins At Home. 

1980 - Glass Houses reaches #1 on the Billboard Album Chart and remains there for six weeks. ‘It’s Still Rock N Roll to Me’ becomes his first #1 single.
Receives an American Music Award for Album of the Year.  1981- Wins Best Rock Vocal Performance, Male at the 1981 Grammy Awards, as well as a People’s Choice Award for Favorite Male Pop Performer.  Releases a live album, Songs in the Attic, which becomes his fourth consecutive top ten album.  1982- Sustains serious injury to both hands in a motorcycle accident while recording the The Nylon Curtain. After a two month recovery period, the album is completed. The Nylon Curtain reaches #7 on the Billboard Album Chart and earns a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year. 1983- Writes and records the album An Innocent Man which reaches #4 on the Billboard charts and is nominated for a Grammy Award for Album of the Year. The album generates six Top 40 singles, three of which make it to the Top 10, including ‘Uptown Girl’ which receives a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male.  Columbia Records re-releases Cold Spring Harbor.

1985 - Greatest Hits Volume I and Volume II is released and becomes his seventh consecutive top 10 album. ‘You’re Only Human (Second Wind)’ becomes his eighth Top 10 single. Joins fellow musicians John Mellencamp and Randy Newman for Farm Aid I, and participates in USA For Africa.  Marries model Christie Brinkley. Their daughter Alexa Ray is born at the end of the year.  The Bridge album is released featuring collaborations with Ray Charles, Cyndi Lauper, and Steve Winwood.  1987- Becomes the first U.S. pop star to bring a full rock production to the Soviet Union. He performs in Moscow and in Leningrad. The two-disc live album Kohuept (the Russian word for concert) is released in October. 1988- Performs at Radio City Music Hall with Hall & Oates and Cyndi Lauper at a concert to benefit the New York Police Athletic League. 1989- Begins working with Producer Mick Jones and records Storm Front. The first single ‘We Didn’t Start The Fire’ reaches #1 on Billboard singles charts.  Storm Front receives Grammy nominations for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male and Producer of the Year. ‘We Didn’t Start The Fire’ receives nominations for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male.

1990 - Presented with the Grammy Legend Award. Performs The Concert for the Bays and the Baymen at the Jones Beach Amphitheater to benefit marine-related groups.  1991 - Performs two USO concerts in the Philippines at Clark Air Force Base and Subic Naval Base during the Persian Gulf War.  Headlines Back At the Ranch, a concert to benefit Long Island environmental groups and joins Don Henley and Sting at Madision Square Garden atThe Concert for Walden Woods.  1993 - Records River Of Dreams which debuts at #1 on the Billboard Album Chart. The single ‘The River of Dreams’ also debuts at #1 on Billboard Hot 100 Chart where it stays for three weeks. In addition,the single spends 12 weeks at #1 on the Adult Contemporary Chart, setting a new record.  Joins a star-studded cast for a performance to benefit AIDS Project Los Angeles. 1994 - Receives four Grammy nominations including Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male for the song ‘The River of Dreams’ and Album of the Year for River of Dreams.  Teams up with Elton John for an historic summer stadium tour of the U.S.  Marriage to Christie Brinkley ends.  The RIAA certifies Songs in the Attic and The Nylon Curtain for sales of 2 million units which moves him into a tie with the Beatles as the act with the most multiplatinum albums.
Presented with the Billboard Century Award.

1995 - Experiences the disastrous Kobe earthquake while on tour in Japan. Donates proceeds from two concerts in Osaka to local earthquake relief efforts.  Performs with Sting and others at the Rainforest Benefit Concert at Carnegie Hall. 1996 - Hits the college lecture circuit with „An Evening of Questions, Answers…and a Little Music.‰ He speaks at 32 different schools. Starts The Long Island Boat Company to build the Shelter Island Runabout 38’, a classic powerboat designed by Joel. By 1999, 20 boats are sold. 1997 - Releases Greatest Hits Volume III. Presented with the prestigious ASCAP’s Founder’s Award for lifetime achievement.  1998 - Commences a solo tour of the United States and Canada, and reprises the ‘Face to Face’ tour with Elton John in Japan and Australia.  Performs with Sting and others at the Rainforest Benefit Concert at Carnegie Hall. 1999 - Presented with the American Music Awards’ Award of Merit.  Worldwide sales top the 100 million unit mark.  Reunites with Sting and others at the Rainforest Benefit Concert at Carnegie Hall. Received the RIAA Diamond Award for Greatest Hits Volume I and Volume II. The Diamond Award is presented for albums that have sold over 10 million copies. Greatest Hits Volume I and II is the highest certified greatest hits album by a male artist with over 20 million albums sold. Ray Charles inducts Billy Joel into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

2000 - Presented with The James Smithson Bicentennial Medal from The Smithsonian Institution.  Releases Billy Joel 2000 Years - The Millenium Concert.  Received an Honorary Doctorate of Music from Long Island University - Southampton College.  Friday, June 16 attends a press conference with the President of the United States, Bill Clinton, and John Sykes (VH1) for Save The Music to donate musical instruments in an effort to restore music programs in the New York City Public Schools. College.  Sings the National Anthem on October 21 at Yankee Stadium for the opening game of the New York Yankees 2000 Baseball World Series (Subway Series) versus the New York Mets.  Performs “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” in December at Madison Square Garden with Elton John for Elton’s TV special One Night Only.  2001 - Joins forces with Elton John to kickoff the Face to Face 2001 Tour beginning in San Diego, CA on January 19, 2001. On June 14, Billy is awarded the Johnny Mercer Award at the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame Dinner in New York City.  On September 21, Billy Joel performed “New York State of Mind” on the America: A Tribute To Heroes special that aired on 31 networks simultaneously.  2002 - Billy Joel is named Music Cares Person of the Year 2002. Movin’ Out opens on October 24. Billy Joel and Toots Thielemans perform at the Blue Note on October 29.  2007 - Billy Joel set to perform the National Anthem at Super Bowl XLI .
Columbia Records will release “All My Life,” the long-awaited new pop single from the iconic singer/songwriter/performer Billy Joel. “All My Life” is Billy’s first new pop music since his 5x platinum Grammy-nominated album, River of Dreams, was released in 1993.