There was a press conference held this afternoon at the Blue Sky Grill inside the Pepsi Center to announce the show (and, yes, that's very unusual these days). At it, G. Brown of the Colorado Music Hall of fame relayed the legendary songwriter's particular connection to the Centennial State.
See also: Rock and Roll History Is for Sale at the Caribou Ranch and Studio Memorabilia Auction
Joel, we learned, spent some time at Caribou Ranch outside Nederland in the mid-'70s working on his fourth album, Turnstiles. He had no permanent backing band at that point, and some fits and starts at the studio eventually led him to hire a group of musicians that became the Billy Joel Band. He produced the album himself in New York but brought the band back to Colorado to work at Caribou Ranch.
According to Brown, Joel has credited his time here as critical to the formation of the band's identity during the fruitful decades that followed.
So it was a good press conference. Plus, there were cookies shaped like pianos:
• BACKBEAT'S GREATEST HITS •
- 50 Photos That Prove Red Rocks Is the Most Beautiful Venue on the Planet
- Photos: Musicians Buying (Legal) Weed in Denver
- The Ten Most Underrated Guitarists in the History of Rock
- 50 Ways to Support Your DIY Music Community
Follow @Westword_Music
