Countryfest Performance Debut – Only Took Richie 19 Years! [VIDEO]

This was a major thrill. I've done little things here and there over the years, but there was so much of a time constraint in the past for local acts that it really was difficult. That's what I loved about this year's Countryfest the most - it gave a lot of Capital Region artists the chance to show their wares, and the Lost Cantina Band was nice enough to let me do the same.

I paced the floors for several nights deciding what to do for this "debut". Should I do a real song or my typical goof around parody-type thing? I decided to do a little combination of both. I was picturing what it would be like to do a sing-along with the crowd, and the perfect one to use, no doubt is Billy Joel's Piano Man. I started rolling the lyrics around in my head. "It's 9 o'clock on a Saturday...the regular crowd rushes in.." . Hold it! This event is on a Saturday, except it's 2 PM. PERFECT. So that was the genesis of the idea for this.

Someone related to somebody in the Lost Cantina Band had a video camera and thankfully captured the whole bit. I will now proudly add this little "shtick" to a long list of amazing experiences that I've had here at 'GNA.

I hope you can make out the words. In case you can't, here they are:

The 'GNA Piano Man

It’s 1:30 pm on a Saturday

this big big crowd rocks my world

I think GNA started a movement today

it’s called occupy South Pearl

They said Rich can you play us a melody

well I think I know how this one goes

the very first time that I sang Billy Joel's rhyme

Sean was in cute baby clothes

La la la la l

I’m GNA’s piano man