Start with a hefty helping of raw, unbridled musical talent, add a dash of spectacular showmanship mixed with a pinch of perfect pitch, whisk in a musical legend, sprinkle in some cosmic coincidence, and you’ve got the story of Michael Cavanaugh. Michael is the star of the upcoming show The Music of Billy Joel & Elton John starring Michael Cavanaugh at the Topeka Performing Arts Center on October 23rd and Topeka...you are in for a treat!
Michael grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. “When I was seven years old, my mom bought a piano and I was all over it,” Michael says. Since then, he has learned to play many other instruments including guitar, drums, ukulele, and harmonica to name a few. “If I don’t have something to play, I start to go crazy,” he shared. Music was always second nature to him. In fact, he sees music “as colors”.
Michael has a condition called synesthesia which is common among people with perfect pitch. Synesthesia is a neurological condition in which information meant to stimulate one of your senses stimulates several of your senses. People who have synesthesia can often “see” music as colors when they hear it. “In my mind’s eye, when I hear a C note, I see red, A is blue, G is brown, F - gray and so on. It’s like a cross wiring of the senses,” he explains. “It makes it easy to play a song I’ve never played before. When I was a kid, I assumed everyone was like that.”
He was performing at a piano bar in Orlando in January of 1999 when he received an offer to play Las Vegas at the New York, New York Hotel and Casino. Little did he know it would change the trajectory of his life. It was there on a fateful night in February of 2001 that superstar Billy Joel spotted him and joined him on stage! Billy had been searching for someone to star in a musical he was working on. Michael moved to New York City to work with Billy to create and star in the musical Movin’ Out for which Michael subsequently received both Tony and Grammy nominations.
“I got to meet Elton when he and Billy were touring together,” Michael said. “We started talking about a second show and Elton’s music seemed like the obvious next step. Both Elton John and Billy Joel have music that appeals to a huge portion of the population,” he said. “That’s what makes the show so fun. There are so many great songs to choose from, I’m never gonna get to all of them.”
And appeal it does. The music is amazing and Michael brings an energy that elevates it to the next level. “Music energizes me. My wife can relax to music, but I can’t. My mind goes crazy,” he said.
Billboard calls him “The New Voice of the American Rock and Roll Songbook” and Reuters named him “Entertainer of the Year”. He plays all of the favorites in a high-voltage performance that leaves audiences screaming for more. “I absolutely love what I do! I usually have a set list, but I’d say I’ve stuck to it maybe once in the last 20 years,” he laughed. “Sometimes I don’t even write a set list...I just feel the crowd. I feed off the energy of the audience and if they’re having fun, how can I not have fun?” he asked with genuine curiosity.
Michael says every audience is a little different. “The millennials are way into Elton and if I play the West Coast, I play a bit more Elton. But the Northeast is definitely Billy Joel country. The Midwest? “The Midwest is an equal mix.” he concluded. “I’m a Midwestern boy at heart,” he added, “so I feel most at home there.”
So Topeka, mark your calendars for October 23rd and get your tickets now for an unbelievable night of music, magic and memories.