“I don’t know what it is about my Tele, but it’s special. Roy Buchanan tried it and wanted to buy it! I said, ‘No way in hell I’m giving that up’”: Russell Javors on his wild ride with Billy Joel – and his friendship with Les Paul after he was let go

Russell Javors.

If you’re from Long Island, New York, three things remain constant: the pizza, the bagels, and the music of Billy Joel. Fans of the Piano Man know him for hits like My Life, Big Shot and Allentown, which fused doo-wop, rock, R&B and soul – a mix that defined a generation of listeners, especially from Long Island.

Joel might have been the voice, but without his band of New York musicians – Richie Cannata (saxophone), Doug Stegmeyer (bass), Liberty DeVitto (drums) and Russell Javors (guitar) – his music would be flavorless.