Russell Javors (born June 13, 1952) is an American

rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wale ...

guitarist A guitarist (or a guitar player) is a person who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of guitar family instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselve ...

. He is best known as a rhythm guitarist for

Billy Joel William Martin Joel (born May 9, 1949) is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Nicknamed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Piano Man" after his Signature song, signature 1973 song Piano Man (song), of the same name, Joel has ha ...

from 1976 to 1989.

Career

At age 15, Javors was performing songs with his childhood friend

Liberty DeVitto Liberatori "Liberty" DeVitto (born August 8, 1950) is an American rock drummer. He is best known for his work as a drummer for singer-songwriter Billy Joel's recording and touring band. He has been a session drummer on recordings of other artists ...

. He met

Doug Stegmeyer Douglas Alan Stegmeyer (December 23, 1951 – August 25, 1995) was an American musician who was best known as a bassist and back-up vocalist for Billy Joel. Stegmeyer also performed as bassist for Debbie Gibson and Hall & Oates. Life and car ...

in high school and along with Howard Emerson, formed the band Topper. Together, they performed the songs that Javors wrote. Topper became noticed by

. Joel found he needed a bassist on his ''Streetlife Serenade'' tour and invited Stegmeyer to join him. Javors, DeVitto, and Emerson soon followed. With the addition of multi-instrumentalist Richie Cannata, Topper became the

Billy Joel Band Billy Joel is an American singer-songwriter and pianist who has used various musicians both in studio and for live performances. The band began with the recording of his first album as a solo artist in 1971; it stabilized around 1975 and underwe ...

. Javors played rhythm guitar with Joel from 1975 until 1989. On October 23, 2014, Javors, Cannata, and DeVitto (with Stegmeyer, posthumously) were inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame, primarily for their work with Joel. Shortly thereafter, Javors, Cannata, and DeVitto officially formed the Lords of 52nd Street band; the band also includes a pianist and lead vocalist, keyboardist, and a guitarist, and plays faithful renditions of the recorded Joel originals. Javors also wrote two songs and played guitar on

Karen Carpenter Karen Anne Carpenter (March 2, 1950 – February 4, 1983) was an American musician who was the lead vocalist and early drummer of the highly successful duo the Carpenters, formed with her older brother Richard Carpenter (musician), Richard. Wi ...

's 1979 self-titled album, which was released in 1996.Tobler, John. ''The Complete Guide to the Music of The Carpenters.'' London: Omnibus, 1998. 128.

Billy Joel album credits

*1976 '' Turnstiles'' *1978 '' 52nd Street'' *1980 '' Glass Houses'' *1981 ''

Songs in the Attic ''Songs in the Attic'' is the first live album by Billy Joel, released in 1981. At the time of its release, it was the first widely available appearance of music from his first album, ''Cold Spring Harbor'', released in 1971. History In the lin ...

'' *1982 ''

The Nylon Curtain ''The Nylon Curtain'' is the eighth studio album by American singer-songwriter Billy Joel, released on September 23, 1982, and produced by Phil Ramone. ''The Nylon Curtain'' peaked at on the ''Billboard (magazine), Billboard'' Billboard charts ...

'' *1983 '' An Innocent Man'' *1985 '' Greatest Hits Volume I & II'' *1986 ''

The Bridge The Bridge may refer to: Art, entertainment and media Art * ''The Bridge'' (sculpture), a 1997 sculpture in Atlanta, Georgia, US * Die Brücke (''The Bridge''), a group of German expressionist artists * ''The Bridge'' (M. C. Escher), a lithograph ...

'' *1987 '' КОНЦЕРТ'' *1997 '' Greatest Hits Volume III''

References

1952 births Living people People from Long Island Songwriters from New York (state) American rock guitarists American male guitarists Rhythm guitarists American session musicians American harmonica players Guitarists from New York (state) 20th-century American guitarists 20th-century American male musicians Billy Joel Band members The Lords of 52nd Street members {{US-rock-guitarist-stub

Career

See also

Billy Joel album credits

References