Singer Billy Joel performs at Madison Square Garden in New York. AP
NEW YORK — Billy Joel is about to prove he’s the top piano man at Madison Square Garden by beating Elton John’s record for the most performances at the famous arena.
Elton John has played 64 shows at the Garden. Joel is poised to tie that record this month, and on July 1, would surpass him at 65 shows.
“There are a lot of venues out there, but only one Madison Square Garden — my home away from home,” said Joel, a native of Long Island, New York.
Joel has been performing at the Garden each month since 2014, and promises to do so as long as fans demand it. He’s already broken the record for the most consecutive shows, which he originally set in 2006 with 12. Each month, the Garden raises another banner, which now stands at 17.
Joel is celebrating that milestone by donating the original 2006 “12” banner to the Garden of Dreams Foundation, which will auction off the banner to create scholarships and community projects for more than 275,000 children.
The online Charitybuzz auction began Thursday and will end June 26 at noon EDT.
The winner receives the signed banner and two tickets to a concert.