How a local Billy Joel tribute band rose to national fame

The sound of piano keys echoing through a South Florida living room 14 years ago has turned into something Tony Monaco never imagined: Standing ovations at Madison Square Garden.

Monaco’s six-member Billy Joel tribute band, Turnstiles, which began with humble rehearsals in bandmate Jeff McDonald’s living room, has become one of the most acclaimed tribute acts in the country. After a successful private performance at the Delray Beach Club on July 26, the group will return to Palm Beach County on Friday, Aug. 22 at Old School Square in Delray Beach.

“If you’re a Billy Joel fan, there’s no way you can’t love them,” said Alison Chaplin, one of the band’s managers.

Monaco, who anchors the group with piano and vocals like Billy Joel, moved to Long Island, New York when he was 22. In 1995, Monaco moved to Boynton Beach and has since resided there.

“I decided to start this band based on the fact that I was in a very successful wedding corporate band,” Monaco said. “I just couldn’t deal with it anymore,” he said, explaining how learning five to seven new songs weekly and working nearly every weekend pushed him to pursue his passion project.

It’s fitting that Turnstiles has found such success in South Florida. Joel, the Long Island native whose songs have been in decades of American life, has deep ties to Palm Beach County. The “Uptown Girl” singer maintains a townhome in a triplex near the Brazilian Court Hotel north of Worth Avenue, recently bought property in Boca Raton and owns equestrian land in Wellington.

The band’s success wasn’t immediate. After their first show in April 2011, Turnstiles performed just nine times that year.

“The next year we did 23 shows. The year after that we did 56 shows,” Monaco said. “If you put it on a scale, it was astronomical.”

Today, they play about 60 shows a year, with audiences spanning generations. “We play shows and there’s teenagers, and they’re singing,” Monaco said. “They know the words.”

The band adapts its set list based on audience response.

“We get up there and see what happens, where the crowd is,” said guitarist and keyboardist Greg Reitano. “If they want to dance, we go toward the more danceable stuff. If they want mellow stuff, we’ll do ballads.”

Unlike many tribute acts, Turnstiles prides itself on playing Joel’s repertoire authentically rather than impersonating him.

“If you have an artist that you love listening to, you can sing along. You expect those words to fall where they fall,” Monaco said. “We try to make it better every time we have a rehearsal.”

Playing Madison Square Garden has been band’s highlight

This commitment caught the attention of popular indie rock band Vampire Weekend, who chose Turnstiles as their opening act at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 5, 2024.

“If anybody would have said to me, even three or four years ago, ‘You’re going to play the Garden someday,’ I’d have started laughing,” Monaco said.

The band claims to be the only Billy Joel tribute act to have performed at the venue.

“At the end of the show … [Ezra Koenig, lead singer of Vampire Weekend] goes ‘please give it up for Tony Monaco and Turnstiles,’ and everybody in that place, whether they knew who we were or not, they were screaming,” Monaco recalled. “I’m standing there and there’s tears coming out of my eyes, because I’m at the Garden, and they just said my name and my band’s name. That’s not supposed to happen.”

Turnstiles ended up opening for Vampire Weekend several more times after the Garden, including shows in Jacksonville and Miami.

Bria Rose, a Turnstiles superfan from Erie, Pa., saw them perform on July 15 at 8 Great Tuesdays — the same venue where she’d seen them two years before.

“I didn’t get to go last year when they were here, but I was so excited that they came back again,” Rose said. “It was fabulous.”

Rose, who attended the show with childhood friends, was sitting in the front row.

“I grew up on Billy Joel, and so did my friends. There wasn’t a song I didn’t appreciate that they played,” she said.

Band member: ‘Billy Joel changed me and my life’

For Monaco, who retired from his corporate career four years ago, this journey represents more than professional success. “I want [Billy Joel] to know how much he changed me and my life,” he said. “I probably wouldn’t be making music if it wasn’t for his music.”

The band’s roster has evolved over the years, but three original members remain: Monaco, Reitano and McDonald. Ron Fallorusso joined 10 years ago, while newest members Rob Arenth and John Angelone have brought what Monaco calls “a breath of fresh air” to the group.

“It was on my bucket list,” said Arenth about joining the group.

Arenth is a solo musician who’s been playing in South Florida for 25 years.

“There’s got to be a vibe or we wouldn’t bring somebody in, and we’re very, very lucky to have these two,” said Monaco, referring to the two newbies.

DELRAY NEWS: Will latest Florida directive force Delray Beach leaders to remove LGBTQ+ crosswalk?

DELRAY NEWS: Must- try: Six new restaurants bring new flavors, vibes to downtown Delray Beach

THINGS TO DO: Looking for fun things to do this weekend Aug. 22-24? Top 5 events in Palm Beach County

The band’s camaraderie goes beyond the stage. Having recently toured together, the members say they share a strong bond — and a few inside jokes.

“What happens in Pittsburgh stays in Pittsburgh,” one laughed.

They all agreed they’re genuinely happy to be sharing this journey.

“As long as he gets his shrimp and grits,” Fallorusso joked to Angelone, suggesting that’s all it takes to keep him smiling.

“I think what a lot of people don’t see is there’s a real brotherhood,” said McDonald. “We’re all showing up because we love music … That connection that you get playing music with other guys on stage, it’s an extended family.”

Monaco, an Italian-American, compared Joel’s music to pasta.

“I never get tired of it,” he said.

The Turnstiles’ South Florida roots

• Tony Monaco (piano, vocals): Born in Pittsburgh, moved to Long Island, NY, when he was 22. Relocated to Boynton Beach in 1995.

• Greg Reitano (keyboards, guitar, vocals): Born in Brooklyn moved to South Florida at the age of 6.

• Ron Fatterusso (sax, vocals): Born in Brooklyn moved to Hialeah at the age of 1. Now lives in Weston.

• Jeff McDonald (drums, vocals): Born in Racine, Wis. Moved to West Palm Beach at the age of 27.

• John Angelone (bass, vocals): Born in Newburgh N.Y., moved to South Florida at the age 7.

The Turnstiles at Old School Square

• When: Friday, Aug. 22. Gates open at 5 p.m. for Summer Happy Hour

• Where: Old School Square, entrance to the concert at NE 2nd Ave.

• Schedule: Music starts at 5:45 p.m. with The Flyers followed by Turnstiles at 7:30 p.m.

• VIP tickets: $50. Exclusive VIP lounge area with seating, a dedicated bar and one complimentary drink (beer or wine).

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: South Florida Billy Joel tribute band Turnstiles gains national following