Michael Cavanaugh (born 1972) is an American actor and musician most famous for playing the piano and providing lead vocals in the band for the Broadway musical Movin' Out.[1] Cavanaugh was handpicked by Billy Joel for this musical[2][3] and appeared in the show for three years[1] and over 1300 performances.[3]
Michael Cavanaugh | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1972 (age 51–52) Cleveland, Ohio, United States |
| Occupations |
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| Instruments |
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| Years active | 1999–present |
| Website | michaelcavanaugh |
Career
editCavanaugh is the youngest of four boys who all played instruments. When he was 7, his parents bought a piano and he began playing immediately.[2][4] He played his first club show at age 12.[4] His aunt brought him from Cleveland to New York City when he was 13 to see his first Broadway musical.[3] By age fourteen, Cavanaugh was playing keyboard with bands at weddings and other events several nights a week.[1]
His first full-time gig as a musician was an extended engagement in Orlando, Florida at a piano bar on International Drive called Blazing Pianos.[1] In January 1999, Cavanaugh had the opportunity to play in Las Vegas at the New York-New York Hotel and Casino,[3] where he happened to catch the attention of Billy Joel in February 2001.[2][4] Consequently, Cavanaugh moved to New York City to work with Billy Joel and Twyla Tharp, who together shaped the Broadway musical Movin' Out.[1] Billboard magazine called him "the new voice of the American Rock and Roll Songbook".[5] While appearing on Broadway, Cavanaugh and his family lived in Glen Rock, New Jersey.[4]
With the close of Movin' Out at the end of 2005, Cavanaugh began touring on his own, creating a show that reinterpreted the modern pop/rock songbook.[4] Cavanaugh continues to perform worldwide for corporate and charity functions, as well as at sporting events including the Indy 500,[3] the PGA Tour,[1] and the US Open.[3]
Symphony orchestras soon began booking Cavanaugh. His first orchestra engagement, a "Michael Cavanaugh — The Songs of Billy Joel and more" program, debuted in April 2008 with the Indianapolis Symphony. In October 2008, he signed with ADA/Warner to distribute his first CD, titled In Color.[6]
Cavanaugh made his Boston Pops Orchestra debut on May 8–9, 2009, with Steven Reineke conducting.[7] He returned to play another engagement with the Boston Pops in 2015, featuring music by Neil Diamond, Paul Simon, and James Taylor.[8]
In 2010, he debuted a new orchestra production, his second, called "Generations of Rock", in which he plays Elton John and other artists who have inspired him.[6]
In 2012, Cavanaugh performed with the Florida Orchestra, playing a mix of classical and contemporary music by composers including Billy Joel, Elton John, John Lennon and Paul McCartney.[1] He created his third symphony show, "Singers and Songwriters: The music of Paul Simon, Neil Diamond and James Taylor" that year, and was still touring with the production as of July 2014.[6]
In 2014, he performed with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra as part of its Pops! series, in a program called "The Music of Billy Joel & More".[5] Later that year, he performed with the Houston Symphony as well.[6]
Awards and recognition
editIn 2003, for his role in Movin' Out, Cavanaugh received both a Grammy nomination[5] and a Tony nomination.[3] That year's Tony went to Dick Latessa (who played Wilbur Turnblad in Hairspray).
Personal life
editWhen not on the road or recording, Cavanaugh resides in Las Vegas with his family.[1] He and his wife Karin have a son, Matthew, and a daughter, Mikayla.[2][4]
Cavanaugh has synesthesia. As he explained to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, "When I hear a note of C, I see the color red in my mind's eye. A is blue, F is gray. Growing up I thought everyone was like this." He attributes some of his facility at learning songs quickly to his synesthesia.[2]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h Fleming, John (2012-05-02). "Billy Joel interpreter, 'Movin' Out' star Michael Cavanaugh plays at Mahaffey with Florida Orchestra". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 2015-09-07.
- ^ a b c d e Heaton, Michael (2013-06-08). "Broadway performer Michael Cavanaugh helps Montefiore Healthcare celebrate 130 years". Cleveland Plain Dealer. Retrieved 2015-09-07.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Michael Cavanaugh". MasterworksBroadway.com. Retrieved 2015-09-07.
- ^ a b c d e f Dunlap, LucyAnn (2009-07-08). "Sounds Just Like — Billy Joel". U.S. 1 Newspaper. Retrieved 2011-02-28.
- ^ a b c "Hartford Symphony and 'Movin' Out' Star Michael Cavanaugh to Perform Music of Billy Joel March 8". HartfordSymphony.org. 2014-02-26. Retrieved 2015-09-07.
- ^ a b c d "Michael Cavanaugh sings 'The Songs of Billy Joel' tonight". The Woodlands Villager. 2014-07-24. Retrieved 2015-09-07.
- ^ Gans, Andrew (2009-02-06). "Boston Pops Season to Feature Cook, Eder, Cavanaugh and Feinstein". Playbill. Retrieved 2015-09-07.
- ^ "Boston Pops Present Michael Cavanaugh — The Great Singer Songwriters: The Music of Paul Simon, James Taylor and Neil Diamond". BSO.org. Boston Symphony Orchestra official site. Retrieved 2015-09-07.