Acknowledging these 3 composers as perhaps the most notable pop-rock-r&b 'pianist composers' of our time:

Stevie Wonder
Elton John
Billy Joel

Which of their songs are your personal favorites, and which (if any) of their lesser known tunes are standouts to you?

Ooh, tough call, there, Scott. You kinda wonder which titles to leave out.

Stevie Wonder: Higher Ground
Elton John: Someone Saved My life Tonight
Billy Joel: Vienna

Songs that I perform from these guys:

Stevie Wonder: All In Love Is Fair, Part Time Lover
Elton John: Crocodile Rock, Daniel, You Can Make History Young, Made In England
Billy Joel: You May Be Right

Billy Joel ... Soo many ... NY State of Mind is my Fav.
Elton ... Not a big fan.
SW .... You and I



[This message has been edited by JCkeeys (edited 11-23-2010).]

I'm a big fan of them all. Here's some of their tunes that I try to play (as instrumentals)Maybe someday I'll sing them too

Elton: Daniel, Benny and the Jets, Your Song
Stevie Wonder: Isn't She Lovely, My cherie Amor, I just Called..., You Are the sunshine of My Life
Billy Joel: Just the Way You Are

[This message has been edited by montunoman (edited 11-23-2010).]

Hi Scott,

I play all my tunes as instrumentals.

Stevie Wonder...

Isn't She lovely? (great style on S910 that is perfect for it, called Lovely Shuffle.

For Once In My Life...I use a modified Kool Shuffle, which is on the S910.

Elton John...

Your Song...I use a ballad style I assembled, and then converted it in my program, StyleAdjust (made for me by Michael Bedesem), to allow playing the 2/4 measures.

Crocodile Rock...I use a style from the PSR-3000, called Croco Twist...just perfect for it.



Billy Joel...

Piano Man...use a modified Acoustic Ballad (3/4) style.

Just The Way You Are...I love playing this song, especially the sax solo...I use a style I created/assembled from several others, and it includes the intro.

Uptown Girl...a style I made (assembled) from several others, and it has the proper intro.


I do several more songs from these three guys, but these are the ones I play the most often.

Ian

SW Overjoyed has to be one of my favorite tunes period. Makes a terrific instrumental.

EJ - This Songs Got No Title;Harmony;This Train Dont Stop Here;Sorry Seems To Be; Your Song

BJ - Shes Got A Way; Goodnight Saigon; Billy The Kid; NYSOM; James

SW - Lately; Superstition; Boogie On A Reggae Woman

I play all of the above and a few others as well, but of course these barely scratch the surface of these three superb song-writers/piano-keyboard players

Dennis

Some of my favs, and Yamaha Tyros2 styles I use to play them:

Stevie:

Superstition (Soul Shuffle)
Part Time Lover (Detroit Pop1)
Everything from the "Songs in the key of life", esp Isn't She Lovely (Lovely Shuffle)

Elton:
Rocket Man (8Beat Ballad)
Daniel (Yamaha Pop Bossa1 style)
Candle In The Wind (Piano Ballad)
The 2010 Elton John/Leon Rusell Album: The Union


BIlly J:
New York State Of Mind (Slow & Easy)
It's Still Rock & Roll To Me (Rock Shuf Style)
Just The Way You Are (Pop Bossas1)
When You Wish Upon A Star (ok that's Disney tune but Joel recorded it)
Piano Man (among top requested songs) I use a Country Waltz on this one

My favorites:

SW:
Superstition
Isn't she lovely
Higher Ground
As
For Once in My Life
Signed Sealed Delivered

EJ:
The way you look tonight
Can you feel the love tonight
This Train
Daniel
Your Song
I'm still standing
I guess that's why they call it the blues

BJ:
She's always a woman to me
Captain Jack
N.Y. state of mind
Honesty
The Longest Time
We didn't start the fire
Pianoman
Just the way you are

That's just off the top of my mind, I love playing and listening to those songs.

DocZ

My fave music by them is the recent Leon / Elton Union CD. I have just about worn it out. Really good music on there.