Big Shot In The Arm For Vets Charity
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Billy Joel cover band Big Shot, led by singer Mike DelGuidice, takes the stage at The Paramount for a concert to benefit General Needs.
By Connor Beach
cbeach@longislandergroup.com
One of Long Island’s most revered cover bands will be returning to the stage at The Paramount in Huntington tomorrow night, and once again it will be for a good cause.
A portion of the proceeds from tomorrow night’s show featuring Mike DelGuidice and Big Shot at The Paramount in Huntington village will benefit charity General Needs.
East Northport-based General Needs is a non-profit organization that provides clean socks, underwear, t-shirts and other much-needed items to homeless veterans from Brooklyn to Riverhead, according to the organization’s founder and president Lonnie Sherman.
Sherman said General Needs first got in touch with the Paramount three years ago about a charity concert through TD Bank, one of the organization’s major donors.
DelGuidice, 47, of Miller Place, is happy to be able to use his fame as the frontman of Big Shot, and a touring member of the Billy Joel Band to give back to a local Long Island charity.
In 2011, DelGuidice give Big Shot an unprecedented level of authenticity when he added two members of Joel’s actual touring band to Big Shot’s line-up. Joel’s lead guitarist Tommy Byrnes and drummer Chuck Burgi joined bassist Nick Dimichino, keyboardist Carmine Giglio and saxophonist John Scarpulla, and gave the cover band a sense of legitimacy.
DelGuidice got a big break in October 2013, when Joel came to The Paramount to hear DelGuidice sing and was later quoted in the New York Times as saying “they had a hard time convincing me it wasn’t me.”
After the show, Joel personally hired DelGuidice to join his band, and he continues to tour with the Billy Joel Band playing rhythm guitar and singing vocals.
Big Shot’s live shows at The Paramount always have a buzz of excitement following a performance in June 2016 when Joel made a live guest appearance with the band on stage, much to the delight of the Huntington audience.
With chilly weather already upon us, and freezing temperatures just around the corner, this is the time of year when homeless veterans are in particular need of warm socks, blankets, winter coats, boots and other items that General Needs provides. A portion of the proceeds from the concert will be donated to General Needs.
Tickets for tomorrow’s concert at 8 p.m. cost between $20-$60, and are selling fast. Tickets can be purchased at the box office or online at Paramountny.com.
