Victoria singer-songwriter Leif Bradshaw was deep in preparations for an upcoming performance when news broke that shook the music world: Billy Joel, the legendary "Piano Man," had been diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) and would be cancelling all upcoming concerts.
The announcement, made on Friday, May 23, sent ripples of concern throughout the 76-year-old icon's fan base.
NPH, a neurological disorder, affects the brain and can lead to difficulties with hearing, balance and vision.
The news resonated deeply with Bradshaw, a 29-year-old singer, known in the local live music circuit as a versatile vocalist who can cover a wide range of musical genres.
"I'll admit finding it oddly relatable, despite my relative youth," Bradshaw said. "I had a neurological health scare of my own a couple years back, and I am most grateful that I fully recovered from that one quickly. I can only hope that will happen to him, too."
Joel's official statement, posted on his Instagram account, expressed sadness at needing to postpone the shows, but emphasized the critical need to prioritize his health.
For Bradshaw, the decision drew a similar mix of emotions.
"I am glad he is prioritizing taking the time to recover, rather than pushing through with more gigs," Bradshaw said. "Although my heart certainly goes out to those excited to see him perform live who now will, at best, have to wait a lot far longer than thought."
Adding an interesting layer to the story, Bradshaw's upcoming performance is a tribute show dedicated entirely to the music of Billy Joel.
The news of Joel's health challenges has only amplified Bradshaw's determination to deliver a respectful and heartfelt performance.
"I certainly now feel it is extra important to make a respectful tribute show to him," Bradshaw said. "I hope that, if he were to somehow know this show of mine was happening, that he would be pleased to see someone my age determined to keep the spirit of his musical output alive. His music is generally so wonderfully timeless, after all."
Bradshaw is scheduled to take the stage at The Coda in Victoria on Wednesday, June 11, where he will perform an extensive set list of Billy Joel classics.
Accompanying him will be his longtime friend and skilled pianist, Pablo Cardenas. Together, they plan to deliver a captivating performance featuring at least 18 of Joel's most beloved songs.
Bradshaw revealed that his decision to dedicate an entire night to Billy Joel's music was made a couple of months ago and stemmed from his profound admiration for the singer-songwriter.
He considers Joel to be one of his personal favourites. "The first time I heard a Billy Joel song was when I was six or seven years old," Bradshaw said. "It was either 'Movin' Out' or 'Just the Way You Are' on the radio." That initial exposure left a lasting impression on Bradshaw, who found Joel's songs both memorable and instantly hummable.
This sentiment has only deepened over the years, solidifying Joel's place as a musical icon in his eyes.
When asked to identify his favourite Billy Joel songs, Bradshaw admitted it was difficult to select from the singer-songwriter's extensive and diverse catalogue.
"I do share Joel's opinion that his crowning achievement as a songwriter would be Scenes From an Italian Restaurant," Bradshaw said. "Probably the other two I would call favourites, at least at this time, might be New York State of Mind and Half a Mile Away. Frequently subject to change, however. He has so many songs I adore."
Beyond performing Joel's existing repertoire, Bradshaw also harbours a dream of one day sharing the stage with his idol for a duet of Baby Grand.
"That's yet another beautiful song, a duet with Ray Charles – such a poetic entry in his songbook, considering how apparent Joel's love of Charles permeates many of his piano-driven songs," he explained.
As Bradshaw prepared for his upcoming tribute show, he also felt compelled to send a heartfelt note to Billy Joel, hoping that it might somehow reach him.
"I hope you not only recover fast. You may have tens of millions of fans, including myself, but at the end of the day, none of us can know you the way the people actually in your life do, let alone yourself. I can only hope for you and all others involved, that it will be an upward trajectory from here," he wrote.
"I hope you will still have the drive to perform your songs for people, so long as you still love doing it."
