Long Island, NY musician Michael Pollack is already one step ahead of the music business game.
At 19 years old his resume reads: “Performed with Billy Joel.”
That’s right. This past January at a Q&A forum with legendary Billy Joel, the Vanderbilt University student got up enough courage at the nudging of his friends to ask his idol, also a Long Island native, if he could play his classic ‘New York State of Mind’ on stage with him. “I kind of froze a bit asking him” said the singer/songwriter, “but once he said “OK” I was fine.”
So he sat right down on the bench and played the iconic tune like a pro while Mr. Joel sang.
Wow. Then the ‘Today’ show and CNN soon followed.
What inspires the young natural? “Billy Joel is my biggest inspiration,” the modest teen told me over the phone.
Still a college student studying various subjects and heading back to Nashville after summer, talented Pollack is smartly taking it day by day.
“The plan is I am performing on Good Day on Friday and then this Saturday for my biggest performance ever, I am opening for The X Factor’s Carly Rose Sonenclar at NYC’s Best Buy Theater.”
Not a bad juggling act for the student/performer who’s also preparing for an EP record release this Fall of about 4 or 5 songs.
What type of songs are you writing? “My lyrics are witty, fun and I find a new way of saying things that have been said a billion times. And they are filled with catchy hooks.”
What a big shot.
Keep your ears opens for Michael Pollack.
http://www.michaelpollackmusic.com/
Amazing!!