Now he’s the large shot.
An iconic Lengthy Island musician who has been enjoying in Billy Joel’s band for greater than a decade has the chance of a lifetime this Thursday by singing the Nationwide Anthem on the Ryder Cup, near residence at Bethpage Black.
“I’m petrified,” Mike DelGuidice of Miller Place informed The Submit simply earlier than seeing his large stage on the Farmingdale golf course for the primary time.
“I’ve carried out it at quite a lot of Rangers video games, Knicks video games, Mets, Yankees…however this one being what it’s, it’s a bit nerve-racking,” stated the hometown hero, who has stolen the present numerous occasions along with his vocals and guitar abilities throughout Joel’s longtime residency at Madison Sq. Backyard.
Fretfulness apart, teeing up this career-defining second is doubly thrilling for DelGuidice as he has grow to be a die-hard golfer over the previous six years as nicely.
“I’ve most likely performed virtually 30 programs on Lengthy Island…After I do a gig at a rustic membership, I at all times attempt to negotiate a free spherical,” stated DelGuidice.
“My handicap dropped tremendously these previous few years, however it’s quite a lot of work and it’s a irritating sport…and, I’m an avid watcher as a lot as a participant.”
DelGuidice, who will sing throughout the opening ceremony, has an opportunity to satisfy a few of his heroes on residence turf at the state-owned Bethpage Black Golf Course in Nassau County, which has beforehand hosted the US Open in 2002 and once more in 2009.
He’ll see the most effective American golfers, led by one-time close-by St. John’s College standout and Workforce USA captain Keegan Bradley, face Europe’s aces in three days of inexperienced grit for world delight from Friday by Sunday.
“I really like Scottie Scheffler, however then once more, I’m an enormous fan of Bryson DeChambeau, I really like Rory McIlroy. I don’t discriminate for any purpose, whether or not or not it’s nation or something,” he stated of of the 2 Individuals and the Northern Irish McIlroy.
“I don’t get starstruck simply relating to musicians or actors as a result of I’m round that world a bit. However that is totally different as a result of I watch these guys on a traditional foundation,” added DelGuidice, who cherished their appearances in “Pleased Gilmore 2.”
DelGuidice, a religious Mets fan, in contrast his alternative to what it will be like singing in entrance of the gang throughout the Amazins’ 1986 World Sequence championship.
And, whereas he has shot on among the island’s most iconic programs like Sebonack Golf Membership in Southampton, he has but to strive Bethpage Black, which incorporates a bold-faced warning signal on the first tee field for its infamous, PGA-level issue.
“After this, I feel I’m going to need to strive my luck at it.”
Higher on the again 9
It has additionally been a very long time coming for the 54-year-old dad of 4, who persevered by arduous occasions initially of his music journey.
“Proper off the bat — simply battle, battle, battle. I used to be residing in a motor residence in my buddy’s yard. I simply bought divorced…so there was quite a lot of ‘when are you going to surrender the dream? You’re by no means going to make it in music,’” DelGuidice stated of his 20s.
“I simply wouldn’t bend. I don’t know if it’s an Italian factor or a Lengthy Island factor, or if it’s a genetic factor — You may’t inform me I can’t.”
The massive break began to come back whereas DelGuidice was two years into operating an LI primarily based Billy Joel cowl band, which caught the eye of the well-known Hicksville native himself in 2002.
They bonded over music, sharing the stage on occasion for the subsequent decade, and in 2013, Joel requested DelGuidice a life-changing query throughout a rehearsal on the Paramount Theater in Huntington.
“He stood up and he’s strolling away from the piano and he says, ‘I wish to speak to Mike’…A few the folks began gathering to listen to what was happening, and he stated, ‘No, I solely wish to speak to Mike alone.’”
Similar to that, DelGuidice, now fortunately remarried, formally joined Joel’s ranks and was wavin’ the dangerous occasions goodbye.
“The great thing about that second wasn’t even ‘oh wow, I’m attending to play with Billy Joel,’ it was an affirmation and a affirmation over everybody who stated I couldn’t do that.”
Driving fore-ward
No one was extra excited than Joel to be taught that DelGuidice was chosen to belt out the “Star Spangled Banner” because the Piano Man posted a “proud” photograph of his colleague to Instagram earlier within the month.
DelGuidice stated that he and Joel are of 1 thoughts in how the anthem must be correctly carried out.
“We’ve had many conversations about it. We’re each purists, so I strategy the anthem in a really purist manner,” stated DelGuidice, who just lately launched a brand new single, “Killing Me,” and actively performs independently throughout LI and the nation as nicely.
He has opted to sing a cappella, though it’s the most difficult rendition, which DelGuidice stated is totally make or break on the very first word.
“There’s not going to be any finagling of the melody or, you understand, doing any of the Whitney Houston stuff…it’s such a patriotic factor. You wish to do it proper, you wish to do it justice,” he stated, including that the hundreds in attendance are welcome to hitch in.
The time DelGuidice has spent on stage along with Joel has additionally inadvertently helped him put together for this second the place the entire world will probably be watching.
Throughout reveals, DelGuidice would sing the operatic aria “Nessun Dorma” to guide into the hit “Scenes From an Italian Restaurant” — all as a result of Joel cherished a YouTube model he posted years in the past.
Like with the upcoming anthem, DelGuidice had a pit in his abdomen to leap from 80s rock to a monitor profoundly carried out by Luciano Pavarotti in entrance of hundreds — however simply as he plans to shortly, DelGuidice rose to the event.
“That is the second — simply attempt to keep in it and begin on the proper word,” he stated, including what an honor it’s to signify the celebs and stripes.
“Ship it, simply ship it, and simply get by it — and check out to not drop useless of a coronary heart assault halfway by,” DelGuidice joked.
