Billy Joel, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and Madison Square Garden executives held a press conference earlier today. They announced that Billy Joel would be joining the Knicks and the Rangers on their franchise list.

This means he will play a show every month at the Garden for as long as fans can stand it. The run begins with four shows on January 27, February 3, March 21 and April 18 — all of which have sold out. A fifth show has been announced for his 65th birthday bash on May 9 with more shows to be announced later, according to The New York Times.

Joel has performed at the Garden 46 times, including a run of 12 sold-out shows in 2006, which is a record for the venue.

About his connection with the shows there he said, "Performing at Madison Square Garden is a thrilling experience. I've played different venues all over the world, but there's no place like coming home to the Garden. Since my first show in 1978, I've always looked forward to the energy of the crowd. I'm honored to be joining the Madison Square Garden family and look forward to taking the stage of the newly transformed Garden to create many more memorable nights."

If his track record is any indication, demand for these shows will probably last the rest of the piano man's life. Leading up to his residency, he has a New Years' Eve show at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn and a stretch of shows in Florida.

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