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and roll music, coupled with humorous bits that involved lyric substitutions and audience participation. These "bits" would become commonplace at many dueling piano clubs over the years, as a staple of the industry. From there, many dueling piano clubs and chains opened, and there are currently well
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A typical dueling pianos show normally features two to four piano players. They can work in teams throughout the night, taking audience requested songs. Generally, tips are expected when a song request is made, and priority may be given to a song with a larger denomination bill. Upon a tip, the
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players will often play the fight song of whatever college is requested too, which often results in bidding wars between alumni and students of various universities in attendance. Patrons can also request that an audience member be brought on stage. Generally, this is to celebrate a birthday,
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Many of the songs requested do not fall into the typical "piano bar" category, and many dueling piano players pride themselves on their ability to perform songs that are generally not considered as such, like those from hard rock and rap genres.
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Literal dueling pianos can be verified as early as the late 1890s, when ragtime piano players would actually "duel" in an effort to see who could play better and faster. In 1933, when B.H. O'Brien and
Charlie Cantrell opened
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over 200 different clubs across the United States, and even more in other countries. The name of the concept has also evolved to be called "
140:, as one piano player will teach the crowd "sign language" that accompanies the song, then bringing up an audience member to demonstrate.
132:"Bits" are comedic routines or audience participation, many woven in the songs themselves. A commonly used bit can be found in the song "
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Commonly requested songs at a dueling piano bar can include almost any genre, and are generally accompanied by a monetary tip.
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291:"In the Trenches, Arts Commandos Perform Valiantly for Local Nonprofits"
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In 1986, a piano bar called Dallas Alley (aka "Alley Cats") opened in
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have substantial sound systems, and most of the songs performed are
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Video
Example of Dueling Pianos, "The Devil Went Down To Georgia"
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Dueling piano players at
Tickler's Bar in New Orleans
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266:Stuertz, Mark (14 October 2004).
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191:Friends in Low Places
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161:Don't Stop Believin'
181:Bennie and the Jets
176:Great Balls of Fire
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226:Bohemian Rhapsody
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41:classic rock
29:grand pianos
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171:Tiny Dancer
116:Show format
110:incarnation
97:New Orleans
86:New Orleans
69:New Orleans
315:Categories
300:2023-07-06
253:References
156:Examples:
106:sing-along
33:piano bars
274:12 August
247:Piano bar
166:Piano Man
241:See also
216:Lucille
75:History
53:country
49:R&B
136:", by
57:Dallas
45:Top 40
321:Piano
149:Songs
61:Texas
51:, or
276:2014
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