The case of the missing ‘Piano Man’

Fans and friends of Greater Pittston’s own “Piano Man” Lee Strubeck may have been wondering where he’s been. Lee, the West Pittston native and Wyoming Area Warrior class of ’72 grad, has been fulfilling a career-long dream by playing in piano bars on cruise ships. He’s been at it since February with just one three-week break in May.

Lee, 54, said he tried to get cruise gigs back in his 20s but never made the right connections. “Then I had kids,” he said in a recent phone interview from Key West, Florida, where he was waiting to depart for another week, “and wasn’t able to go. They’re finally in college now, and they don’t need Daddy around like they used to. I said to myself, if I don’t do it now, I never will.”

Earlier this year he sent a promo package with a DVD to four different talent agencies. Proship, from Canada, responded. Within a week he had an offer. His first contract was three months from February to May. Then, after three weeks home, he went back to sea with another three-month contract in June. “Since there were few gigs back home, I extended my contract for two-more months. It’s a steady paycheck.”

Lee said he loves the work, but finds it hard being away from friends and family. “I have to find a way to get my wife onboard. She plays a mean bass guitar and sings like a bird. I’m working on it. One good thing is that my family gets to be with me free for a month on my next contract. Not a bad deal.”

Lee has been working a piano bar on Holland America 1200-passenger cruise ships, including the Statendam, Ryndam and Noordam.

He’s been to Alaska, Vancouver, Canada, Puerto Vallarta, Aruba, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Cozumel, Costa Rica, Cartagena, Columbia, Cayman Islands, Belize; Cabo San Lucas, Acapulco, and Costa Maya, Mexico; Ft. Lauderdale, Tampa and Key West, Florida.

“The weather for the most part is hot, hot, hot! I’m not a sun worshipper, so I’m usually finding an air-conditioned room or looking for shade from the sun.”

In Alaska he was on local TV news when a reporter came onboard for a feature on what it’s like on cruise ships.

The coolest thing he’s experienced is the Panama Canal, at least the first couple of times. “I’ve actually been through there about 14 times, but the first two were quite amazing and educational. It did get old after awhile. My second favorite was Acapulco, Mexico. The setting is just right. I got to see the cliff divers and Sylvester Stallone’s house. I think if I wanted to move and live somewhere other than beautiful Northeast, it would be Vancouver, Canada. They have mountains like Colorado and the water like Miami Beach. Beautiful scenery.”

Lee performs his piano man act every night from 8 p.m. to midnight, seven days a week. He said the show is close to what fans back here were used to seeing. “But, I’ve been forced to broaden my repertoire. I thought I sang and played a lot of songs, but when you play for people all over the world, you’re bound to get stumped. When I don’t know a song, I search around the ship to find it. I do play Name that Tune about three days a week. It’s very popular.”

His days at sea are free. “I’m free all day long so I do what I want when I want to. I practice my piano and am constantly organizing my play list. There’s a gym and a spa that I go to.”

He has his own cabin. “It’s not gigantic by any means, but I have nice size bed, TV, bathroom and shower. Everything I need.”

Lee offered an answer to the inevitable cruise question: how much weight did you gain. “I actually lost weight. The first three weeks the food array was like a new toy and I ate about four times a day. I cooled down after awhile and watch what I eat and how much. The gym helps and I use the stairs instead of the elevators.”

Lee will be home for the month of December and is available for Christmas parties as a solo act or with a duo or trio.