In 1975, Billy Joel started looking for a new band. He had already released two studio albums with minimal success. He was looking for a New York sound for his next record, "Turnstiles." His first choice to build the band was a fellow long islander and bass player, Doug Stegmeyer. He asked Doug if he knew some musicians to help round out the band; Doug replied, "You know them already." Doug suggested former band mates Liberty DeVitto and Russell Javors, two guys Billy had known well from his Long Island Music scene. The band began to rehearse and truly become a unit.
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Phil Ramone and Joel coined DeVitto, Cannata, Javors, and Stegmeyer as The Lords of 52nd Street. They went into Columbia Studios to record "The Stranger." The album was a commercial success; it holds an RIAA diamond certification (10x platinum) and several #1 singles, including, Only The Good Die Young and Just The Way You Are. The Lords of 52nd Street, alongside the Piano Man, led an international tour and performed at famous arenas, including Wembley Stadium, Royal Albert Hall, the Sydney Opera House, Nassau Coliseum, Madison Square Garden, Carnegie Hall, Budokan, the LA Forum, and many others. Joel and The Lords of 52nd Street returned to the studio. They recorded Grammy award-winning albums, including 52nd Street, Glass Houses, and The Nylon Curtain. The band recorded and toured with Joel for over a decade.

It wasn't until their induction into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame that they decided to reunite after a 30-year separation. After their 2014 hall of fame induction, The Lords of 52nd Street picked up their instruments again. They began performing in front of live audiences together. The Lord of 52nd Street has been touring regularly since their return in early 2016, and they do not plan to stop anytime soon. Fans declared that Richie Cannata, Liberty DeVitto, and Russell Javor's live performances sound like the original recordings with Billy Joel, if not better. The Lords of 52nd Street regularly perform for live audiences in public and private events and continue to awe fans worldwide.