Billy Joel does Joel

Huntington, N.Y. – The surprise guest at a free concert of classical compositions by Billy Joel was – Billy Joel.

The actual headliner at Friday’s outdoor concert at Heckscher Park on Long Island was Richard Joo, a British-Korean pianist who arranged and performed Joel’s music on the album “Fantasies and Delusions” which was released on the Sony Classical label in 2001.

Joel strolled on to the stage during the second half of the concert, sat down at an electronic keyboard and joined Joo for a duet.

The piano man also promised to buy a piano for the Huntington Arts Council, which co-sponsors the summer concert series.

“I’m known for my philanthropy,” Joel told the audience of about 300, “and I’m going to buy them a new piano.”

Lt. Dan Band jams

Fort Carson, Colo. – Actor Gary Sinise brought his Lt. Dan Band to this Army post to show his support for troops in Iraq.

“It’s important we support our defenders. It’s a very serious time in our country and the world,” he said.

About 1,800 turned out Saturday to watch the band, a spinoff of Sinise’s role in “Forrest Gump.”

“I just want to see what Lt. Dan is doing now. See if they’re any good,” said Sgt. Erik Bull.

“I think they’re actually surprised when they hear the band,” Sinise said. “I don’t think they expect very much.”

Novelist’s son killed

Tel Aviv, Israel – Staff. Sgt. Uri Grossman, 20, the son of one of Israel’s best-known novelists, David Grossman, was killed by an anti-tank missile Saturday while fighting with the Israel Defense Forces in Lebanon.

David Grossman, whose novels and political essays have been translated into 20 languages, is an outspoken advocate of conciliation with the Arabs and of ending Israel’s occupation of the West Bank. He initially backed Israel’s military response to the Hezbollah attack on July 12 in which two soldiers were seized and three killed. But on Thursday, he joined two other prominent authors, Amos Oz and A.B. Yehoshua, at a news conference in Tel Aviv to call for a halt to the fighting. A day later, an expanded ground offensive was launched to seize more territory before a cease-fire.

The conflict has claimed more than 900 lives in Lebanon and Israel.

Happy to be a bachelor

New York – Prince Albert of Monaco said Sunday that despite recent rumors linking him romantically to South African swimmer Charlene Whitstock, he doesn’t see marriage in his future.

“I have no plans in the near or distant future,” the 48-year-old monarch told ABC News’ “Good Morning America.”

“Any time I’m seen with a pretty young woman by my side more than once, then everybody flashes the ‘M’ word as you say. Then it becomes very difficult to have a relationship with someone in any semi-public or private way.”

The prince is the second child of Prince Rainier and American film star Grace Kelly, who were married 50 years ago. He was visiting the U.S. this weekend to attend an international leadership conference and a celebration of the 50th anniversary of his late mother’s last movie, “High Society.”