For 37 years, one man has helped provide the soundtrack to New York Knicks games without most fans ever knowing his face. Ray Castaldi, 63, has been the resident organist at Madison Square Garden for nearly four decades, and as the Knicks push deep into the playoffs, the lifelong supporter says he is thrilled to watch them thrive from his familiar perch.
Castaldi has had a front-row seat to Knicks basketball that few people could match. From his spot inside the Garden, he has watched the team since the days of Patrick Ewing and Latrell Sprewell, sitting through generations of players and seasons. It is, he said, a wonderful spot, and the point of view from which he has experienced the game for all these years.
His job is to help drive the energy in the building, and the tune he leans on most is a familiar one. The main thing he plays during games, he said, is defense, fitting for a Knicks side known as a strong defensive team. It is also one of the loudest things the crowd will chant, and the call of defense quickly becomes contagious around the arena.
The current playoff run carries extra meaning for Castaldi. The last time the Knicks won the NBA championship, back in 1973, he was just 10 years old. Originally from Connecticut, he grew up alongside the team, and seeing them reach the Finals again has stirred a mix of disbelief and excitement that he clearly does not take for granted at this stage of his life.
Now the Finals are not just a childhood memory but something unfolding right in front of him. He was set to be back at work for the latest chapter, playing inside the Garden during the watch party for the Knicks Finals Game 2. After decades in the role, he remains as invested as any supporter in the stands on a big night.
Castaldi also has a personal touch he saves for the right moment. His favorite tune to play is the song Not Like Us, which he keeps for the very end of a game. There is a little message in it, he explained, but he only plays it when the Knicks are winning, turning it into a small celebration rather than a soundtrack for just any result.
Asked whether he would get to play it on this particular night, Castaldi could only hope. He said he certainly hoped so, leaving the answer, like the game itself, to be decided on the court. For a fan who has spent 37 years watching from one of the best seats in the house, it would be one more reason to celebrate.