For more than 30 years, fans have heard Ray Castoldi at Knicks and Rangers games at Madison Square Garden. But what they may not have realized, is when the crowd roars, “Defense," they're often responding to him.

Castoldi has played the organ and run the music at the “World's Most Famous Arena” since 1989, after playing nightclub gigs in the city.

What You Need To Know

  • Ray Castoldi has been the organist at Madison Square Garden for 36 years

  • He plays the instrument for many Knicks and Rangers games

  • The organ at Madison Square Garden is connected to a computer which gives Castoldi access to even more sounds to amplify the instrument

“And I can still remember lifting the curtain for the first time and thinking, ‘OK, I’m doing this for the Knicks now,’” he said.

Coincidentally, that first game was against the Boston Celtics, who the Knicks are playing in the second round of the playoffs.

The organ Castoldi uses has been rigged for exactly what he needs, bringing an instrument thousands of years old into the 21st century.

“So there’s lots of nice sounds inside the organ right here, beautiful sounds," he said as he demonstrated. "But I also augment it with this program in the computer.”

And within an arms reach of his seat is a board with shortcuts for songs and sounds that play during games. That includes the songs for each player when they score a basket.

Some of the Knicks players requested the songs themselves, like Josh Hart.

“Josh wanted ‘Heart of the City’ [by Jay-Z]," said Castoldi. "That was definitely Josh.”

While the Knicks game place how to win, Castoldi is up in the rafters on his headset coordinating with the rest of his team on what to play next during games.

“There’s a lot of behind the scenes discussion about how the game is unfolding, where we are and what’s going to work right now,” he said.

His ears hear every note, but he said he keeps is eyes on the ball.

“So my neck is turned this way so I can keep my eyes on the game," he said.

Yes, he said, it's a little tricky.

The Garden is known for its fans and Castoldi said he feels a difference having the music performed live.

“The way I play defense in the fourth quarter is going to be very different from how I play it in the first quarter," he said. "I’m really going to be hitting those keys hard, and really try to drive them along and try to get them to yell defense.”

He never thought he’d be here for year 36. But here he is, hoping the team makes a deep playoff run.

“I still pinch myself on days like these when you have the Knicks in the playoffs and you just know that today is the day," he said. "We’re going to have the place lit. We’re going to have the fans on fire. I can’t believe I do this for a living.”