Billy Joel Biography

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Billy Joel is a singer, songwriter, and pianist. Billy Joel has had many hits in his career beginning in 1973 to semi-recording retirement in 1993. He is one of the very few artists that have had top 10 hits in the 1970's, 1980's, and 1990's. He has won six Grammy awards, sold over 100 million records and is the sixth best-selling artist in the U.S. Joel has been inducted in to the Songwriter's Hall of Fame and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Joel has had an interest in music since his childhood, especially classical. He took piano lessons at an early age and joined his first band, The Echoes, when he was 14. In the late 1960's he performed with The Hassles and released two albums with the group. After losing a record contract with Attila, he became severely depressed and tried to commit suicide by ingesting furniture polish; upon this he was admitted to Meadowbrook Hospital. The suicide note he left became the lyrics to his song, "Tomorrow is Today".

Joel's first album, "Cold Spring Harbor" was released in 1971. Joel fled to LA with Elizabeth Weber and played at the Executive Lounge under the name Bill Martin. He married Elizabeth in 1971. He had hits like, "She's Got a Way" and "Everybody Loves You Now" once they were released as a live performance in 1981. Once he was in LA he made some connections and met up with Columbia Records who bought out his contract with Ripp. His brief tenure in LA inspired his signature song "Piano Man". The "Piano Man" album was released in 1973 and was certified gold. It has sold over 4 million copies.

Joel stayed in LA and wrote "Streetlife Serenade" which was his second album under Columbia Records. "Turnstiles" was released in 1976 which produced "Angry Young Man" that is a mainstay for his concerts year after year. In 1977, "The Stranger" was released and became his first top 10 album as it rose to number two on the charts. The album was certified multi-platinum. He received two Grammy nominations for "Just the Way You Are" which won a Grammy for Song of the Year and "Stranger" won for Record of the Year.

Joel's next album became his number one album, "52nd Street". This album won Grammy awards for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance and Album of the Year. "Glass Houses" was his next big hit and became his first Billboard number one song in 1980. "Glass Houses" won the Grammy for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance. His next release was "Songs in the Attic" which consisted of live performances of less well-known songs.

"The Nylon Curtain" was released and was said to be his most ambitious album. His first video special was recorded in 1982 and Joel and Elizabeth divorced with Elizabeth taking half of his assets. "The Nylon Curtain" went to number seven on the charts with singles "Allentown", "Goodnight Saigon" and "Pressure". "Allentown" became the most played radio song of 1982 and the most successful song from the album.

At this time, Joel took a much needed vacation and met Christie Brinkley while relaxing-the two eventually became a couple and were married in 1985. "Uptown Girl" was written when he returned from his vacation. It became an instant hit. "An Innocent Man" album was released and released his second number one Billboard hit, "Tell Her About It". The album went on to reach number four on the charts and had six top 30 singles. The next album Joel released was his "Greatest Hits Vol. 1 & 2" which included two new songs, "You're Only Human (Second Wind)" and "The Night is Still Young". These two new songs were released as singles to support the album. The greatest hits album was very successful. It sold over 20 million copies and became the top selling double album of all time by a solo artist. It was certified diamond by RIAA and is the sixth best selling album in the U.S.

"The Bridge" was released in 1986. Ray Charles, Steve Winwood, and Cyndi Lauper appeared in the album. In 1988, Joel did voice work for Oliver & Company. In June 1987, he had six live performances in the Soviet Union the first rock act to perform since the Berlin Wall went up.

The first single from "Storm Front" was "We Didn't Start the Fire" and was released in September of 1989. This song became Joel's third number one hit in the U.S. and the album became the first number one since "Glass Houses". "Storm Front" produced many hits including, "I Go to Extremes", "Leningrad", and "And So It Goes". In 1993, Joel was working on "River of Dreams"; Christie Brinkley actually painted the cover for the album which is a series of scenes from each of the songs in the album.

Billy Joel went in to semi-retirement beginning in 1994. His bassist committed suicide in 1995-he had played with the band from "Turnstiles" to "The Bridge". In 1999, Joel performed at New York's Madison Square Garden on New Year's Eve and this was considered to be his last solo concert. In 2001, "Fantasies & Delusions" was released which was a collection of piano pieces all written by Joel and performed by Richard Joo.

Joel has toured with Elton John on a series of Face to Face tours. In 2005, "My Lives" was released which was a compilation of live versions of songs, b-tracks, and demos. In 2006, Joel began a tour across the U.S. He is featuring a sampling of songs throughout his career. He has 12 sold-out concerts booked at Madison Square Garden in New York City!

In June of 2006, "12 Gardens Live" was released which is a double album of live recordings from a show at Madison Square Garden during his 2006 tour.

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