Billy Joel

Billy Joel
Name	Billy Joel
Caption	Joel performing in 2009
Birth name	William Martin Joel
Birth date	9 May 1949
Birth place	The Bronx, New York City, U.S.
Occupation	Singer, songwriter, pianist
Years active	1964–present
Spouse	* Elizabeth Weber Small (m. 1973; div. 1982) * Christie Brinkley (m. 1985; div. 1994) * Katie Lee (m. 2004; div. 2010) * Alexis Roderick (m. 2015)
Genre	* Rock * Pop * Soft rock * Piano rock
Label	* Columbia * Family Productions * Sony Classical
Associated acts	* The Echoes * The Hassles * Attila
Website	billyjoel.com

Billy Joel is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist, widely regarded as one of the most successful and influential musicians of the 20th century. With a career spanning over five decades, he has sold over 150 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time. His catalog of hit songs and acclaimed albums has earned him numerous accolades, including six Grammy Awards and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Early life and education

William Martin Joel was born in The Bronx and raised in Hicksville, New York, on Long Island. His father, a classical pianist who had fled Nazi Germany, and his mother strongly encouraged his early musical training. He began piano lessons at a young age, showing a particular affinity for the instrument despite a brief foray into boxing. After seeing The Beatles perform on The Ed Sullivan Show, he decided to pursue a career in music, eventually dropping out of Hicksville High School to play in local bands like The Echoes and The Hassles.

Musical career

His professional career began in the late 1960s with the bands The Hassles and the short-lived heavy rock duo Attila. After a period of struggle, he signed with Family Productions and released his debut solo album, Cold Spring Harbor, in 1971. His breakthrough came with the 1973 album Piano Man, whose title track became his signature song. He then signed with Columbia Records, launching a string of multi-platinum albums including The Stranger (1977), 52nd Street (1978), and Glass Houses (1980). Major tours, like the 1987 Soviet Union tour documented in A Matter of Trust, and his ongoing record-breaking residency at Madison Square Garden have cemented his status as a premier live performer.

Musical style and influences

His music is a sophisticated blend of rock, pop, classical, and jazz traditions, characterized by intricate piano work and narrative lyricism. Key influences include The Beatles, Ray Charles, and Bob Dylan, as well as classical composers like Ludwig van Beethoven and Frédéric Chopin. This fusion is evident in ambitious works like the suite "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" and the historical epic "We Didn't Start the Fire." His songwriting often explores themes of blue-collar life, personal struggle, and Long Island geography, connecting with a broad, international audience.

Personal life

He has been married four times, to business manager Elizabeth Weber Small, model Christie Brinkley, food critic Katie Lee, and financial executive Alexis Roderick. His high-profile marriage to Brinkley produced daughter Alexa Ray Joel, who is also a musician. He has faced well-documented struggles with depression and substance abuse, topics he has addressed in his music. An avid motorcyclist and boater, he has lived primarily on Long Island and in Florida, maintaining a strong connection to his New York roots while also becoming a notable philanthropist, particularly for educational causes.

Legacy and impact

He is considered a defining voice of his generation, with a profound influence on subsequent artists across genres, from Elton John (with whom he shared the famed "Face to Face" tours) to modern pop and rock pianists. His commercial success is historic; he is one of only a few artists to have top-selling albums in three different decades and holds the record for most performances by a single artist at Madison Square Garden. Honors include the Grammy Legend Award, the Kennedy Center Honors, and a Gershwin Prize for Popular Song from the Library of Congress.

Discography

* Cold Spring Harbor (1971) * Piano Man (1973) * Streetlife Serenade (1974) * Turnstiles (1976) * The Stranger (1977) * 52nd Street (1978) * Glass Houses (1980) * The Nylon Curtain (1982) * An Innocent Man (1983) * The Bridge (1986) * Storm Front (1989) * River of Dreams (1993) * Fantasies & Delusions (2001)

Category:American rock singers Category:American pop singers Category:Grammy Award winners Category:1949 births Category:Living people