Born William Martin Joel on May 9, 1949, in Bronx, New York, the son an accomplished classical pianist, playing piano was part of life from birth.  Being teased through his childhood for playing piano Billy took up boxing as a teenager and had 22 amateur Golden Gloves fights before he quit pursuing music.

Billy Joel - American Music Legend

“Joel's induction into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the Long Island Music Hall of Fame have further solidified his status as one of America's leading music icons.”

Born William Martin Joel on May 9, 1949, in Bronx, New York, the son an accomplished classical pianist, playing piano was part of life from birth.  Being teased through his childhood for playing piano Billy took up boxing as a teenager and had 22 amateur Golden Gloves fights before he quit pursuing music.  From 1963 to 1970 Billy Joel participated in a number of marginally successful bands. The disappointments of his musical efforts lead to depression at age 22 that culminated in a suicide attempt and hospital stay.

A bad contract with Family Productions and botched mastering of his first solo album, Cold Spring Harbor in 1971 spurred a move from New York to Los Angeles. Elizabeth Small and Billy Joel married in L.A. in May of 1971.  Times were rough and Joel took on the name Bill Martin in 1972 to work as a lounge piano player.

Columbia Records became aware of and signed Billy Joel in 1973.  Piano Man was released and eventually went on to sell more than four million units. The Piano Man single was Joel's first to reach the Top 40.  His second album, Streetlife Serenade, went to number 35 on the charts.  During 1975 Joel returned to the Big Apple and his third album, Turnstiles, was released with New York State of Mind being his 1976 outstanding single.

Billy Joel – Attaining Stardom

Mainstream stardom arrived with The Stranger in 1977.  The album ranked #2 and went multi-platinum.  Just the Way You Are won Joel his first of six Grammy Awards for Record of the Year and Song of the Year. His 52^nd Street album, released in 1978, held the #1 spot in the U.S. for eight consecutive weeks and sold more than two million units in the first 30 days on the market. This effort won Joel the Grammy for Album of the Year in 1979.  Glass Houses spent six weeks as #1 and won the Best Rock Vocal Performance, Male Grammy Award in 1980 followed by Songs in the Attic album released in the fall of 1981.

A major motorcycle accident started 1982, was followed by divorce in July and ended with the release of The Nylon Curtain that fall. The album peaked at #7 album with Allentown the only single becoming a radio favorite.  Multi-platinum status was regained in 1983 with his tenth album, An Innocent Man which echoed 1950's doo-wop with hits Uptown Girl.

Christina Brinkley and Joel married March 23, 1985. Greatest Hits, Volume 1 & 2 was released and became the top-selling double album by a solo artist. His 1986 album The Bridge also did well in the charts.

After a disappointing tour of the U.S.S.R. in 1987 Joel went quite until the fall of 1989 when Storm Front was released and went to #1 on the charts.

In 1991 Billy Joel was honored with the Grammy Living Legend Award and inducted into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame in 1992. Originally called Joel's final album, River of Dreams was released in 1993 and charted at #1. On August 25, 1994, Billy and Christie divorced. Fantasies & Delusions, an album of classical piano music written entirely by Joel, topped Classical charts at #1 in 2001.

Depression, alcoholism and heartache continues

From 2002 through 2004 Joel crashed cars three times. He entered a substance abuse center in Connecticut in 2002 and the Betty Ford Clinic in 2005. At 55 Joel married 23-year-old Katie Lee. Touring extensively since 2006 in March 2009, Billy Joel resumed touring with Elton John, split with Katie and received news of his daughter's hospitalization after a suicide attempt.

Did you know…?

….The suicide note he left in 1970 became the lyrics of Tomorrow Is Today

….The retired number 12 hanging in the Madison Square Garden commemorates Billy Joel's record sold out performances at the Garden.

…..Joel wrote the child's book, Goodnight, My Angel: A Lullaby in 2004

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