Billy Joel Biography

Billy Joel is an American musician, singer-songwriter, and composer and one of the most famous and best-selling artists of all time. Nominated for no less than 23 Grammy awards, he won 6 of them, along with multiple other accolades.

Early Life

William Martin “Billy” Joel was born in The Bronx, New York, on May 9, 1949. With his mother encouragement, he agreed to take piano lessons as a child. As a teenager, he took on boxing but quit after he broke his nose in a match. While in high school, Billy began playing gigs to help support his mother. Due to nonattendance, he never managed to graduate and preferred to pursue music instead.

Career Beginnings

At 16 years old, influenced by the Britsh invasion at the time, he joined the Echoes, a cover band. After several failed band attempts, Joel entered into a period of depression and attempted to end his life. He was checked into a hospital where he received psychiatric help. In 1971, Billy returned solo with the debut album Cold Spring Harbor under Family Productions. Although the album was supported by a small tour, his label was experiencing financial difficulties. The following year he earned his living by playing piano around the country. He was noticed by Columbia Records which offered him a record deal. Piano Man was released in 1973 and slowly reached its way into the charts. After a US tour, Joel issued the album  Streetlife Serenade followed by Turnstiles. 

Breakthrough

The album that changed everything for Billy was, The Stranger. Released in 1977, it reached number 2 on the charts and was certified platinum in 1 year. It spawned several hits like Just the Way You Are which won two Grammy awards for Record of the Year and Song of the Year. Next, was the number 1 LP 52nd Street which was a recipient of the Grammy award for Album of the Year. Starting the 80s, he arrived with the edgier Glass Houses, spawning hits like It’s Still Rock’n’Roll to Me and won another Grammy. Following the live album Songs in the Attic, a motorcycle accident and a divorce, he revealed The Nylon Curtain. Although a commercial letdown the album did receive critical praise. An Innocent Man brought Joel back to platinum status followed by The Bridge in 1986 and a major tour in Russia.

Turmoil

In 1988, followed a period with lawsuits against his manager and health issues. Nonetheless, that did not stop Billy from releasing Storm Front. Joel made significant changes and started making music differently. We Didn’t Start the Fire, a tale historical events, was number 1 hit in the country as well as the album. In 1990 he supported the project with a tour, after which Joel was awarded the Grammy Living Legend award. After another lawsuit with a different manager, he issued the hit River of Dreams. In 2001, Billy revealed the first classical album called Fantasies & Delusions. Giving it a try as a children book author, however, his personal life was unstable. He was checked into a rehab clinic for his alcohol abuse. The singer returned and stuck to performing and touring to this date, releasing only one song called, All My Life.

Photo credit: Ultimate Classic Rock