Billy Joel, nicknamed the "Piano Man," is an iconic American singer-songwriter and pianist born in 1949.
With over 160 million records sold, Billy Joel is one of the world's best-selling music artists and the fourth-best-selling solo artist in the U.S.
Joel's career was significantly influenced by The Beatles, leading him to pursue music after their performance on The Ed Sullivan Show.
Biography
Early Life
William Martin Joel, known as Billy Joel, was born on May 9, 1949, in the Bronx, New York. He moved to Hicksville, Long Island, at the age of one. Joel's family background is rich in musical heritage; his father, Howard Joel, was an accomplished amateur classical pianist, while his mother, Rosalind, had English roots. The family faced significant challenges, including fleeing Nazi Germany, which shaped Joel's early life and perspectives.
Career
Billy Joel's music career took off after he was inspired by The Beatles' performance on The Ed Sullivan Show. He began playing in bands during his teenage years, notably joining the Echoes, where he honed his skills in rock music. Joel's breakthrough came with the release of his 1973 album "Piano Man," which solidified his status as a leading figure in pop and rock music. Over the years, he released numerous successful albums, including "The Stranger," "52nd Street," and "An Innocent Man," selling over 160 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling artists in history.
Personal Life
Billy Joel's personal life has been marked by several high-profile relationships. He was first married to Elizabeth Weber, followed by supermodel Christie Brinkley, with whom he shares a daughter, Alexa Ray Joel. After two more marriages, he is currently married to Alexis Roderick, with whom he has two daughters. Despite the ups and downs in his personal life, Joel has maintained friendships with his ex-wives, showcasing a commitment to family.
Legacy
Billy Joel's contributions to music have earned him numerous accolades, including six Grammy Awards and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He has also received several honorary doctorates from prestigious institutions, reflecting his impact on the music industry and culture. Known as the "Piano Man," Joel continues to be a beloved figure in American music, celebrated for his storytelling and melodic prowess.
Collected from open sources (4) · facts link to sources · AI-processed
Discography
And So It Goes: Songs of Folk & Lore2018
- 1.Old Lady Rose4:10
- 2.Loch Lomond4:35
- 3.5 Ontario Folk Songs: No. 2. The Maggie Hunter6:50
- 4.6 Canadian Folk Songs, Set 1, op. 41b: No. 6. Danse, mon moin, danse!3:04
- 5.3 Flower Songs: No. 3. Go, Lovely Rose3:44
- 6.Ae Fond Kiss2:28
- 7.Perchance to Dream: We'll Gather Lilacs3:30
- 8.Fogarty's Cove2:09
- 9.Pussywillows, Cat-tails3:53
- 10.6 Choral Folk Songs, op. 36b, H. 136: No. 5. I Love My Love4:19
- 11.5 Songs of the Newfoundland Outports: No. 5. Feller from Fortune2:50
- 12.3 Shakespeare Songs: No. 1. Full Fathom Five2:17
- 13.3 Shakespeare Songs: No. 2. The Cloud-capp'd Towers1:58
- 14.3 Shakespeare Songs: No. 3. Over Hill, over Dale1:10
- 15.John Brown's Body3:05
- 16.Prairie Songs: No. 6. The Old Church3:14
- 17.Auld Lang Syne3:30
- 18.She's Called Nova Scotia4:48
- 19.And So it Goes3:44
- 20.Fare Thee Well Love3:53
- 21.We Rise Again (from "The Rise & Follies of Cape Breton")3:20
The Essential Billy Joel2001
- 1.Piano Man5:39
- 2.You’re My Home3:13
- 3.Captain Jack7:18
- 4.The Entertainer3:40
- 5.Say Goodbye to Hollywood4:39
- 6.Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway)5:15
- 7.New York State of Mind6:05
- 8.She’s Always a Woman3:21
- 9.Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song)3:30
- 10.Only the Good Die Young3:56
- 11.Just the Way You Are4:51
- 12.Honesty3:54
- 13.My Life4:44
- 14.It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me2:58
- 15.You May Be Right4:16
- 16.Don’t Ask Me Why2:59
- 17.She’s Got a Way3:02
- 18.Allentown3:50
- 19.Goodnight Saigon7:05
- 20.An Innocent Man5:21
- 21.Uptown Girl3:18
- 22.The Longest Time3:43
- 23.Tell Her About It3:53
- 24.Leave a Tender Moment Alone3:57
- 25.A Matter of Trust4:11
- 26.Baby Grand4:06
- 27.I Go to Extremes4:23
- 28.We Didn’t Start the Fire4:50
- 29.Leningrad4:06
- 30.The Downeaster “Alexa”3:45
- 31.And So It Goes3:38
- 32.The River of Dreams4:08
- 33.All About Soul (remix)6:00
- 34.Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)3:33
- 35.Waltz #1 (Nunley’s Carousel)6:55
- 36.Invention in C Minor1:00
The Ultimate Collection2001
- 1.Program Start0:14
- 2.My Life5:40
- 3.It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me2:53
- 4.Piano Man (live)5:29
- 5.Everybody Loves You Now3:33
- 6.New York State of Mind (live)6:22
- 7.Honesty3:48
- 8.You May Be Right3:59
- 9.Uptown Girl3:22
- 10.Tell Her About It4:20
- 11.The River of Dreams4:10
- 12.The Longest Time4:02
- 13.We Didn’t Start the Fire4:28
- 14.Goodnight Saigon (live)5:30
- 15.Allentown3:41
- 16.All for Leyna3:53
- 17.Leave a Tender Moment Alone (live)5:21
- 18.A Matter of Trust4:48
- 19.Baby Grand4:19
- 20.I Go to Extremes4:10
- 21.Leningrad4:01
- 22.The Downeaster “Alexa”3:42
- 23.You’re Only Human (Second Wind)5:01
- 24.All About Soul (live)4:03
- 25.She’s Right on Time4:02
- 26.James3:38
- 27.Credits1:41
Fantasies & Delusions2001
- 1.Opus 3. Reverie (Villa D'Este)9:32
- 2.Opus 2. Waltz #1 (Nunley's Carousel)6:59
- 3.Opus 7. Aria (Grand Canal)11:09
- 4.Opus 6. Invention in C Minor1:04
- 5.Opus 1. Soliloquy (On a Separation)11:26
- 6.Opus 8. Suite for Piano: I. Innamorato7:47
- 7.Opus 8. Suite for Piano: II. Sorbetto1:31
- 8.Opus 8. Suite for Piano: III. Delusion3:37
- 9.Opus 5. Waltz #2 (Steinway Hall)7:01
- 10.Opus 9. Waltz #3 (For Lola)3:29
- 11.Opus 4. Fantasy (Film Noir)8:57
- 12.Opus 10. Air (Dublinesque)3:47
The Ultimate Collection2000
- 1.Just the Way You Are4:51
- 2.My Life4:43
- 3.It's Still Rock and Roll to Me2:57
- 4.An Innocent Man5:19
- 5.Piano Man5:38
- 6.Everybody Loves You Now3:11
- 7.The Entertainer3:40
- 8.Streetlife Serenader5:17
- 9.New York State of Mind6:04
- 10.Say Goodbye to Hollywood4:38
- 11.She's Got a Way3:01
- 12.Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)3:30
- 13.She's Always a Woman3:20
- 14.Honesty3:49
- 15.You May Be Right4:12
- 16.Don't Ask Me Why2:58
- 17.Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway)5:10
- 18.The Stranger5:10
- 19.Uptown Girl3:17
- 20.Tell Her About It3:50
- 21.The River of Dreams4:07
- 22.The Longest Time3:38
- 23.We Didn't Start the Fire4:48
- 24.Goodnight Saigon7:02
- 25.Allentown3:52
- 26.All for Leyna4:13
- 27.This Is the Time5:01
- 28.Leave a Tender Moment Alone3:54
- 29.A Matter of Trust4:10
- 30.Modern Woman3:50
- 31.Baby Grand4:04
- 32.I Go to Extremes4:22
- 33.Leningrad4:03
- 34.The Downeaster "Alexa"3:43
- 35.You're Only Human (Second Wind)4:48
- 36.All About Soul (remix)5:59
Early Years, Volume 21999
- 1.Cat4:20
- 2.Hotel St. George4:59
- 3.Land of Despair3:41
- 4.Further Than Heaven7:24
- 5.Country Boy2:38
- 6.Night After Day2:59
- 7.Hour of the Wolf11:48
- 8.4 O'Clock in the Morning3:08
Greatest Hits Collection Volume I, II & III - 1998 Australian Tour Commemorative Edition1998
- 1.Piano Man (acoustic)5:36
- 2.Captain Jack7:15
- 3.The Entertainer3:39
- 4.Say Goodbye to Hollywood3:55
- 5.New York State of Mind7:01
- 6.The Stranger4:10
- 7.Scenes From an Italian Restaurant7:33
- 8.Just the Way You Are3:36
- 9.Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song)3:28
- 10.Only the Good Die Young3:53
- 11.She’s Always a Woman3:18
- 12.My Life3:53
- 13.Big Shot3:46
- 14.Honesty3:52
- 15.You May Be Right4:13
- 16.It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me2:56
- 17.She’s Got a Way3:01
- 18.Pressure3:16
- 19.Allentown3:49
- 20.Goodnight Saigon7:00
- 21.Tell Her About It3:36
- 22.Uptown Girl3:15
- 23.The Longest Time3:37
- 24.You’re Only Human (Second Wind)4:49
- 25.The Night Is Still Young5:29
- 26.Keeping the Faith4:39
- 27.An Innocent Man5:19
- 28.A Matter of Trust4:12
- 29.Baby Grand4:06
- 30.This Is the Time5:01
- 31.Leningrad4:05
- 32.We Didn’t Start the Fire4:49
- 33.I Go to Extremes4:24
- 34.And So It Goes3:38
- 35.The Downeaster “Alexa”3:44
- 36.Shameless4:28
- 37.All About Soul (remix)6:01
- 38.Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)3:35
- 39.The River of Dreams4:12
- 40.To Make You Feel My Love3:54
- 41.Hey Girl3:57
- 42.Light as the Breeze6:14
The Complete Hits Collection: 1973–19971997
Tracklist not collected yet.
Greatest Hits, Volume III1997
- 1.Keeping the Faith4:39
- 2.An Innocent Man5:19
- 3.A Matter of Trust4:12
- 4.Baby Grand4:06
- 5.This Is the Time5:01
- 6.Leningrad4:05
- 7.We Didn’t Start the Fire4:49
- 8.I Go to Extremes4:24
- 9.And So It Goes3:38
- 10.The Downeaster “Alexa”3:44
- 11.Shameless4:28
- 12.All About Soul (remix)6:01
- 13.Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)3:35
- 14.The River of Dreams4:11
- 15.To Make You Feel My Love3:54
- 16.Hey Girl3:57
- 17.Light as the Breeze6:12
River of Dreams1993
- 1.No Man’s Land4:49
- 2.The Great Wall of China5:47
- 3.Blonde Over Blue4:55
- 4.A Minor Variation5:36
- 5.Shades of Grey4:12
- 6.All About Soul6:01
- 7.Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)3:34
- 8.The River of Dreams4:08
- 9.Two Thousand Years5:21
- 10.Famous Last Words4:55
The Early Billy Joel Collection1993
- 1.Cat3:51
- 2.Hotel St. George3:57
- 3.Land of Despair4:17
- 4.Further Than Heaven3:51
- 5.Country Boy3:25
- 6.Night After Day2:59
- 7.Hour of the Wolf4:15
- 8.Four O'Clock in the Morning4:19
- 9.She's Got a Way2:48
- 10.You Can Make Me Feel2:42
- 11.Everybody Loves You Now2:54
- 12.Why Judy Why3:04
- 13.Falling of the Rain2:42
- 14.Turn Around3:04
- 15.You Look So Good to Me2:27
- 16.Tomorrow is Today3:15
Night After Day1992
- 1.Night After Day3:09
- 2.Cat4:13
- 3.4 O’Clock in the Morning3:03
- 4.Further Than Heaven7:15
- 5.Land of Despair3:35
- 6.Hour of the Wolf11:38
- 7.Country Boy2:32
- 8.Hotel St. George4:52
Storm Front1989
Tracklist not collected yet.
Streetlife Serenade / 52nd Street1988
Tracklist not collected yet.
The Bridge1986
Tracklist not collected yet.
Greatest Hits, Volume I & Volume II1985
Tracklist not collected yet.
An Innocent Man1983
Tracklist not collected yet.
The Nylon Curtain1982
Tracklist not collected yet.
Glass Houses1980
Tracklist not collected yet.
52nd Street1978
Tracklist not collected yet.
The Stranger1977
Tracklist not collected yet.
Turnstiles1976
Tracklist not collected yet.
Streetlife Serenade1974
Tracklist not collected yet.
Piano Man1973
Tracklist not collected yet.
Cold Spring Harbor1971
Tracklist not collected yet.
Gallery
Label
- Record label
- Columbia Records
- Record label
- Philips Records
- Record label
- Sony Music
- Record label
- Sony Classical
Achievements
- Award
- Grammy Legend Award
- Award
- MusiCares Person of the Year
- Award
- Grammy Award for Album of the Year
- Award
- Kennedy Center Honors
- Award
- Gershwin Prize
- Award
- Johnny Mercer Award
- Award
- honorary doctor of the Hofstra University
- Award
- honorary doctor of Syracuse University
- Award
- honorary doctor of the State University of New York at Stony Brook
- Award
- star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
- Award
- ASCAP Foundation Champion Award
- Award
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Groups
- Attilacurrent
- The Hasslescurrent
- The Lost Souls1964–1967
Similar artists
Archive
Passport
accordion, piano, guitar, organ, voice, synthesizer, piano accordion, keyboard instrument
Identifiers & aliases
Also known as: Billie Joel, Joel, Billy, William Martin Joel
William Martin Joel is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Nicknamed the "Piano Man", after his 1973 signature song of the same name, Joel has had a successful career as a solo artist since the 1970s. From 1971 to 1993, he released 12 entirely self-written studio albums spanning the genres of pop and rock, and in 2001 released a one-off studio album of classical compositions. With over 160 million records sold worldwide, Joel is one of the world's best-selling music artists and is the fourth-best-selling solo artist in the United States. His 1985 compilation album, Greatest Hits – Volume I & Volume II, is one of the best-selling albums in the U.S.
All links
Opinions of fans — not verified facts.
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