Billy Joel

Billy Joel
Joel in 2009
Born	William Martin Joel (1949-05-09)May 9, 1949 New York City,U.S.
Other names	The Piano Man
Occupations	Singer songwriter pianist
Years active	1964–present
Spouses	Elizabeth Weber Small ​ ​ (m.1973;div.1982)​ Christie Brinkley ​ ​ (m.1985;div.1994)​ Katie Lee ​ ​ (m.2004;div.2009)​ Alexis Roderick ​ (m.2015)​
Children	3, includingAlexa Ray
Relatives	Alexander Joel(half-brother) Karl Amson Joel(grandfather)
Family	Joel family
Musical career
Origin	Hicksville, New York,U.S.
Genres	Rock soft rock pop rock
Instrument(s)	Vocals piano
Labels	Columbia Family Productions Sony Classical
Member of	Billy Joel Band
Website	billyjoel
Signature

William Martin Joel(born May 9, 1949) is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Commonly nicknamed the "Piano Man"after his signature 1973song of the same name,Joel has had a successful music career as a solo artist since the 1970s. From 1971 to 1993, he released 12 studio albums that spanned the genres of pop and rock music, and in 2001 released a one-off studio album of classical music compositions. Joel is one of the world'sbest-selling music artistsand the fourth-best-selling solo artist in the United States,with over 160 million records sold worldwide. His 1985 compilation album,Greatest Hits – Volume I & Volume II,is one of thebest-selling albums in the United States.

Joel was born inthe Bronxin New York City and grew up onLong Island,where he began taking piano lessons at his mother's insistence. After dropping out of high school to pursue a music career, Joel took part in two short-lived bands,The HasslesandAttila,before signing a record deal with Family Productions and starting off a solo career in 1971 with his first releaseCold Spring Harbor.In 1972, Joel caught the attention ofColumbia Recordsafter a live radio performance of the song "Captain Jack"became popular inPhiladelphia,prompting him to sign a new record deal with the company and release his second album,Piano Man,in 1973. AfterStreetlife SerenadeandTurnstilesin 1974 and 1976, respectively, Joel released his critical and commercial breakthrough album,The Stranger,in 1977, which became Columbia's best-selling release, selling over 10 million copies and spawning the hit singles, "Just the Way You Are","Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)","Only the Good Die Young",and"She's Always a Woman";the album also includes the popular album track"Scenes from an Italian Restaurant",one of Joel's favorite of his own songs, which has become a firm staple of his live shows,and "Vienna",also one of Joel's personal favoritesand as of 2022 one of his most streamed songs on the internet.

Joel's next album,52nd Street,was released in 1978 and it soon became his first album to peak at No. 1 on theBillboard200chart. Joel released his seventh studio album,Glass Houses,in 1980 in an attempt to further establish himself as a rock artist; this release featured "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me"(Joel's first single to top theBillboardHot 100chart), "You May Be Right","Don't Ask Me Why",and"Sometimes a Fantasy".His next album,The Nylon Curtain,was released in 1982, and stemmed from a desire to create more lyrically and melodically ambitious music.An Innocent Man,released in 1983, served as an homage to genres of music that Joel had grown up with in the 1950s, such asrhythm and bluesanddoo-wop;this release featured "Tell Her About It","Uptown Girl"and"The Longest Time",three of his best-known songs. After his 12th album, 1993'sRiver of Dreams,he largely retired from producing studio material, although he went on to releaseFantasies and Delusions,a 2001 album featuring classical compositions composed by him and performed by British-Korean pianistRichard Hyung-ki Joo.Joel provided voiceover work in 1988 for theDisneyanimated filmOliver & Company,in which he played the character Dodger with his song, "Why Should I Worry?", and contributed to the soundtracks to several different films, includingEasy Money(1983),Ruthless People(1986), andHoneymoon in Vegas(1992). Joel returned to composing new music with the 2024 single “Turn the Lights Back On”.

Across the years of his solo career, Joel produced 33 self-written Top 40 hits in the U.S.,three of which ( "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me","Tell Her About It",and"We Didn't Start the Fire") topped theBillboardHot 100. Joel has been nominated for 23Grammy Awards,winning 6 of them, includingAlbum of the Yearfor52nd Street.Joel was inducted into theSongwriters Hall of Fame(1992), theRock and Roll Hall of Fame(1999),and theLong Island Music Hall of Fame(2006). In 2001, Joel received theJohnny MercerAward from the Songwriters Hall of Fame.In 2013, Joel received theKennedy Center Honorsfor influencing American culture through the arts. Since the advent of his solo career, Joel has had a successful touring career, holding live performances across the globe. In 1987, he became one of the first artists to hold a rock tour in theSoviet Unionfollowing the country's alleviation of its ban on rock music.

Early life, family and education

Joel was born on May 9, 1949, inthe Bronx,New York City. When he was a year old, his family moved to theLong Islandsuburb ofHicksville,in the town ofOyster Bay,where he and his cousin Judy, whom his parents adopted,were raised in a section ofLevitthomes.

Joel's father, Howard (born Helmut) Joel (1923–2011), a classical pianistand businessman, was born inNuremberg,Germany, to aJewishfamily, the son of merchant and manufacturerKarl Amson Joel,and educated in Switzerland. His father had created a highly successful mail-order textile business, Joel Macht Fabrik. To escape theNazi regime,Howard's family emigrated to Switzerland. His father sold his business at a fraction of its value in order to emigrate. The family reached the United States viaCuba,because immigration quotas forGerman Jewsprevented direct immigration at the time.In the United States, Howard became an engineer but always loved music. Joel's mother, Rosalind (1922–2014),was born inBrooklyn,New York, to Jewish parents, Philip and Rebecca Nyman, who had emigrated from England.

Joel's parents met in the late 1930s atCity College of New Yorkat aGilbert and Sullivanperformance.He has said that neither of his parents talked much aboutWorld War II,which were such dark years; it was not until later that Joel learned more about his father's family. After Rosalind and Howard Joel divorced in 1957, Howard returned to Europe, as he had never liked the United States; he considered the people uneducated and materialistic.He settled inVienna,Austria, and later remarried. Joel has a half-brother,Alexander Joel,born to his father in Europe, who became a classical conductor there. Alexander Joel was the chief musical director of theStaatstheater Braunschweigfrom 2001 to 2014.

Joel reluctantly began piano lessons at age four at his mother's insistence.His teachers included the noted American pianistMorton Estrinand musician Timothy Ford. Joel says that he is a better organist than a pianist.As a teenager, Joel took upbo xingso he could defend himself.He boxed successfully on the amateurGolden Glovescircuit for a short time, winning 22 bouts, but abandoned the sport shortly after his nose was broken in his 24th match.

Although Joel's parents were Jewish, he was not raised in the religion, adding "My parents were both from Jewish families. I was not brought up Jewish in any religious way. My circumcision was as Jewish as they got."He attendeda Roman Catholic churchwith friends. At age 11, he was baptized in aChurch of ChristinHicksville.He now identifies as anatheist Jew.

Joel attendedHicksville High Schooluntil 1967 but did not graduate with his class.He was playing at a piano bar to help support himself, his mother and sister, and missed a crucial English exam after playing a late-night gig the evening before.Although Joel was a comparatively strong student, at the end of his senior year, he did not have enough credits to graduate. Rather than attend summer school to earn his diploma, Joel decided to begin a music career: "I told them, 'To hell with it. If I'm not going toColumbia University,I'm going toColumbia Records,and you don't need a high school diploma over there'. "In 1992, he submitted essays to the school board in lieu of the missed exam. They were accepted, and he was awarded his diploma at Hicksville High's annual graduation ceremony 25 years after leaving.

Music career

1964–1970: Early career

Influenced by early rock and roll and rhythm and blues artists, including groups such asThe Beatles,The Everly BrothersandElvis Presley,Joel favored tightly structured pop melodies and down-to-earth songwriting.After seeing The Beatles onThe Ed Sullivan Show,Joel decided to pursue a career in music. In an interview he said of the group's effect on him:

That one performance changed my life... Up to that moment I'd never considered playing rock as a career. And when I saw four guys who didn't look like they'd come out of the Hollywood star mill, who played their own songs and instruments, and especially because you could see this look inJohn Lennon's face—and he looked like he was always saying: 'F--- you!'—I said: 'I know these guys, I can relate to these guys, I am these guys. This is what I'm going to do—play in a rock band'.

At age 16, Joel joined the Echoes,a group that specialized inBritish Invasioncovers. The Echoes began recording in 1965. Joel played piano on several records released throughKama Sutra Productionsand on recordings produced byShadow Morton.Joel played on a demo version of "Leader of the Pack",which became a major hit forthe Shangri-Las.Joel states that in 1964 he played on a recording of the Shangri-Las' "Remember (Walking in the Sand)"but he is unaware of whether he played on the demo or master version.The released single included a co-producer credit forArtie Ripp,who later was the first to sign and produce Joel as a solo artist afterMichael Lang,who had given Joel a monetary advance, passed Joel along to Ripp to focus his attentions elsewhere.

In late 1965, the Echoes changed their name to the Emeralds, and then to the Lost Souls. Joel left the band in 1967 to jointhe Hassles,a Long Island group that had signed withUnited Artists Records.Over the next year and a half, they released four singles and two albums (The HasslesandHour of the Wolf). All were commercial failures. Joel and drummer Jon Small left the Hassles in 1969 to form the duoAttila,releasing aneponymousdebut album in July 1970. The duo disbanded the following October when Joel began an affair with Small's wife, Elizabeth. The pair later married.

1970–1974:Cold Spring HarborandPiano Man

Joel performing in September 1972

Joel signed a contract with the record company Family Productions,with which he recorded his first solo album,Cold Spring Harbor,a reference toCold Spring Harbor, New York,a hamlet on his nativeLong Island.Ripp states that he spent US$450,000 developing Joel;nevertheless, the album was mastered at too high a speed and as a result, the album was a technical and commercial disappointment.

The popular songs "She's Got a Way"and" Everybody Loves You Now "were originally released on this album, but went largely unnoticed until being released as live performances onSongs in the Attic(1981). Columbia released a remastered version ofCold Spring Harborin 1983, with certain songs shortened or re-orchestrated.

Joel began hisCold Spring Harbortour in the fall of 1971, touring with his band, which consisted ofRhys Clarkon drums, Al Hertzberg on guitar, andLarry Russellon bass guitar, throughout the mainland United States and Puerto Rico, opening for groups such asthe J. Geils Band,The Beach Boys,Badfinger,andTaj Mahal.Joel's performance at the Puerto RicanMar y Sol Pop Festivalwas especially well-received; and although recorded, Joel refused to have it published on the Mar Y Sol compilation albumMar Y Sol: The First International Puerto Rico Pop Festival.Nevertheless, interest in his music grew.

During the spring of 1972, thePhiladelphiaradio stationWMMR-FM began playing aconcertrecording of "Captain Jack",which became an underground hit on theEast Coast.Herb Gordon, aColumbia Recordsexecutive, heard Joel's music and introduced him to the company. Joel signed a recording contract with Columbia in 1972 and moved to Los Angeles, California; he lived there for the next three years.For six months he worked at The Executive Roompiano baronWilshire Boulevardas "Bill Martin".During that time, he composed his signature hit "Piano Man"about the bar's patrons.

Despite Joel's new contract, he was legally bound to Family Productions. Artie Ripp sold Joel's first contract to Columbia.Walter Yetnikoff,the president of CBS/Columbia Records at the time, bought back the rights to Joel's songs in the late 1970s, giving the rights to Joel as a birthday gift.Yetnikoff notes in the documentary filmThe Last Play at Sheathat he had to threaten Ripp to close the deal.

Joel's first album with Columbia wasPiano Man,released in 1973. Despite modest sales,Piano Man's title track became his signature song, ending nearly every concert. That year Joel's touring band changed. Guitarist Al Hertzberg was replaced by Don Evans, and bassist Larry Russell by Patrick McDonald, himself replaced in late 1974 byDoug Stegmeyer,who stayed with Joel until 1989. Rhys Clark returned as drummer and Tom Whitehorse as banjoist and pedal steel player;Johnny Almondjoined as saxophonist and keyboardist. The band toured the U.S. and Canada extensively, appearing on popular music shows. Joel's songwriting began attracting more attention; in 1974Helen Reddyrecorded thePiano Mantrack "You're My Home".

1974–1977:Streetlife SerenadeandTurnstiles

In 1974, Joel recorded his second Columbia album in Los Angeles,Streetlife Serenade.His manager at the time was Jon Troy, an old friend from New York'sBedford-Stuyvesantneighborhood; Troy was soon replaced by Joel's wife Elizabeth.Streetlife Serenadecontains references tosuburbiaand theinner city.It is perhaps best known for "The Entertainer",a No. 34 hit in the U.S. Upset that" Piano Man "had been significantly cut for radio play, Joel wrote" The Entertainer "as a sarcastic response:" If you're gonna have a hit, you gotta make it fit, so they cut it down to 3:05. "AlthoughStreetlife Serenadewas viewed unfavorably by critics,it contains the notable songs "Los Angelenos" and "Root Beer Rag",aninstrumentalthat was a staple of his live set in the 1970s.

In late 1975, Joel played piano and organ on several tracks onBo Diddley'sThe 20th Anniversary of Rock 'n' Rollall-star album.

Disenchanted with Los Angeles, Joel returned to New York City in 1975 and recordedTurnstiles,the first album he recorded with themusicians with whom he toured.Produced byJames William Guercio(thenChicago's producer),Turnstileswas first recorded atCaribou Ranchwith members ofElton John's band. Dissatisfied with the result, Joel re-recorded the songs and produced the album himself.

"Say Goodbye to Hollywood"was a minor hit;Ronnie Spectorrecorded a cover as didNigel Olsson,then drummer with Elton John. In a 2008 radio interview, Joel said that he no longer performs the song because singing it in its high original key "shreds" hisvocal cords;however, he did finally play it live for the first time since 1982 when he sang it at theHollywood Bowlin May 2014. Although never released as a single, "New York State of Mind"became one of Joel's best-known songs;Barbra Streisandrecorded a cover andTony Bennettperformed it as a duet with Joel onPlaying with My Friends: Bennett Sings the Blues.Other notable songs from the album include "Summer, Highland Falls";"Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway)";and"Prelude/Angry Young Man",a concert mainstay.

1977–1979:The Strangerand52nd Street

Columbia Records introduced Joel toPhil Ramone,who produced all of Joel's studio albums fromThe Stranger(1977) toThe Bridge(1986).The Strangerwas an enormous commercial success, yielding four Top-25 hits on theBillboardcharts: "Just the Way You Are"(No. 3),"Movin' Out"(No. 17),"Only the Good Die Young"(No. 24), and"She's Always a Woman"(No. 17). Joel's first Top Ten album,The Strangerreached number two on the charts and was certified multi-platinum, bestingSimon & Garfunkel'sBridge over Troubled Wateras Columbia's previous bestselling album.The Strangeralso featured "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant",analbum-oriented rockclassic, which has become one of his best-known songs.

"Just the Way You Are" —written for Joel's first wife, Elizabeth Weber—was inspired by a dreamand wonGrammyawards forRecord of the YearandSong of the Year.On tour in Paris, Joel learned the news late one night in a hotel room.Rolling Stonelater rankedThe Strangerthe 70th greatest album of all time.

Joel released52nd Streetin 1978, naming it after Manhattan's52nd Street,which, at the time of its release, served as the world headquarters ofCBS/Columbia.The album sold over seven million copies, propelled to number one on the charts by the hits "My Life"(No. 3),"Big Shot"(No. 14), and"Honesty"(No. 24). A cover of" My Life "(sung by Gary Bennett) became the theme song for a new television sitcom,Bosom Buddies,which featured actorTom Hanksin one of his earliest roles.52nd Streetalso won Grammy awards forBest Pop Vocal Performance, Maleand Album of the Year.

In 1979, Joel traveled toHavana,Cuba, to participate in the historicHavana Jamfestival that took place between March 2–4, alongsideRita Coolidge,Kris Kristofferson,Stephen Stills,the CBS Jazz All-Stars, theTrio of Doom,Fania All-Stars,Billy Swan,Bonnie Bramlett,Mike Finnegan,Weather Report,and an array of Cuban artists such asIrakere,Pacho Alonso,Tata GüinesandOrquesta Aragón.His performance is captured in Ernesto Juan Castellanos's documentaryHavana Jam '79.

52nd Streetwas the first commercially released album on the then-newcompact discformat, in 1982.

1979–1983:Glass HousesandThe Nylon Curtain

The success of his piano-driven ballads like "Just the Way You Are", "She's Always a Woman", and "Honesty" led some critics to label Joel a "balladeer"and"soft rocker".He thought these labels were unfair and insulting, and withGlass Houses,Joel tried to record an album that proved that he could rock harder than his critics gave him credit for, occasionally imitating and referring to the style ofnew waverock music that was starting to become popular at the time. On the front cover of the album, Joel is pictured in a leather jacket, about to throw a rock at a glass house (referring to the adage that "people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones" ).

Glass Housesspent six weeks at No. 1 on theBillboardchart and yielded the hits "You May Be Right"(used as the theme song, covered bySouthside Johnny,for the CBS mid-1990s sitcomDave's World) (No. 7, May 1980); "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me",which became Joel's firstBillboardnumber-one single (for two weeks) in July 1980; "Don't Ask Me Why"(No. 19, September 1980); and"Sometimes a Fantasy"(No. 36, November 1980)." It's Still Rock and Roll to Me "spent 11 weeks in the top 10 of theBillboardHot 100and was the seventh biggest hit of 1980 according to American Top 40. His five sold-out shows atMadison Square Gardenin 1980 earned him the Garden'sGold Ticket Awardfor selling more than 100,000 tickets at the venue.

Glass Houseswon the Grammy for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Male. It also won theAmerican Music Awardfor Favorite Album, Pop/Rock category. The album's closing song, "Through The Long Night" (B-sideof the "It's Still Rock & Roll to Me" single), was a lullaby that featured Joel harmonizing with himself in a song he says was inspired byThe Beatles' "Yes It Is".In a recorded Masterclass at the University of Pennsylvania, Joel later recollected that he had written to the Beatles asking them how to get started in the music industry. In response, he received a pamphlet about Beatles merchandise. This later led to the idea of Joel conducting Q&A sessions around the world answering questions that people had about the music industry.

Joel's next release,Songs in the Attic,was composed of live performances of lesser-known songs from the beginning of his career. It was recorded at larger US arenas and in intimate night club shows in June and July 1980. This release introduced many fans, who discovered Joel whenThe Strangerbecame a smash in 1977, to many of his earlier compositions. The album reached No. 8 on theBillboardchart and produced two hit singles: "Say Goodbye to Hollywood" (No. 17), and "She's Got a Way" (No. 23). It sold over 3 million copies. Although not as successful as some of his previous albums, the album was still considered a success by Joel.

The next wave of Joel's career commenced with the recording of his next studio album,The Nylon Curtain.With it, Joel became more ambitious with his songwriting, which included highly topical songs like "Allentown"and"Goodnight Saigon".Joel has stated that he wanted the album to communicate his feelings aboutthe American Dreamand how changes in American politics during theReagan administrationmeant that "all of a sudden you weren't going to be able to inherit [the kind of life] your old man had."He also tried to be more ambitious in his use of the recording studio. Joel said that he wanted to "create a sonic masterpiece" onThe Nylon Curtain.So he spent more time in the studio, crafting the sound of the album, than he had on any previous album.Production ofThe Nylon Curtainbegan in the fall of 1981. However, production was temporarily delayed when Joel was involved in a serious motorcycle accident onLong Islandon April 15, 1982, severely injuring his hands. Still, Joel quickly recovered from his injuries, and the album ended up being delayed by only a few months.

In 1982, Joel embarked on a brief tour in support of the album. From one of the final shows of the tour, Joel made his first video special,Live from Long Island,which was recorded at theNassau Veterans Memorial ColiseuminUniondale, New Yorkon December 29, 1982. It was originally broadcast onHBOin 1983 before it became available on VHS.

The Nylon Curtainwent to No. 7 on the charts, partially due to heavy airplay on MTV for the videos to the singles "Allentown"and"Pressure",both of which were directed byRussell Mulcahy.

1983–1988:An Innocent ManandThe Bridge

Joel's next album moved away from the serious themes ofThe Nylon Curtainand struck a much lighter tone. The albumAn Innocent Manwas Joel's tribute toR&Banddoo wopmusic of the 1950s and 1960s and resulted in Joel's secondBillboardnumber-one hit, "Tell Her About It",which was the first single off the album in the summer of 1983. The album itself reached No. 4 on the charts and No. 2 in UK. It also boasted six top-30 singles, the most of any album in Joel's catalog. The album was well received by critics, withStephen Thomas Erlewine,senior editor for AllMusic, describing Joel as being "in top form as a craftsman throughout the record, effortlessly spinning out infectious, memorable melodies in a variety of styles."

At the time that the album was released,WCBS-FMbegan playing "Uptown Girl"both in regular rotation and on theDoo Wop Live.The song became a worldwide hit upon its release. The music video of the song, originally written about then-girlfriendElle MacPherson,featured future wifeChristie Brinkleyas a high-society girl who pulls her car into the gas station where Joel's character is working. At the end of the video, Joel's "grease monkey" character drives off with his "uptown girl" on the back of a motorcycle. When Brinkley went to visit Joel after being asked to star in the video, the first thing Joel said to her upon opening his door was "I don't dance". Brinkley had to walk him through the basic steps he does in the video. Their work together on this video shoot sparked a relationship between the two which led to their marriage in 1985.

In December, the title song, "An Innocent Man",was released as a single and it peaked at No. 10 in the U.S. and No. 8 in the UK, early in 1984. That March,"The Longest Time"was released as a single, peaking at No. 14 on the Hot 100 and No. 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart. That summer,"Leave a Tender Moment Alone"was released and it hit No. 27 while"Keeping the Faith"peaked at No. 18 in January 1985. In the video for" Keeping the Faith ", Christie Brinkley also plays the" redhead girl in a Chevrolet ".An Innocent Manwas also nominated for the Album of the Year Grammy, but lost toMichael Jackson'sThriller.

Joel(second row, second from left)with other musicians for the recording of "We Are the World"in 1985

Joel participated in theUSA for Africa"We Are the World"project in 1985.

Following the success ofAn Innocent Man,Joel was asked about releasing an album of his most successful singles. This was not the first time this topic had come up, but Joel had initially considered "Greatest Hits" albums as marking the end of one's career. This time he agreed, andGreatest Hits Vol. 1 and 2was released as a four-sided album and two-CD set, with the songs in the order in which they were released. The new songs "You're Only Human (Second Wind)"and"The Night Is Still Young"were recorded and released as singles to support the album; both reached the top 40, peaking at No. 9 and No. 34, respectively.Greatest Hitswas highly successful and it has since been certifieddouble diamondby theRIAA,with over 11.5 million copies (23 million units) sold. It is one of thebest-selling albums in American music history,according to the RIAA.

Coinciding with theGreatest Hitsalbum release, Joel released a two-volumeVideo Albumthat was a compilation of the promotional videos he had recorded from 1977 to that time. Along with videos for the new singles off theGreatest Hitsalbum, Joel also recorded a video for his first hit, "Piano Man", for this project.

Joel's next album,The Bridge(1986), did not achieve the level of success of his previous albums, but it yielded the hits "A Matter of Trust"and"Modern Woman"from the filmRuthless People,a dark comedy from the directors ofAirplane!(both No. 10). In a departure from his "piano man" persona, Joel is shown in the video playing aGibson Les Paul.The ballad "This is the Time"also charted, peaking at No. 18.

On November 18, 1986, an extended version of the song "Big Man on Mulberry Street"was used on a Season 3 episode ofMoonlighting.The episode itself was also titled "Big Man on Mulberry Street".

The Bridgewas Joel's last album to carry the Family Productions logo, after which he severed his ties with Artie Ripp. Joel has also stated in many interviews, most recently in a 2008 interview inPerforming Songwritermagazine, that he does not thinkThe Bridgeis a good album.

In October 1986, Joel and his team started planning a trip to the Soviet Union.There were live performances at indoor arenas in Moscow,LeningradandTbilisi.Joel, his family (including young daughter Alexa), and his full touring band made the trip in July 1987.The entourage was filmed for television and video to offset the cost of the trip, and the concerts were simulcast on radio around the world. Joel's Russian tour was the first live rock radio broadcast in Soviet history.The tour was later cited frequently as one of the first fully staged pop rock shows to come to the Soviet Union, although in reality other artists had previously toured in the country before Joel, such as Elton John,James Taylor,andBonnie Raitt.

Most of that audience took a long while to warm up to Joel's energetic show, something that had never happened in other countries he had performed in. According to Joel, each time the fans were hit with the bright lights, anybody who seemed to be enjoying themselves froze. In addition, people who were "overreacting" were removed by security.During this concert Joel, enraged by the bright lights, flipped his electric piano and snapped a microphone stand while continuing to sing.He later apologized for the incident.

The albumКОНЦЕРТ(Russian for "Concert" ) was released in October 1987. Singer Pete Hewlett was brought in to hit the high notes on his most vocally challenging songs, like "An Innocent Man". Joel also did versions of The Beatles' classic "Back in the U.S.S.R."andBob Dylan's "The Times They Are a-Changin".It has been estimated that Joel lost more than US$1 million of his own money on the trip and concerts, but he has said the goodwill he was shown there was well worth it.

1988–1993:Storm FrontandRiver of Dreams

The animated film,Oliver & Company,released in November 1988, features Joel in a rarevoice actingrole, as the character Dodger, a sarcasticJack Russellbased on theArtful Dodger.The character's design is based on Joel's image at the time, including his trademark Wayfarer sunglasses. Joel also sang his character's song "Why Should I Worry?".

The recording of the albumStorm Front,which commenced in 1988, coincided with major changes in Joel's career and inaugurated a period of serious upheaval in his business affairs. In August 1989, just before the album was released, Joel dismissed his manager (and former brother-in-law) Frank Weber after an audit revealed major discrepancies in Weber's accounting. Joel subsequently sued Weber for US$90 million, claiming fraud and breach of fiduciary duty, and in January 1990, Joel was awarded US$2 million in a partial judgment against Weber; in April, the court dismissed a US$30 million countersuit filed by Weber.

The first single for the album, "We Didn't Start the Fire",was released in September 1989 and it became Joel's third—and most recent—US number-one hit, spending two weeks at the top.Storm Frontwas released in October, and it eventually became Joel's first number-one album sinceGlass Houses,nine years earlier.Storm Frontwas Joel's first album sinceTurnstilesto be recorded without Phil Ramone as producer. For this album, he wanted a new sound, and worked withMick JonesofForeigner.Joel is also credited as one of the keyboard players on Jones's 1988 self-titled solo album, and is featured in the official video for Jones's single "Just Wanna Hold"; Joel can be seen playing the piano while his then-wife Christie Brinkley joins him and kisses him. Joel also revamped his backing band, dismissing everyone but drummerLiberty DeVitto,guitarist David Brown, and saxophone playerMark Rivera,and bringing in new faces, including multi-instrumentalistCrystal Taliefero.

Storm Front'ssecond single, "I Go to Extremes"reached No. 6 in early 1990. The album was also notable for its song"Leningrad",written after Joel met a clown in the Soviet city of that name during his tour in 1987, and"The Downeaster Alexa",written to underscore the plight of fishermen on Long Island who are barely able to make ends meet. Another well-known single from the album is the ballad"And So It Goes"(No. 37 in late 1990). The song was originally written in 1983, around the time Joel was writing songs forAn Innocent Man;but "And So It Goes" did not fit that album's retro theme, so it was held back untilStorm Front.Joel said in a 1996 Masterclass session in Pittsburgh thatStorm Frontwas a turbulent album and that "And So It Goes", as the last song on the album, portrayed the calm and tranquility that often follows a violent thunderstorm.

In the summer of 1992, Joel filed a US$90 million lawsuit against his former lawyer Allen Grubman, alleging a wide range of offenses including fraud, breach of fiduciary responsibility, malpractice and breach of contract.The case was settled out of court in the fall of 1993 for US$3 million paid to Joel by third partySony America,to protect its subsidiarySony Music's interests, as it had several other artists also using Grubman's law firm.

In 1992, Joel inducted the R&B duoSam & Daveinto the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. That year, Joel also started work onRiver of Dreams,finishing the album in early 1993. Its cover art was a colorful painting byChristie Brinkleythat was a series of scenes from each of the songs on the album. Theeponymous first singlewas the last top 10 hit Joel has penned to date, reaching No. 3 onBillboard'sHot 100 chart and ranking at No. 21 on the 1993 year-end Hot 100 chart. In addition to the title track, the album includes the hits "All About Soul"(withColor Me Baddon backing vocals) and "Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)",written for his daughter,Alexa.A radio remix version of "All About Soul" can be found onThe Essential Billy Joel(2001), and a demo version appears onMy Lives(2005).

The song "The Great Wall of China" was written about his ex-manager Frank Weber and was a regular in the setlist for Joel's 2006 tour. "2000 Years" was prominent in the millennium concert atMadison Square Garden,December 31, 1999, and "Famous Last Words" closed the book on Joel's pop songwriting for more than a decade.

1994–present: Touring

Joel performing in June 1994

Joel performing in June 1994

Joel performing atMadison Square Garden,c. 1995

Joel performing inJacksonville, Floridain February 2007

A banner atWells Fargo CenterinPhiladelphia,commemorating Joel's 48 consecutive sold-out concerts at the Philadelphia venue as of 2008

Beginning in 1994, Joel toured extensively withElton Johnon a series of "Face to Face" tours, making them the longest running and most successful concert tandem in pop music history.During these shows, the two played their own songs, sang each other's songs, and performed duets. They grossed over US$46 million in just 24 dates in their sold out2003 tour. Joel and John resumed their Face to Face tour in March 2009and it continued until March 2010, where it ended inAlbany, New York,at theTimes Union Center.In February 2010, Joel denied rumors in the trade press that he canceled a summer 2010 leg of the tour, claiming there were never any dates booked and that he intended to take the year off.Joel toldRolling Stonemagazine: "We'll probably pick it up again. It's always fun playing with him."

Joel and second wifeChristie Brinkleyannounced on April 13, 1994, that they had separated, and their divorce was finalized in August 1994. The two remained friends.

1997's "To Make You Feel My Love"and"Hey Girl"both charted from Joel'sGreatest Hits Volume IIIalbum. Joel wrote and recorded the song "Shameless" that was later recorded byGarth Brooksand reached No. 1 onBillboard'scountry charts. Joel performed with Brooks during hisCentral Parkconcert in 1997. To add onto his achievements Joel was inducted into the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame in 1999. Ray Charles made the induction speech and mentioned the duet Joel wrote for the two of them, "Baby Grand"(a track on Joel's albumThe Bridgereleased in 1986).

On December 31, 1999, Joel performed at New York'sMadison Square Garden.At the time, Joel said that it would be his last tour and possibly his last concert. Two of his performances from that night, "We Didn't Start the Fire"and"Scenes from an Italian Restaurant"were filmed and featured that night as part of ABC's special New Year's Y2K coverage. The concert (dubbed The Night of the 2000 Years) ran for close to four hours and was later released as2000 Years: The Millennium Concert.

In 2001, Joel releasedFantasies & Delusions,a collection of classical piano pieces. All were composed by Joel and performed byHyung-ki Joo.Joel often uses bits of these pieces as interludes in live performances, and some of them are part of the score for the hit showMovin' Out.The album topped the classical charts at No. 1. Joel performed "New York State of Mind" live on September 21, 2001, as part of theAmerica: A Tribute to Heroesbenefit concert, and on October 20, 2001, along with "Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway)",atthe Concert for New York Cityin Madison Square Garden. That night, he also performed "Your Song"withElton John.

In 2003, Joel inductedThe Righteous Brothersinto the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, noting that his song "Until the Night"from the album52nd Streetwas a tribute to the duo.

In 2005, Columbia released a box set,My Lives,which is largely a compilation of demos, b-sides, live/alternative versions and even a few Top 40 hits. The compilation also includes the software that permits people to remix "Zanzibar" and a live version of "I Go to Extremes" with their PC. A DVD of a show from theRiver of Dreamstour is included.

On January 7, 2006, Joel began a tour across the U.S. Having not written, or at least released, any new songs in 13 years, he featured a sampling of songs from throughout his career, including major hits as well as obscure tunes like "Zanzibar" and "All for Leyna".His tour included an unprecedented 12 sold-out concerts over several months atMadison Square Gardenin New York City. The singer's stint of 12 shows at Madison Square Garden broke a previous record set by New Jersey nativeBruce Springsteen,who played 10 sold-out shows at the same arena. The record earned Joel the first retired number (12) in the arena owned by a non-athlete. This honor has also been given to Joel at theWells Fargo Center (Philadelphia)(formerly the Wachovia Center) in Philadelphia where a banner in the colors of thePhiladelphia Flyersis hung honoring Joel's 48 Philadelphia sold-out shows. He also had a banner raised in his honor for being the highest grossing act in the history of theTimes Union Center(formerly the Knickerbocker Arena and Pepsi Arena) inAlbany, New York.This honor was given to him as part of the April 17, 2007, show he did there. On June 13, 2006, Columbia released12 Gardens Live,a double album containing 32 live recordings from a collection of the 12 different shows at Madison Square Garden during Joel's 2006 tour.

Joel visited the United Kingdom and Ireland for the first time in many years as part of the European leg of his 2006 tour. On July 31, 2006, he performed a free concert inRome,with theColosseumas the backdrop.

Joel toured South Africa, Australia, Japan, and Hawaii in late 2006, and subsequently toured the Southeastern U.S. in February and March 2007 before hitting the Midwest in the spring of 2007. A new song, titled "All My Life",was Joel's newest single (with second track"You're My Home",live from Madison Square Garden 2006 tour) and was released into stores on February 27, 2007.On February 4, Joel sang the national anthem forSuper Bowl XLI,becoming the second to sing the national anthem twice at aSuper Bowl,afterAaron Neville.On April 17, 2007, Joel was honored in Albany, New York for his ninth concert at theTimes Union Center.He is now holding the highest box office attendance of any artist to play at the arena. A banner was raised in his honor marking this achievement.

On December 1, 2007, Joel premiered his new song "Christmas in Fallujah".The song was performed byCass Dillon,a new Long Island based musician, as Joel felt it should be sung by someone in a soldier's age range (though he himself has played the song occasionally in concert.) The track was dedicated to servicemen based in Iraq. Joel wrote it in September 2007 after reading numerous letters sent to him from American soldiers in Iraq. "Christmas in Fallujah" is only the second pop/rock song released by Joel since 1993'sRiver of Dreams.Proceeds from the song benefited the Homes For Our Troops foundation.

On January 26, 2008, Joel performed with thePhiladelphia Orchestracelebrating the 151st anniversary of theAcademy of Music.Joel performed his classical piece titled, "Waltz No. 2 (Steinway Hall)" from Fantasies and Delusions arranged byBrad Ellis.He also played many of his less well-known pieces, with full orchestral backing arranged by Mr. Ellis, including the rarely performedNylon Curtainsongs "Scandinavian Skies" and "Where's the Orchestra?".

On March 10, 2008, Joel inducted his friendJohn Mellencampinto theRock and Roll Hall of Famein a ceremony at theWaldorf Astoria Hotelin New York City.

Joel sold out 10 concerts at theMohegan Sun CasinoinUncasville, Connecticutfrom May to July 2008. The casino honored him with a banner displaying his name and the number 10 to hang in the arena. On June 19, 2008, he played a concert at the grand re-opening ofCaesars Windsor(formerly Casino Windsor) inWindsor,Ontario, Canada, to an invite-only crowd for Casino VIPs. His mood was light, and joke-filled, even introducing himself as "Billy Joel's dad" and stating "you guys overpaid to see a fat bald guy". He also admitted that Canadian folk-pop musicianGordon Lightfootwas the musical inspiration for "She's Always A Woman".

On July 16 and 18, 2008, Joel played the final concerts atShea Stadiumbefore its demolition. His guests includedTony Bennett,Don Henley,John Mayer,John Mellencamp,Steven Tyler,Roger Daltrey,Garth Brooks,andPaul McCartney.The concerts were featured in the 2010 documentary filmLast Play at Shea.The film was released on DVD on February 8, 2011. The CD and DVD of the show,Live at Shea Stadium,were released on March 8, 2011.

On December 11, 2008, Joel recorded his own rendition of "Christmas in Fallujah"during a concert atAcer Arenain Sydney and released it as a live single in Australia only. It is the only official release of Joel performing "Christmas in Fallujah", as Cass Dillon sang on the 2007 studio recording and the handful of times the song was played live in 2007. Joel sang the song throughout his December 2008 tour of Australia.

On May 19, 2009, Joel's former drummer,Liberty DeVitto,filed a lawsuit in NYC claiming Joel and Sony Music owed DeVitto over 10 years of royalty payments. DeVitto had never been given songwriting or arranging credit on any of Joel's songs, but he claimed that he helped arrange some of them, including "Only the Good Die Young".In April 2010, it was announced that Joel and DeVitto amicably resolved the lawsuit.

2011 marked the 40th anniversary of the release of Joel's first album,Cold Spring Harbor.According to Joel's official website, to commemorate this anniversary, Columbia/Legacy Recordings originally planned "to celebrate the occasion with a definitive reissue project of newly restored and expanded Legacy editions of Joel's complete catalog, newly curated collections of rarities from the vaults, previously unavailable studio tracks and live performances, home video releases and more", although this never fully came to fruition.The albumPiano Manwas re-released in a two-disc Legacy edition in November 2011.

In 2012, Joel signed an exclusive worldwide publishing agreement withUniversal Music Publishing Group(UMPG), and its subsidiary Rondor Music International. Under the agreement, UMPG and Rondor replaced EMI Music Publishing in handling Joel's catalog outside the US. Additionally, the agreement marked the first time since Joel regained control of his publishing rights in the 1980s that he began to use an administrator to handle his catalog within the U.S. The agreement's focus is on increasing the use of Joel's music in movies, television programs, and commercials.

On December 12, 2012, Joel performed as part of12-12-12: The Concert for Sandy ReliefatMadison Square Garden,a concert held for all the victims ofHurricane Sandy.He changed the lyrics to "Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway)"to make it relate to all the damage caused by Sandy.

In May 2013, it was announced that Joel would hold his first ever indoor Irish concert at theO₂in Dublin on November 1. He subsequently announced his return to the UK for the first time in seven years to perform in October and November. Joel played inManchesterandBirminghamas well as London'sHammersmith Apollo.In October, Joel held a surprise concert on Long Island at The Paramount (Huntington, New York) to benefit Long Island Cares. The venue holds a capacity of 1,555 and sold out in five minutes. Joel headlined a solo arena concert in New York City for the first time since 2006 when he performed at Barclays Center in Brooklyn on December 31, 2013.

Joel announced a concert residency atMadison Square Garden,playing one concert a month indefinitely, starting January 27, 2014.The first MSG show also launched theBilly Joel in Concerttour, which continued at theAmway Center(inOrlando, Florida) where Joel performed several cover songs such as Elton John's "Your Song",Billy Preston's "You Are So Beautiful"(in tribute toJoe Cocker), The Beatles' "With a Little Help from My Friends","Can't Buy Me Love",and"When I'm 64",Robert Burns' "Auld Lang Syne",andAC/DC's "You Shook Me All Night Long"(withBrian Johnson). Joel also performed an unusual set, including the song "Souvenir" (from 1974'sStreetlife Serenade) and excluding "We Didn't Start the Fire".

Joel performing at Madison Square Garden in April 2016

In 2015, Joel performed 21 concerts in addition to his monthly Madison Square Garden residency. His August 4, 2015, engagement atNassau Coliseumwas the final concert prior to the arena undergoing a US$261 million renovation.Joel returned to Nassau Coliseum on April 5, 2017, to play the first concert at the newly renovated venue.Later that month, Joel played the first concert at Atlanta's new SunTrust Park, the suburban home of the Atlanta Braves.

On June 24, 2017, he returned to Hicksville High School fifty years after his would-be graduating class received their diplomas,to deliver the honorary commencement address. It was also the 25th anniversary of receiving his own diploma from the same high school.

Joel at Madison Square Garden in June 2019

In 2019, Joel announced a concert atCamden Yards,home of theBaltimore Orioles,marking the first-ever concert at the baseball stadium.Joel was forced to postpone his concerts between March 2020 and August 2021 due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.

Joel andStevie Nicksjointly announced plans to perform a series of concerts across the United States in 2023, tentatively beginning withSoFi Stadiumoutside Los Angeles on March 10.

Joel performing at aBritish Summer Timeconcert inHyde Parkin July 2023

On June 1, 2023, Joel announced that his residency at Madison Square Garden would end in July 2024 with his 104th performance in the series, marking his 150th lifetime performance at the venue.

On January 22, 2024, Joel announced his first new pop single in years (and only his second pop song in more than two decades), titled "Turn the Lights Back On",which released on February 1.

Other ventures

In 1996, Joel merged his long-held love of boating with his desire for a second career. With Long Island boating businessman Peter Needham, he formed the Long Island Boat Company.

In November 2010, Joel opened a shop inOyster Bay, Long Island,to manufacture custom-made, retro-styled motorcycles and accessories.

In 2011, Joel announced that he was releasing an autobiography that he had written with Fred Schruers, titledThe Book of Joel: A Memoir.The book was originally going to be released in June 2011, but, in March 2011, Joel decided against publishing the book and officially canceled his deal withHarperCollins.Rolling Stonenoted, "HarperCollins acquired the book project for US$3 million in 2008. Joel is expected to return his advance on that sum to the publisher."According toBillboard,"the HarperCollins book was billed as an 'emotional ride' that would detail the music legend's failed marriage toChristie Brinkley,as well as his battles with substance abuse. "In explaining his decision to cancel the book's release, Joel said, "It took working on writing a book to make me realize that I'm not all that interested in talking about the past, and that the best expression of my life and its ups and downs has been and remains my music."In 2014, Schruers published a biography, simply titledBilly Joel,based on his extensive personal interviews with Joel.

Personal life

Marriages and family

Joel's eldest daughter,Alexa Ray Joel,born to Joel andChristie Brinkleyin 1985

Joel's first wife was Elizabeth Weber Small. When their relationship began, she was married to Jon Small, his music partner in the short-lived duoAttila,with whom she had a son. When the affair was revealed, Weber severed her relationships with both men. Weber and Joel later reconciled and married in 1973, and she then became his manager. They divorced on July 20, 1982.

Joel married a second time, to modelChristie Brinkley,in March 1985.Their daughter,Alexa Ray Joel,was born December 29, 1985.Alexa was given the middle name of Ray afterRay Charles,one of Joel's musical idols.Joel and Brinkley divorced on August 26, 1994.

On October 2, 2004, Joel married chefKatie Lee,his third wife.At the time of the wedding, Lee was 23 and Joel was 55. Joel's daughter, Alexa Ray, then 18, served asmaid of honor.Joel's second wife, Christie Brinkley, attended the union and gave the couple her blessing. On June 17, 2009, they announced theirseparation.

On July 4, 2015, Joel married a fourth time, to Alexis Roderick, an equestrian and formerMorgan Stanleyexecutive, at his estate onLong Island.He was 66; she was 33.Governor of New YorkAndrew Cuomoconducted the ceremony.The couple had been together since 2009.On August 12, 2015, the couple had a daughter Della Rose Joel.The couple's second daughter, Remy Anne Joel, was born on October 22, 2017.

Joel bought a house inCentre Island, New York,in 2002 for US$22 million. He also owns a house inSag Harbor.In 2023, Joel put his Sag Harbor home on the market for $49 million.

In 2015, he purchased a home inManalapan,Florida. The waterfront residence went on the market in November 2015 for $19.5 millionbut it was taken off the market and re-listed in 2017 with an asking price of $18.5 million.The property was further reduced to $16.9 million in 2018.In January 2020, the 13,200-square-foot property sold for US$10.3 million.

Health issues

Many speculate that Joel lives withdepression;however, he rejects the label.Regardless, in 1970, a career decline and personal tragedies led him to adeep depressive period.Joel left asuicide noteand attempted to end his life by drinking furniture polish. Later he said, "I drank furniture polish. It looked tastier thanbleach."His drummer and bandmate, Jon Small, rushed him to the hospital. Joel checked intoMeadowbrook Hospital,where he was put onsuicide watchand received treatment for depression.

In 1985, Joel recorded "You're Only Human (Second Wind)"as a message to help prevent teen suicide.

In 2002, Joel enteredSilver Hill Hospital,asubstance abuseandpsychiatriccenter inNew Canaan, Connecticut,where he underwent treatment for 10 days.In March 2005, he checked into theBetty Ford Center,where he spent 30 days for the treatment ofalcohol abuse.

Politics

Although Joel has donated money toDemocraticcandidates,he has never publicly affiliated himself with the Democratic Party. Joel is not known for publicly endorsing political candidates, however he did play a benefit withBruce Springsteento raise money forBarack Obama'spresidential campaign in 2008.He has performed at benefit concerts that have helped raise funds for political causes. However, about celebrities endorsing political candidates, Joel has said, "People who pay for your tickets, I don't think they want to hear who you're going to vote for and how you think they should vote."Nonetheless, in 2016, after his sarcastic dedication of "The Entertainer" to then-RepublicancandidateDonald Trumpwas taken as a serious endorsement, Joel told theNew York Daily Newsin an email that he would be voting forHillary Clinton.

Tours

Tours

• Cold Spring Habor Tour (1972)
• Turntiles Tour (1976)
• The Stranger Tour (1977)
• 52nd Street Tour (1978)
• The Nylon Curtain Tour(1981)
• An Innocent Man Tour(1984)
• The Bridge Tour(1986 - 87)
• Storm Front Tour(1989 - 91)
• River of Dreams Tour(1993 - 95)
• Face To Face 1994Tour (1994)
• Face To Face 1995Tour (1995)
• An Evening of Questions and Awnswers (1996)
• Face To Face 1998Tour (1998)
• Face To Face 2001Tour (2001)
• Face To Face 2002Tour (2002)
• Face To Face 2003Tour (2003)
• 2006 Tour (2006)
• 2007 Tour (2007)
• 2008 Tour (2008)
• Face To Face 2009Tour (2009)
• Face To Face 2010Tour (2010)
• Billy Joel in Concert(2014 - )
• Two Icons - One Night (2023)
• Two Icons - One Night (2024)

Residency

• Billy Joel At The Garden (2014 - 2024)

Discography

Main article:Billy Joel 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), classical compositions

Awards and achievements

U.S. Secretary of StateJohn Kerryand his wifeTeresa Heinz Kerrywith the 2013Kennedy Center Honorsrecipients (left to right):Shirley MacLaine,Martina Arroyo,Billy Joel,Carlos Santana,andHerbie Hancock

Joel receiving an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts fromSyracuse Universityin 2006

Joel graduated well after his high school peers because of a missed English exam.His high school diploma was finally awarded by the school board 25 years later.Joel has been presented with multiple honorary doctorates:

• Doctor of Humane Letters fromFairfield University(1991)
• Doctor of Music fromBerklee College of Music(1993)
• Doctor of Humane Letters fromHofstra University(1997)
• Doctor of Music fromSouthampton College(2000)
• Doctor of Fine Arts fromSyracuse University(2006)
• Doctor of Musical Arts from theManhattan School of Music(2008)
• Doctor of Music fromStony Brook University(2015)

In 1986, Joel was on the site selection committee for theRock and Roll Hall of Fameboard. Seven members of the committee voted for the Hall to be located in San Francisco, and seven voted forCleveland,Ohio; this tie was broken when Joel voted for Cleveland. Joel was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland in 1999 by one of his chief musical influences,Ray Charles,with whom he also collaborated on his song "Baby Grand" (1986).

Joel was also namedMusiCares Person of the Yearfor 2002,an award given each year at the same time as theGrammy Awards.At the dinner honoring him, various artists performed versions of his songs, includingNelly Furtado,Stevie Wonder,Jon Bon Jovi,Diana Krall,Rob ThomasandNatalie Cole.

Joel has won five Grammys, includingAlbum of the Yearfor52nd StreetandSong of the YearandRecord of the Yearfor "Just the Way You Are".

In 1993, Joel was the second entertainer out of thirty persons to be inducted into theMadison Square Garden Walk of Fame.On September 20, 2004, Joel received a star on theHollywood Walk of Fame,for his work in the music industry, located at 6233Hollywood Boulevard.He was inducted into theLong Island Music Hall of Fameon October 15, 2006.

Joel is the only performing artist to have played bothYankeeandShea Stadiums,as well asGiants Stadium,Madison Square Garden,andNassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.Joel has banners in the rafters of theMVP Arena,Nassau Coliseum, Madison Square Garden,Mohegan Sun Arenain Uncasville, Connecticut,Wells Fargo Centerin Philadelphia,Hartford Civic Centerin Hartford, and theJMA Wireless Domein Syracuse.

In 2003,Rolling Stone's500 Greatest Albums of All Timelist includedThe Strangerat number 67,and52nd Streetat number 352.On their500 Greatest Songs of All Timelist,Rolling Stoneincluded "Piano Man"at number 421.

Joel has also sponsored the Billy Joel Visiting Composer Series atSyracuse University.

On December 12, 2011, Joel became the first non-classical musician honored with a portrait inSteinway Hall.

On December 29, 2013, in Washington, D.C., Joel receivedKennedy Center Honors,the nation's highest honor for influencing American culture through the arts.

On July 22, 2014, theLibrary of Congressannounced that Joel would be the sixth recipient of theGershwin Prize for Popular Song.He received the prize at a performance ceremony in November 2014 fromJames H. Billington,the Librarian of Congress, and Supreme Court JusticeSonia Sotomayor.

On July 18, 2018, GovernorAndrew Cuomoproclaimed the date to be Billy Joel Day in New York state to mark his 100th performance at Madison Square Garden.

On October 19, 2023, a portion of Audrey Avenue in Joel's hometown of Oyster Bay was renamed "Billy Joel Way" in honor of the musician.

On April 14, 2024, Joel was featured on CBS in commemoration of his 100th performance at Madison Square Garden.The network broadcast an encore presentation of the concert special five nights later, on April 19.

In 2024, Joel was honored in "Group C Premiere: Billy Joel Night," onThe Masked Singer Season 11.The contestants that night sang songs by Joel.

Awards and nominations

Award	Year	Nominated work	Category	Result	Ref.
American Music Awards	1981	Glass Houses	Favorite Pop/Rock Album	Won
Brit Awards	1984	Himself	International Artist	Nominated
	1990	"We Didn't Start the Fire"	British Video of the Year	Nominated
	1994	Himself	International Male Solo Artist	Nominated
Grammy Awards	1979	"Just the Way You Are"	Record of the Year	Won
			Song of the Year	Won
	1980	52nd Street	Album of the Year	Won
			Best Male Pop Vocal Performance	Won
		"Honesty"	Song of the Year	Nominated
	1981	Glass Houses	Album of the Year	Nominated
			Best Male Rock Vocal Performance	Won
	1983	The Nylon Curtain	Album of the Year	Nominated
	1984	An Innocent Man		Nominated
		"Uptown Girl"	Best Male Pop Vocal Performance	Nominated
	1985	Billy Joel Live from Long Island	Best Video Album	Nominated
	1990	"We Didn't Start the Fire"	Record of the Year	Nominated
			Song of the Year	Nominated
			Best Male Pop Vocal Performance	Nominated
	1991	Storm Front	Best Male Pop Vocal Performance	Nominated
		Himself	Producer of the Year, Non-Classical	Nominated
			Grammy Legend Award	Won
	1992	Live at Yankee Stadium	Best Long Form Music Video	Nominated
		"When You Wish Upon a Star"	Best Short Form Music Video	Nominated
	1994	River of Dreams	Album of the Year	Nominated
		"The River of Dreams"	Record of the Year	Nominated
			Song of the Year	Nominated
			Best Male Pop Vocal Performance	Nominated
	2002	"New York State of Mind"	Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals	Nominated
MTV Video Music Awards	1984	"Uptown Girl"	Best Male Video	Nominated
New York Emmy Awards	2018	Billy Joel: New York State of Mind	Entertainment: Program/Special	Won
	2020	White Hot Spotlight: Billy Joel and the Greatest Arena Run of All Time		Won
Primetime Emmy Awards	2002	Billy Joel: In His Own Words	Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program	Nominated
Tony Awards	2003	Movin' Out	Best Orchestrations	Won

See also

• Billy Joel Band
• List of best-selling music artists
• List of highest-grossing live music artists

External links

• Official website
• Billy JoelatIMDb
• Billy Joelat theInternet Broadway Database
• Billy JoelatAllMusic
• Billy Joel on Instagram,archived at Ghostarchive.org. Archived fromthe original