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Billy Joel. Born May 9, 1949. Grew up in Levittown New York. Father was an accomplished musician. Mother encouraged him to learn the piano. Was in three bands by the time he was 16. He wrote his first song My Journey’s End when he was 13 or 14. The lost souls The Echoes and The Hassels.
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Billy Joel Born May 9, 1949
Grew up in Levittown New York Father was an accomplished musician Mother encouraged him to learn the piano
Was in three bands by the time he was 16 • He wrote his first song My Journey’s End when he was 13 or 14. • The lost souls The Echoes and The Hassels
Dropped out of highschool to pursue his music career full time. • Went to Hicksville High • Teacher Chuck Arnold encouraged him to be a musician.
Started solo career Signed a bad record deal with Family Records. Recorded first album Cold Spring Harbor. Album wasn’t good and didn’t have any success, it was recorded at the wrong speed. Left for L.A. to try to get out of his contract.
First big hit was The Piano Man Inspired by real people and experiences from when working at a L.A. piano bar to pay the bills. His first top 20 hit After Piano Man his career stalled until his new album The Stranger launched his career and never looked back
Had a very successful career Billy wrote over 150 songs and had multiple number one hits over the The length of his career. Songs included: Allentown, An Innocent Man, And So it Goes, Big Shot, Captain Jack, The Entertainer, Honesty, It’s Still Rock & Roll To Me, Just The Way You Are, Keeping The Faith, The Longest Time, Moving Out, My Life, Only The Good Die Young, Piano Man, River Of Dreams, Shameless, She’s Always a Women, She’s Got A Way, Tell Her About It, Up Town Girl, You May Be Right, Just to name a few!
His Personal Life! • Billy was married to his First wife Elizabeth for 9 years. From 1973 to 1982 • Married Christy Brinkley two years later and had a daughter Alexa Ray Joel then got divorced again after 9 years. • Married Katie Lee in 2004 and then 5 years later ended up divorcing her. • Now he is in a relationship with Alexis Roderick and they have two pugs.
Billy Joel Today • Billy is now living in Oyster bay, Ny where he has multiple business ventures one of which is a motor cycle company called 20th Century Cycles. • He is now dating Alexis Roderick and they have just adopted a four year old pug named Rosie.
Hall Of Fame!!! • Billy Joel has won 6 Grammys and has had 23 nominations. • He has sold over 150 million records. • He was inducted into the Song writers Hall of Fame in 1992. • He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1999.
By Jeremy Stewart Intro to music 1010 Craig Ferrin
Sources • www.billyjoel.com • www.songfacts.com • www.artistfacts.com • www.wnyc.com • www.biography.com • Various pictures used from google images.