Billy Joel

classic rocksinger-songwriterrockpoppiano

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About

William Martin Joel (born May 9, 1949) is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. He is known by the nickname “Piano Man”, derived from his 1973 song of the same name, and has maintained a career as a solo artist since the 1970s. Between 1971 and 1993 he released 12 studio albums in the pop and rock genres, followed by a studio album of classical compositions in 2001. With global record sales exceeding 160 million, he is among the best-selling music artists worldwide and ranks among the highest-selling solo artists in the United States. His 1985 compilation album "Greatest Hits – Volume I & Volume II" is one of the best-selling albums in the United States. Joel was born in the Bronx in New York City and raised in the Levittown section of Hicksville on Long Island, where he began piano lessons during childhood. After leaving high school to pursue music, he performed in the bands the Hassles and Attila before signing with Family Productions and releasing his debut solo album "Cold Spring Harbor" in 1971. A live radio performance of "Captain Jack" gained attention in Philadelphia and led to a contract with Columbia Records, through which he issued "Piano Man" in 1973. After "Streetlife Serenade" (1974) and "Turnstiles" (1976), his commercial and critical breakthrough came with "The Stranger" (1977), which sold over 10 million copies and produced singles including "Just the Way You Are", "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)", "Only the Good Die Young", and "She's Always a Woman", as well as frequently performed tracks such as "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" and "Vienna". His album "52nd Street" (1978) reached number one on the Billboard 200 chart.

Source: Last.fm