Billy Joel
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Billy Joel is the 6th highest selling solo artist of all time behind, Garth Brooks and Elvis Presley among others. He released several hit singles like "Just The Way You Are" which is one of the most played songs on the radio of all time.
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About
Billy Joel or "William Joseph Martin" in real life was born on May 9, 1949 in Bronx, New York and raised in Hicksville to "Howard Martin", a classical pianist and "Rosalind Nyman". He learned to play piano at an early age of 4. His parents were divorced in 1960. He stayed whit his mom. In his teenage years, Billy began to be a rebellious son, he joined street gangs and boxing.He studied in Hicksville High School. Billy was about to graduate but due to lack of graduation requirement, he missed one exam, he decided not to continue.
After watching The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964, he decided to pursue a full-time musical career and set about finding a local Long Island band to join. Apparently, he joined "The Echoes" in that same year. Three years later, he left the band to joined The Hassels. They issued two albums in 1967 and 1968. The group was dismanded in 1968.
After one year, Billy formed a duo with "Jon Drummer" called "Atilla". They separate in 1970. Billy went solo and signed a recording contract under Family Productions. In 1971, he released his debut album, Cold Spring Harbor which became flop. His next album, Piano Man features hit singles,"Piano Man" which chartered at #4 on US Adult Contemporary Chart "Captain Jack", "The Ballad of Billy the Kid" and "You're My Home". The album is a certified gold and has sold over 4 million copies.
His next album, Streetlife Serenade was released in 1974. The album features the singles, "The Entertainer" which landed at #4 on US Adult Contemporary Chart and "The Mexican Connection". In 1975, he issued his next album, Turnstiles was released in May 1976. It issued the single, "New York State of Mind", "Summer, Highland Falls," and "Miami 2017 (I've Seen the Lights Go out on Broadway)."
In 1977, he released his biggest selling album, The Stranger. It issued the hit singles, "She's Always a Woman" which peaked at #2 in US Pop Chart, and his signature song and is one of the most covered and radio played songs of all-time, "Just the Way You Are" which became #1 in the US Pop Chart and #2 on the US Adult Contemporary Chart. He earned his Grammy Awards for this album. Billy's next album, 52nd Street was released on September 1978 and issued hit singles, "Big Shot", and "Honesty" which reached #2 on the US Adult Contemporary Chart. The album won Grammys for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male and Album of the Year.
In 1980 his next album, Glass Houses was issued. The album landed #1 on the Billboard Chart for 6 weeks. The album features the hit singles, "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me" which chartered #1 on US Pop Chart and "Close To The Borderline". His next album, The Nylon Curtain was released in 1982. It debuted #7 on the Billboard Chart and features the singles, "Alientown" which reached #17 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart. and "Pressure" which peaked at #20 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart.
Another album, An Innocent Man was issued in 1983 which features the singles, "Uptown Girl" which landed at #3 on the US Pop Chart and #2 on US Adult Contemporary Chart and "Tell Her About It" which peaked #1 both on US Pop Chart and US Adult Contemporary Chart. In 1986, he released his next album, The Bridge. It issued the hit singles, "Modern Woan", "Ruthless People" and "A Matter of Trust".
In 1989, Storm Front was released and issued the singles, ""We Didn't Start the Fire," which became #1 on the Billboard Chart for two weeks. In 1992, the English credit requirement was waived by the Hicksville School Board and he received his diploma at Hicksville High's graduation ceremony 25 years after he left the school.
His next album, River of Dreams was released in 1993 which features the song, "The River of Dreams" which chartered at #1 on the US Adult Contemporary Chart for twelve weeks and #3 on the US Pop Chart. He released his album, Fantasies and Delusions in 2001. It debuted at #1 on the Classical Charts. His latest single which he wrote entitled, "All My Life" was released in February 2007. Billy performed with the world famous Philadelphia Orchestra celebrating the 151st anniversary of the Academy of Music last January 26, 2008.
Awards & Certifications
| Year | Award | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Cashbox Award | New Male Vocalist |
| 1978 | Grammy Awards | Record of The Year for "Just The Way You Are" |
| 1978 | Grammy Awards | Song Of The Year/New Song Of The Year for "Just The Way You Are" |
| 1979 | Grammy Awards | Album Of The Year for "52nd Street" |
| 1979 | Grammy Awards | Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for "52nd Street" |
| 1980 | Grammy Awards | Best Male Rock Vocal Performance for "Glass Houses" |
| 1980 | American Music Award | Album Of The Year for "Glass Houses" |
Chart Toppers
| Year | Title | U.S. Pop | U.S. AC | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Piano Man | 25 | 4 | Piano Man |
| 1975 | The Entertainer | 25 | 4 | Streetlife Serenade |
| 1976 | Just the Way You Are | 3 | 1 | The Stranger |
| 1977 | She's Always a Woman | 17 | 2 | The Stranger |
| 1979 | Honesty | 17 | 2 | 52nd Street |
| 1980 | It's Still Rock and Roll to Me | 1 | 45 | Glass Houses |
| 1983 | Uptown Girl | 3 | 2 | The Nylon Curtain |
| 1983 | Tell Her About It | 1 | 1 | The Nylon Curtain |
| 1993 | The River of Dreams | 3 | 1 | River of Dreams |
News
Tours & Concerts
2008 Tours
Apr 26, 2008 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
May 08, 2008 Carnegie Hall - Isaac Stern Auditorium New York, New York, United States
May 23, 2008 Mohegan Sun Resort and Casino - Sun Arena, Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
May 25, 2008 Mohegan Sun Resort and Casino - Sun Arena, Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
May 29, 2008 Mohegan Sun Resort and Casino - Sun Arena, Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
May 31, 2008 Mohegan Sun Resort and Casino - Sun Arena, Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
June 13, 2008 Mochegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
June 15, 2008 Mochegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
Jun 21, 2008 Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, Virginia Beach, Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States
June 26, 2008 Mochegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
June 28, 2008 Mochegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
July 3, 2008 Mochegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
Jul 05, 2008 Mohegan Sun Resort and Casino - Sun Arena, Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
Jul 10, 2008 Hersheypark Stadium, Hershey Pennsylvania, United States
Jul 16, 2008 Shea Stadium, New York, New York United States
Jul 18, 2008 Shea Stadium, New York, New York United States
Announcements
There are no announcements as of this time
Discography
Albums
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 The Bridge
July 1986 |
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Singles
| Date | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Piano Man | Columbia Records |
| 1975 | The Entertainer | Columbia Records |
| 1976 | New York State of Mind | Columbia Records |
| 1975 | Just The Way You Are | Columbia Records |
| 1977 | She's Always a Woman | Columbia Records |
| 1978 | Big Shot | Columbia Records |
| 1979 | Honesty | Columbia Records |
| 1980 | It's Still Rock and Roll to Me | Columbia Records |
| 1980 | Sometimes a Fantasy | Columbia Records |
| 1982 | Allentown | Columbia Records |
| 1983 | Uptown Girl | Columbia Records |
| 1983 | An Innocent Man | Columbia Records |
| 1983 | Tell Her About It | Columbia Records |
| 1985 | Modern Woman | Columbia Records |
| 1990 | That's Not Her Style | Columbia Records |
| 1993 | The River of Dreams | Columbia Records |
Compilations & Live Releases
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Other artists
Similar artists
Contemporaries
Influences
Trivia
Reviews
External Links
Categories: Artist | Rock | Pop | Classical
