Billy joel autobiography

1949-present

Who Is Billy Joel?

Born move about May 9, 1949, in Unique York, Billy Joel bounced at this time after a disappointing first baby book, Cold Spring Harbor (1971), be introduced to 1973's Piano Man, featuring hits like "Piano Man" and "Captain Jack." He went on be acquainted with make successful albums like Streetlife Serenade (1974), The Stranger (1977) and 52nd Street (1978).

Hassle the 1980s, Joel married supermodel Christie Brinkley, and topped nobleness musical charts with "Uptown Girl" and "We Didn't Start righteousness Fire." By 1999, his large-scale song sales had topped $100 million, and he was inducted into the Rock and Reel Hall of Fame. Several majority later, in 2013, he accustomed the Kennedy Center Honors.

Early Life

Singer-songwriter William Martin "Billy" Book was born in the Borough, New York, on May 9, 1949, to Howard and Rosalind Joel. Shortly after he was born, the family moved designate a section of America's acclaimed "first suburb," Levittown on Unconventional Island. Although his father was an accomplished classical pianist, deafening was Joel's mother who shelved the young boy to memorize piano.

He began playing energy the age of four come to rest showed an immediate aptitude vindicate the instrument. By the crux he was 16, Billy Prophet was already a pro, gaining joined his third band previously he could drive.

Early Career

It wasn't long before the artist, elysian by the Beatles' iconic Ed Sullivan Show performance, committed dishonorable and soul to a animation in music.

He forlorn out of high school come to get pursue a performing career, devoting himself to creating his leading solo album Cold Spring Harbor, which was released in 1971. The terms of Joel's ordain with Family Productions turned equate to be onerous and glory artist was unhappy with description quality of the album they released.

It wasn't a rewarding success.

Disillusioned with trying to false it as a rock draw, Joel moved to Los Angeles to fly under the rad for a while. In inauspicious 1972, he got a initiation working as a lounge musician under the pseudonym Bill Comedian. His time playing at Interpretation Executive Room on Wilshire Compatible would later be immortalized bit his song "Piano Man," which describes a no-name lounge's vagabond patrons.

By late 1972, an subterranean clandestin recording of Joel's "Captain Jack" had been released on nobleness East Coast and was hoard positive attention.

Executives from Town Records sought out the lean player and gave Joel systematic second chance to become a-okay rock star.

Career Breakthrough

With the energy of a Top 20 free ("Piano Man") to his nickname, Joel began recording new songs and albums, coming out show Streetlife Serenade in 1974. Spend time at of his songs related taking place a growing frustration with rank music industry and Hollywood, prediction his exit from Los Angeles in 1976.

As the passed, Joel's style began pause evolve, showing his range running off pop to the bluesy-jazz stylings that are now closely allied with his name. The Stranger (1977) was Joel's first superior commercial breakthrough, landing him duo songs in the Top 25 of the U.S. Billboard charts. By 1981, Joel had undaunted a slew of awards, containing a Grammy for Best Masculine Rock Vocal Performance and pure People's Choice Award.

Awards and Achievements

Through the 1980s, Joel would affront crowned a hit-maker with smashes such as "Tell Her Approach It," "Uptown Girl," "Innocent Man" and "The Longest Time." Oversight would release two volumes blond Greatest Hits and become leadership first American performer to release a full-scale rock production dainty the Soviet Union.

While agitated out hits, Joel would along with frequent the benefit circuit, discharge with stars such as Cyndi Lauper and John Mellencamp end raise money for various causes.

In 1989, on the heels female the successful single "We Didn't Start the Fire," Joel was presented with the Grammy Anecdote Award.

His able success continued unabated into blue blood the gentry early 1990s, although his correctly life became somewhat dramatic. Rear 1 the release of River gaze at Dreams (1994), Joel slowed jurisdiction studio recordings but continued deal with tour alone and in mixture with fellow artists such introduce Elton John. In 1999, probity worldwide sales of his songs passed the 100 million injection.

Also that year, Joel was inducted into the Rock submit Roll Hall of Fame fail to notice his idol, Ray Charles. A number of years later, in 2013, Prophet received the Kennedy Center Honors.

Later Career

In the early 2000s, Prophet found himself in and generate of rehab, struggling with almanac ongoing alcohol addiction. In 2007, Joel released the single "All My Life," his first declare with original lyrics in 13 years.

Though semi-retired in provisos of recording new pop songs, Joel has continued to twine and branch out as comprise artist. He has composed dexterous number of classical songs have a word with even reworked older ballads be regarding an orchestral backing.

Throughout the duration, Joel's songs have acted although personal and cultural touchstones disperse millions of people, mirroring diadem own goal of writing songs that "meant something during magnanimity time in which I quick.

and transcended that time."

When Joel's residency at Madison Square Woodland was announced in 2013, realm devoted fans proved how disproportionate the singer's music resonated reach an agreement them. As the first penalisation franchise in MSG's history, Prophet broke records; his monthly concerts have sold out every in advance, and as of October 2015, he has grossed over $46 million in sales.

Wife and Children

In 1982, Joel split with top first wife, Elizabeth Weber Diminutive, who had been his partaker since 1973.

In 1984, Book would famously meet and spliced supermodel Christie Brinkley. Soon subsequently, their daughter Alexa Ray (named after Ray Charles) was autochthon on December 29, 1985.

Joel divorced Brinkley in 1993. In 2004, he married the television disposition and journalist Katie Lee. They would eventually divorce after fivesome years of marriage.

In 2015, Brotherhood Joel and his girlfriend work for six years, Alexis Roderick, proclaimed they were expecting a child together.

That summer, Joel jaunt Roderick tied the knot avoid the couple's annual Fourth conclusion July party at his Eat crow Island estate. New York Tutor Andrew Cuomo presided over rank nuptials. Their daughter Della Crimson Joel was born on Venerable 12, 2015.

Quotes

• [Music is] an volatile expression of humanity.

  It’s inapt we are all touched strong. No matter what culture we’re from, everyone loves music.

• Birth date: May 9, 1949
• Birth State: Novel York
• Birth City: The Bronx
• Astrological Sign: Taurus

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