Career Timeline of Billy Joel: Major Achievements and Milestones
From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Billy Joel made an impact.
Billy Joel, an American singer-songwriter and pianist, achieved fame in the 1970s and is known as the "Piano Man" after his iconic 1973 song. Throughout his career, spanning from 1971 to 1993, he released 12 studio albums across pop and rock genres, later adding a classical compositions album in 2001. With over 160 million records sold globally, he is among the best-selling music artists worldwide and the fourth-best-selling solo artist in the U.S. His 1985 compilation album, Greatest Hits – Volume I & Volume II, remains one of the best-selling albums in the United States.
1964: Played on Shangri-Las recording
In 1964, Billy Joel played on a recording of the Shangri-Las' "Remember (Walking in the Sand)".
1965: Began recording with The Echoes
In 1965, Billy Joel's band, The Echoes, began recording and Joel played piano on several records released through Kama Sutra Productions.
1965: The Echoes name change
In late 1965, the Echoes changed their name to the Emeralds.
1967: Joined The Hassles
In 1967, Billy Joel left the Lost Souls to join The Hassles, a Long Island group that had signed with United Artists Records.
1969: Formed Attila
In 1969, Billy Joel and Jon Small left the Hassles to form the duo Attila.
July 1970: Attila debut album
In July 1970, the duo Attila, formed by Billy Joel and Jon Small, released their eponymous debut album.
1971: Debut album released
In 1971, Billy Joel released his debut album, "Cold Spring Harbor", with Family Productions, marking the beginning of his solo career.
1971: Cold Spring Harbor tour
In the fall of 1971, Billy Joel began his Cold Spring Harbor tour throughout the mainland United States and Puerto Rico, opening for artists. His performance at the Puerto Rican Mar y Sol Pop Festival was well-received but he declined its publication on the compilation album.
1972: Signed with Columbia Records
In 1972, Billy Joel signed a record deal with Columbia Records after "Captain Jack" gained popularity from a live radio performance.
1972: Signed recording contract with Columbia
In 1972, Billy Joel signed a recording contract with Columbia Records and moved to Los Angeles. The Philadelphia radio station WMMR-FM also started playing "Captain Jack" that year. While in LA, he worked at The Executive Room piano bar, where he composed "Piano Man".
1973: "Piano Man" released
In 1973, Billy Joel released "Piano Man", which became his signature song and earned him the nickname "Piano Man".
1973: Piano Man released and touring band changed
In 1973, Billy Joel's first album with Columbia, "Piano Man", was released. Despite modest sales, the title track became his signature song. The same year Joel's touring band underwent changes.
1974: "Streetlife Serenade" album recorded
In 1974, Billy Joel recorded his second Columbia album, "Streetlife Serenade", in Los Angeles. Jon Troy was replaced by Joel's wife Elizabeth as his manager. The album contains references to suburbia and the inner city and includes "The Entertainer".
1974: Helen Reddy recorded "You're My Home"
In 1974, Helen Reddy recorded Billy Joel's track "You're My Home" from the Piano Man album.
1975: Played on Bo Diddley's album
In late 1975, Billy Joel played piano and organ on several tracks on Bo Diddley's "The 20th Anniversary of Rock 'n' Roll" all-star album.
1976: "Turnstiles" recorded
In 1976, Billy Joel recorded "Turnstiles", his first album recorded with the musicians with whom he toured. He produced the album himself after being dissatisfied with the initial recording.
1977: "Piano Man" music video recorded
Coinciding with the Greatest Hits album release, Joel released a two-volume Video Album that was a compilation of the promotional videos he had recorded. In 1977, Joel also recorded a video for his first hit, "Piano Man", for this project.
1977: "The Stranger" released
In 1977, Billy Joel achieved a critical and commercial breakthrough with the release of "The Stranger".
1977: Release of "The Stranger"
In 1977, Columbia Records introduced Billy Joel to Phil Ramone, who produced all of Joel's studio albums until 1986. "The Stranger" was released in 1977 and became a commercial success, with four Top-25 hits on the Billboard charts. It was Joel's first Top Ten album, reaching number two on the charts, and was certified multi-platinum.
1977: Increased fan base
In 1977, many fans discovered Billy Joel when The Stranger became a smash hit, introducing them to his earlier compositions.
1978: Release of "52nd Street"
In 1978, Billy Joel released "52nd Street", named after Manhattan's 52nd Street. The album sold over seven million copies and reached number one on the charts. It also won Grammy awards for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male and Album of the Year.
1978: "52nd Street" reached No. 1
In 1978, Billy Joel's album "52nd Street" became his first to reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
1979: Havana Jam festival
In 1979, Billy Joel traveled to Havana, Cuba to participate in the historic Havana Jam festival March 2–4, alongside various artists. His performance is captured in Ernesto Juan Castellanos's documentary Havana Jam '79.
May 1980: "You May Be Right" Hit
In May 1980, "You May Be Right" peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard chart.
July 1980: "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me" No. 1 Hit
In July 1980, "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me" became Joel's first Billboard number-one single.
July 1980: Songs in the Attic recorded
In June and July 1980, Billy Joel recorded live performances for his album, "Songs in the Attic", at larger US arenas and in intimate night club shows.
September 1980: "Don't Ask Me Why" Hit
In September 1980, "Don't Ask Me Why" peaked at No. 19 on the Billboard chart.
November 1980: "Sometimes a Fantasy" Hit
In November 1980, "Sometimes a Fantasy" peaked at No. 36 on the Billboard chart.
1980: "Glass Houses" released
In 1980, Billy Joel released the album "Glass Houses" in an attempt to further establish himself as a rock artist.
1981: Songs in the Attic release
In 1981, live performances of the popular songs "She's Got a Way" and "Everybody Loves You Now" were released on Songs in the Attic.
1981: Production of "The Nylon Curtain" begins
In the fall of 1981, production of "The Nylon Curtain" began. Billy Joel aimed for a sonic masterpiece, spending more time in the studio than on any previous album.
December 29, 1982: Live from Long Island video special
On December 29, 1982, Billy Joel recorded his first video special, "Live from Long Island", at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York.
1982: Last performed "Say Goodbye to Hollywood" live
Billy Joel last performed the song "Say Goodbye to Hollywood" live until 2014
1982: "The Nylon Curtain" released
In 1982, Billy Joel released "The Nylon Curtain", an album born from a desire to create more lyrically and melodically ambitious music.
1982: "52nd Street" released on compact disc
In 1982, the album "52nd Street" was the first commercially released album on the then-new compact disc format.
1983: "An Innocent Man" released
In 1983, Billy Joel released "An Innocent Man", an homage to genres of music from the 1950s.
1983: Remastered version of Cold Spring Harbor released
In 1983, Columbia released a remastered version of Billy Joel's album Cold Spring Harbor with certain songs shortened or re-orchestrated.
1983: "Live from Long Island" broadcast on HBO
In 1983, the video special "Live from Long Island" was originally broadcast on HBO before it became available on VHS.
1983: Release of "An Innocent Man"
In the summer of 1983, Billy Joel released "An Innocent Man", a tribute to R&B and doo wop music. The album itself reached No. 4 on the charts and No. 2 in UK. It also boasted six top-30 singles.
1984: Release of "The Longest Time" as a single
In March 1984, "The Longest Time" was released as a single, peaking at No. 14 on the Hot 100 and No. 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart.
January 1985: "Keeping the Faith" peaks at No. 18
In January 1985, "Keeping the Faith" peaked at No. 18.
1985: Participation in "We Are the World"
In 1985, Billy Joel participated in the USA for Africa "We Are the World" project.
1985: Greatest Hits release
In 1985, Billy Joel released "Greatest Hits – Volume I & Volume II", which became one of the best-selling albums in the United States.
October 1986: Planning Soviet Union tour
In October 1986, Billy Joel and his team began planning a trip to the Soviet Union for live performances.
November 18, 1986: "Big Man on Mulberry Street" used on Moonlighting
On November 18, 1986, an extended version of "Big Man on Mulberry Street" was used on a Season 3 episode of "Moonlighting".
1986: Contributed to "Ruthless People" soundtrack
In 1986, Billy Joel contributed to the soundtrack of the film "Ruthless People".
1986: End of Phil Ramone collaboration
In 1986, Phil Ramone's collaboration with Billy Joel came to an end. He produced all of Joel's studio albums from 1977 to 1986.
July 1987: Soviet Union tour
In July 1987, Billy Joel, his family, and his touring band traveled to the Soviet Union for live performances in Moscow, Leningrad, and Tbilisi. The concerts were simulcast on radio around the world and marked the first live rock radio broadcast in Soviet history.
October 1987: Release of КОНЦЕРТ (Kontsert)
In October 1987, Billy Joel's album "КОНЦЕРТ (Russian for 'Concert')" was released, featuring live recordings from his tour in the Soviet Union.
1987: Rock tour in the Soviet Union
In 1987, Billy Joel became one of the first artists to hold a rock tour in the Soviet Union.
1988: Joel Features on Mick Jones's album
Billy Joel is credited as one of the keyboard players on Mick Jones's 1988 self-titled solo album, and is featured in the official video for Jones's single "Just Wanna Hold".
1988: Voiceover work for "Oliver & Company"
In 1988, Billy Joel provided voiceover work for the Disney animated film "Oliver & Company", performing the song "Why Should I Worry?".
1988: Recording of Storm Front begins
In 1988, the recording of "Storm Front" commenced, coinciding with major changes in Billy Joel's career and business affairs.
August 1989: Dismissal of Frank Weber
In August 1989, Billy Joel dismissed his manager Frank Weber after an audit revealed major discrepancies in Weber's accounting.
September 1989: Release of "We Didn't Start the Fire"
In September 1989, Billy Joel released "We Didn't Start the Fire", which became his third US number-one hit.
1989: Doug Stegmeyer left touring band
In 1989, Doug Stegmeyer, who had been with Billy Joel since 1974, left the touring band.
January 1990: Partial judgment against Frank Weber
In January 1990, Billy Joel was awarded US$2 million in a partial judgment against his former manager, Frank Weber, following a lawsuit claiming fraud and breach of fiduciary duty.
1992: Contributed to "Honeymoon in Vegas" soundtrack
In 1992, Billy Joel contributed to the soundtrack of the film "Honeymoon in Vegas".
1993: "River of Dreams" released
In 1993, Billy Joel released "River of Dreams" and largely retired from producing studio material.
1993: Last studio album released
In 1993, Billy Joel released his twelfth and last studio album, though the title of the album is not mentioned.
2001: "Fantasies & Delusions" released
In 2001, Billy Joel released "Fantasies & Delusions", featuring classical compositions he composed and performed by Richard Hyung-ki Joo.
2001: Classical compositions released
In 2001, Billy Joel released a one-off studio album of classical compositions, though the title is not mentioned.
2008: Joel expresses dissatisfaction with The Bridge album
In a 2008 interview in Performing Songwriter magazine, Billy Joel stated that he does not think "The Bridge" is a good album.
May 2014: Performed "Say Goodbye to Hollywood" live
In May 2014, Billy Joel performed "Say Goodbye to Hollywood" live for the first time since 1982 at the Hollywood Bowl.
2024: Released "Turn the Lights Back On"
In 2024, Billy Joel returned to composing new music with the single “Turn the Lights Back On”.
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