Billy Joel, the "Piano Man," is a highly successful American singer-songwriter and pianist. He launched his solo career in the 1970s, releasing 12 studio albums (1971-1993) in the pop and rock genres, and a classical album in 2001. He has sold over 160 million records globally, making him one of the best-selling music artists and the fourth-best-selling solo artist in the United States. His 1985 compilation album, Greatest Hits – Volume I & Volume II, is a best-selling album in the U.S.
In 1922, Rosalind Nyman, Billy Joel's mother, was born in Brooklyn to Jewish parents.
In 1923, Howard (Helmut) Joel, Billy Joel's father, was born in Nuremberg, Germany.
On May 9, 1949, William Martin Joel, later known as Billy Joel, was born. He is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist.
In 1957, Rosalind and Howard Joel, Billy Joel's parents, divorced, after which Howard returned to Europe.
In 1964, Billy Joel states he played on a recording of the Shangri-Las' "Remember (Walking in the Sand)", marking one of his early musical contributions.
In 1965, The Echoes began recording, and Billy Joel played piano on several records released through Kama Sutra Productions and recordings produced by Shadow Morton.
In late 1965, the Echoes changed their name to the Emeralds, and then to the Lost Souls.
In 1967, Billy Joel did not graduate with his class at Hicksville High School, due to missed exams as he was playing at a piano bar to help support himself and his family.
In 1967, Billy Joel left the Lost Souls to join the Hassles, a Long Island group signed with United Artists Records.
In 1969, Billy Joel and drummer Jon Small left the Hassles to form the duo Attila.
In July 1970, Attila, the duo formed by Billy Joel and Jon Small, released their eponymous debut album.
In 1970, a career decline and personal tragedies led Billy Joel to a depressive period and a suicide attempt by drinking furniture polish, resulting in hospitalization and treatment for depression.
In 1971, Billy Joel began his solo career, marking a significant turning point in his musical journey.
In 1971, Billy Joel released his debut album, Cold Spring Harbor, marking the beginning of his solo career after short stints with the Hassles and Attila.
In the fall of 1971, Billy Joel began his Cold Spring Harbor tour throughout the mainland United States and Puerto Rico, opening for various artists and gaining interest in his music.
During the spring of 1972, Billy Joel signed a recording contract with Columbia Records and moved to Los Angeles after radio station WMMR-FM began playing "Captain Jack".
In 1972, Billy Joel caught the attention of Columbia Records after a live radio performance of "Captain Jack," leading to a new record deal with the company.
In 1973, Billy Joel married Elizabeth Weber, who subsequently became his manager.
In 1973, Billy Joel released "Piano Man", his signature song, which would later give him his nickname and contribute to his successful career.
In 1974, Billy Joel recorded his second Columbia album, Streetlife Serenade, in Los Angeles, containing references to suburbia and the inner city.
In 1974, Helen Reddy recorded the Piano Man track "You're My Home", bringing more attention to Joel's songwriting.
In 1975, Billy Joel returned to New York City after becoming disenchanted with Los Angeles.
In late 1975, Billy Joel played piano and organ on several tracks on Bo Diddley's album The 20th Anniversary of Rock 'n' Roll.
In 1976, Billy Joel recorded Turnstiles, the first album he recorded with the musicians with whom he toured.
In 1977, "The Stranger" became a breakthrough album for Billy Joel, introducing many fans to his earlier compositions.
In 1977, Billy Joel achieved critical and commercial success with the release of The Stranger, which became Columbia's best-selling release.
In 1977, alongside the release of his Greatest Hits album, Billy Joel released a two-volume Video Album, compiling promotional videos he had recorded since 1977. He also recorded a new video for "Piano Man".
In 1978, Billy Joel released "52nd Street", which sold over seven million copies and reached number one on the charts with hits like "My Life", "Big Shot", and "Honesty".
In 1979, Billy Joel traveled to Havana, Cuba, to participate in the Havana Jam festival alongside various artists. His performance was documented in "Havana Jam '79".
In May 1980, "You May Be Right" reached No. 7 on the Billboard chart.
In July 1980, "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me" became Billy Joel's first Billboard number-one single.
In July 1980, Billy Joel recorded live performances in night club shows for "Songs in the Attic", featuring lesser-known songs from earlier in his career.
In September 1980, "Don't Ask Me Why" reached No. 19 on the Billboard chart.
In November 1980, "Sometimes a Fantasy" reached No. 36 on the Billboard chart.
In 1980, Billy Joel released the album Glass Houses, in an attempt to establish himself as a rock artist.
In 1981, live performances of "She's Got a Way" and "Everybody Loves You Now" were released on Songs in the Attic, bringing attention to the songs originally on Cold Spring Harbor.
In the fall of 1981, Billy Joel began production on "The Nylon Curtain", aiming for a more ambitious and topical songwriting style.
On April 15, 1982, Billy Joel was involved in a serious motorcycle accident on Long Island, which caused injuries to his hands and temporarily delayed the production of "The Nylon Curtain".
On July 20, 1982, Billy Joel divorced his first wife, Elizabeth Weber Small.
On December 29, 1982, Billy Joel filmed his first video special, "Live from Long Island", at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York.
In 1982, Billy Joel released The Nylon Curtain, influenced by a desire to create more lyrically and melodically ambitious music.
In 1982, Billy Joel's album "52nd Street" became the first commercially released album on compact disc.
Until May 2014, Billy Joel had not performed "Say Goodbye to Hollywood" live since 1982.
In 1983, "And So It Goes" was originally written around the time Billy Joel was writing songs for "An Innocent Man", but it was held back until "Storm Front".
In 1983, Billy Joel released "An Innocent Man", a tribute to R&B and doo wop music, which included his second Billboard number-one hit, "Tell Her About It".
In 1983, Billy Joel's video special, "Live from Long Island", was originally broadcast on HBO before becoming available on VHS.
In 1983, Columbia released a remastered version of Cold Spring Harbor, with certain songs shortened or re-orchestrated.
In 1984, Billy Joel released singles from "An Innocent Man", including "The Longest Time" which hit No. 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart, and "Leave a Tender Moment Alone" which hit No. 27.
In January 1985, "Keeping the Faith" peaked at No. 18 on the Hot 100 chart.
In March 1985, Billy Joel married model Christie Brinkley.
On December 29, 1985, Billy Joel and Christie Brinkley's daughter, Alexa Ray Joel, was born. Alexa was named after Ray Charles, one of Joel's musical idols.
In 1985, Billy Joel and Christie Brinkley got married. Their relationship began after Brinkley starred in the music video for "Uptown Girl".
In 1985, Billy Joel participated in the USA for Africa project and contributed to the "We Are the World" song.
In 1985, Billy Joel recorded "You're Only Human (Second Wind)" as a message to help prevent teen suicide.
In 1985, Billy Joel released his compilation album, Greatest Hits – Volume I & Volume II, which became one of the best-selling albums in the United States.
In October 1986, Billy Joel and his team began planning a tour to the Soviet Union, including live performances in Moscow, Leningrad, and Tbilisi.
On November 18, 1986, an extended version of Billy Joel's "Big Man on Mulberry Street" was featured on an episode of Moonlighting.
In 1986, Billy Joel contributed to the soundtrack of the film Ruthless People.
In 1986, Billy Joel was on the site selection committee for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and cast the tie-breaking vote for Cleveland, Ohio.
In 1986, Phil Ramone's collaboration with Billy Joel came to an end. Ramone had produced all of Joel's studio albums from 1977 to 1986.
In July 1987, Billy Joel, his family, and his band toured the Soviet Union, performing in Moscow, Leningrad, and Tbilisi. The concerts were simulcast on radio around the world.
In October 1987, Billy Joel released the album "КОНЦЕРТ", featuring live performances from his tour in the Soviet Union.
In 1987, Billy Joel became one of the first artists to hold a rock tour in the Soviet Union, marking a significant cultural exchange.
In 1987, Billy Joel met a clown in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) during his tour, which inspired him to write the song "Leningrad".
In 1988, Billy Joel played keyboards on Mick Jones' self-titled solo album. He is also featured in the video for Jones' single "Just Wanna Hold".
In 1988, Billy Joel provided voiceover work for the Disney animated film Oliver & Company, performing the song "Why Should I Worry?".
In 1988, Billy Joel voiced Dodger in the animated film "Oliver & Company" and sang the character's song "Why Should I Worry?".
In 1988, the recording of "Storm Front" began, coinciding with major changes in Billy Joel's career and business affairs.
In August 1989, Billy Joel dismissed his manager, Frank Weber, after discovering discrepancies in Weber's accounting.
In September 1989, Billy Joel released "We Didn't Start the Fire", which became his third US number-one hit.
In 1989, Doug Stegmeyer left Billy Joel's band, after having been bassist since 1974.
In January 1990, Billy Joel was awarded US$2 million in a partial judgment against his former manager, Frank Weber.
In early 1990, "I Go to Extremes" reached No. 6, and in late 1990, "And So It Goes" reached No. 37, further promoting the "Storm Front" album.
In 1992, Billy Joel contributed to the soundtrack of the film Honeymoon in Vegas.
In 1992, Billy Joel inducted the R&B duo Sam & Dave into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Also in 1992, Joel began working on the album River of Dreams.
In 1992, Billy Joel was awarded his high school diploma from Hicksville High School after submitting essays in lieu of a missed exam.
In 1992, Billy Joel was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, recognizing his contributions to music.
In the summer of 1992, Billy Joel filed a US$90 million lawsuit against his former lawyer Allen Grubman, alleging fraud and breach of contract.
In 1993, Billy Joel released the album River of Dreams before largely retiring from producing studio material.
In 1993, Billy Joel was the second entertainer to be inducted into the Madison Square Garden Walk of Fame.
In the fall of 1993, Billy Joel's lawsuit against Allen Grubman was settled out of court, with Sony America paying Joel US$3 million to protect its subsidiary Sony Music's interests.
On April 13, 1994, Billy Joel and Christie Brinkley announced their separation.
In August 1994, Billy Joel and Christie Brinkley's divorce was finalized.
On August 26, 1994, Billy Joel and Christie Brinkley divorced. They remain friends.
In 1996, Billy Joel merged his love of boating with a desire for a second career, forming the Long Island Boat Company with Peter Needham.
In 1996, Billy Joel shared insights about "Storm Front" and "And So It Goes" during a Masterclass session in Pittsburgh.
In 1997, Billy Joel performed with Garth Brooks during Brooks' Central Park concert.
In 1999, Billy Joel was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland by Ray Charles, one of his musical influences.
On September 21, 2001, Billy Joel performed "New York State of Mind" live as part of the America: A Tribute to Heroes benefit concert.
On October 20, 2001, Billy Joel performed "Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway)" and "Your Song" with Elton John at the Concert for New York City in Madison Square Garden.
In 2001, Alexander Joel, Billy Joel's half-brother, became the chief musical director of the Staatstheater Braunschweig.
In 2001, Billy Joel received the Johnny Mercer Award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame, celebrating his songwriting achievements.
In 2001, Billy Joel released Fantasies & Delusions, a unique album of classical compositions, showcasing a different side of his musical talent.
Billy Joel was named MusiCares Person of the Year for 2002, and various artists performed his songs at the dinner honoring him.
In 2002, Billy Joel bought an estate in Centre Island, New York, in the town of Oyster Bay, for US$22 million.
In 2002, Billy Joel entered Silver Hill Hospital, a substance abuse and psychiatric center, for 10 days of treatment.
In 2003, Billy Joel inducted The Righteous Brothers into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
In 2003, Rolling Stone included The Stranger at number 67, and 52nd Street at number 352, on their 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list.
On September 20, 2004, Billy Joel received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his work in the music industry.
On October 2, 2004, Billy Joel married chef Katie Lee, his third wife. His daughter, Alexa Ray, was maid of honor, and Christie Brinkley attended the wedding.
In March 2005, Billy Joel checked into the Betty Ford Center, where he spent 30 days for the treatment of alcohol abuse.
In 2005, Columbia released the "My Lives" box set, a compilation of demos, b-sides, live versions, and hits.
On January 7, 2006, Billy Joel began a tour across the U.S., featuring songs from throughout his career.
On June 13, 2006, Columbia released "12 Gardens Live", a double album of live recordings from Joel's 2006 shows at Madison Square Garden.
On July 31, 2006, Billy Joel performed a free concert in Rome, Italy, with the Colosseum as the backdrop.
On October 15, 2006, Billy Joel was inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame.
In 2006, "The Great Wall of China", a song about his ex-manager Frank Weber, was a regular part of Billy Joel's tour setlist.
In 2006, Billy Joel was inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame, honoring his local roots and impact on music.
On February 27, 2007, Billy Joel's newest single, "All My Life", was released in stores.
On December 1, 2007, Billy Joel premiered his new song "Christmas in Fallujah", performed by Cass Dillon.
On January 26, 2008, Billy Joel performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra, celebrating the 151st anniversary of the Academy of Music.
On March 10, 2008, Billy Joel inducted his friend John Mellencamp into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
On June 19, 2008, Billy Joel played a concert at the grand re-opening of Caesars Windsor in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
HarperCollins acquired the autobiography book project for US$3 million in 2008.
In 2008, Billy Joel played a benefit with Bruce Springsteen to raise money for Barack Obama's presidential campaign.
In 2008, Billy Joel stated in an interview that he does not think "The Bridge" is a good album.
In a 2008 radio interview, Billy Joel said that he no longer performs the song because singing it in its high original key "shreds" his vocal cords.
In March 2009, Billy Joel and Elton John resumed their "Face to Face" tour.
On May 19, 2009, Billy Joel's former drummer, Liberty DeVitto, filed a lawsuit claiming owed royalty payments.
On June 17, 2009, Billy Joel and Katie Lee announced their separation.
In 2009, Billy Joel and Alexis Roderick started their relationship.
In February 2010, Billy Joel denied rumors that he had cancelled a summer leg of the "Face to Face" tour, stating no dates were ever booked.
In March 2010, Billy Joel and Elton John ended their "Face to Face" tour in Albany, New York.
In November 2010, Billy Joel opened a shop in Oyster Bay, Long Island, to manufacture custom-made, retro-styled motorcycles and accessories.
In March 2011, Billy Joel decided against publishing his autobiography and officially canceled his deal with HarperCollins.
In June 2011, the autobiography written by Billy Joel with Fred Schruers, titled "The Book of Joel: A Memoir", was originally scheduled to be released.
In November 2011, "Piano Man" was re-released in a two-disc Legacy edition.
On December 12, 2011, Billy Joel became the first non-classical musician honored with a portrait in Steinway Hall.
In 2011, Howard Joel, Billy Joel's father, passed away.
On December 12, 2012, Billy Joel performed at 12-12-12: The Concert for Sandy Relief at Madison Square Garden, modifying lyrics to "Miami 2017".
In 2012, Billy Joel signed an exclusive worldwide publishing agreement with Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG).
In May 2013, Billy Joel announced that he would hold his first ever indoor Irish concert at the O2 in Dublin.
On December 29, 2013, Billy Joel received Kennedy Center Honors in Washington, D.C.
In 2013, Billy Joel was recognized at the Kennedy Center Honors, celebrating his lifetime contributions to American culture.
On December 31, 2013, Billy Joel headlined a solo arena concert in New York City for the first time since 2006, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
On January 27, 2014, Billy Joel began a concert residency at Madison Square Garden, playing one concert a month indefinitely.
In May 2014, Billy Joel performed "Say Goodbye to Hollywood" live for the first time since 1982 at the Hollywood Bowl.
On July 22, 2014, the Library of Congress announced that Billy Joel would be the sixth recipient of the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.
In November 2014, Billy Joel received the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song at a performance ceremony from the Librarian of Congress and Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor.
In 2014, Alexander Joel's tenure as chief musical director of the Staatstheater Braunschweig concluded.
In 2014, Fred Schruers published a biography, simply titled "Billy Joel", based on his extensive personal interviews with Joel.
In 2014, Rosalind Joel, Billy Joel's mother, passed away.
On July 4, 2015, Billy Joel married Alexis Roderick, his fourth wife, at his Oyster Bay estate. The ceremony was conducted by Governor Andrew Cuomo.
On August 4, 2015, Billy Joel performed his final concert at Nassau Coliseum before it underwent a US$261 million renovation.
On August 12, 2015, Billy Joel and Alexis Roderick had a daughter, Della Rose Joel.
In November 2015, Billy Joel's waterfront residence in Manalapan, Florida, was put on the market for $19.5 million.
In 2016, after sarcastic dedication of "The Entertainer" to Donald Trump was misinterpreted, Billy Joel clarified that he would be voting for Hillary Clinton.
On April 5, 2017, Billy Joel played the first concert at the newly renovated Nassau Coliseum.
On June 24, 2017, fifty years after his would-be graduating class received their diplomas, Billy Joel delivered the honorary commencement address at Hicksville High School. It was also the 25th anniversary of him receiving his own diploma.
On October 22, 2017, Billy Joel and Alexis Roderick's second daughter, Remy Anne Joel, was born.
In 2017, Billy Joel's waterfront residence in Manalapan, Florida, was relisted with an asking price of $18.5 million.
Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway) is mentioned as one of Joel's best-known songs in 2017.
On July 18, 2018, Governor Andrew Cuomo proclaimed the date to be Billy Joel Day in New York State to mark his 100th performance at Madison Square Garden.
In 2018, the asking price for Billy Joel's Manalapan, Florida, property was further reduced to $16.9 million.
In 2019, Billy Joel announced a concert at Camden Yards, home of the Baltimore Orioles, marking the first-ever concert at the baseball stadium.
In January 2020, Billy Joel's 13,200-square-foot property in Manalapan, Florida, sold for US$10.3 million.
Beginning in March 2020, Billy Joel was forced to postpone his concerts due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Billy Joel's concerts remained postponed until August 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As of 2022, "Vienna" is one of Billy Joel's most streamed songs on the internet.
On June 1, 2023, Billy Joel announced that his residency at Madison Square Garden would end in July 2024 with his 104th performance in the series, marking his 150th lifetime performance at the venue.
On October 19, 2023, a portion of Audrey Avenue in Billy Joel's hometown of Oyster Bay was renamed "Billy Joel Way" in his honor.
In 2023, Billy Joel and Stevie Nicks jointly announced plans to perform a series of concerts across the United States.
In 2023, Billy Joel put his Oyster Bay estate on the market for $49 million, but the listing was pulled for renovations.
On January 22, 2024, Billy Joel announced his first new pop single in years, "Turn the Lights Back On", which was released on February 1.
On April 14, 2024, Billy Joel was featured on CBS in commemoration of his 100th performance at Madison Square Garden.
Billy Joel is set to conclude his 10-year residency at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan in July 2024.
In September 2024, Billy Joel's Oyster Bay estate, with its guest houses, pool, beach, and helipad on 26 acres, was again offered for sale, asking $49.9 million.
In 2024, Billy Joel returned to composing new music with the release of the single “Turn the Lights Back On”.
In 2024, Billy Joel was honored in "Group C Premiere: Billy Joel Night," on The Masked Singer Season 11, where contestants sang his songs.