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.
In 1922, Rosalind Nyman, Billy Joel's mother, was born in Brooklyn.
In 1923, Howard 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 became an American singer, songwriter, and pianist.
In 1957, Billy Joel's parents, Rosalind and Howard Joel, divorced, after which his father moved to Europe.
In 1964, Billy Joel played on a recording of the Shangri-Las' "Remember (Walking in the Sand)".
In 1965, Billy Joel's band, The Echoes, began recording and Joel played piano on several records released through Kama Sutra Productions.
In late 1965, the Echoes changed their name to the Emeralds.
In 1967, Billy Joel did not graduate from Hicksville High School with his class due to missing a crucial English exam.
In 1967, Billy Joel left the Lost Souls to join The Hassles, a Long Island group that had signed with United Artists Records.
In 1969, Billy Joel and Jon Small left the Hassles to form the duo Attila.
In July 1970, the duo Attila, formed by Billy Joel and Jon Small, released their eponymous debut album.
In 1971, Billy Joel released his debut album, "Cold Spring Harbor", with Family Productions, marking the beginning of his solo career.
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.
In 1972, Billy Joel signed a record deal with Columbia Records after "Captain Jack" gained popularity from a live radio performance.
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".
In 1973, Billy Joel released "Piano Man", which became his signature song and earned him the nickname "Piano Man".
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.
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".
In 1974, Helen Reddy recorded Billy Joel's track "You're My Home" from the Piano Man album.
In 1975, Billy Joel, feeling disenchanted with Los Angeles, returned to New York City.
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.
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.
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.
In 1977, Billy Joel achieved a critical and commercial breakthrough with the 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.
In 1977, many fans discovered Billy Joel when The Stranger became a smash hit, introducing them to his earlier compositions.
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.
In 1978, Billy Joel's album "52nd Street" became his first to reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
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.
In May 1980, "You May Be Right" peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard chart.
In July 1980, "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me" became Joel's first Billboard number-one single.
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.
In September 1980, "Don't Ask Me Why" peaked at No. 19 on the Billboard chart.
In November 1980, "Sometimes a Fantasy" peaked at No. 36 on the Billboard chart.
In 1980, Billy Joel released the album "Glass Houses" in an attempt to further establish himself as a rock artist.
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.
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.
On April 15, 1982, Billy Joel was involved in a serious motorcycle accident on Long Island, severely injuring his hands, which temporarily delayed the production of "The Nylon Curtain".
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.
Billy Joel last performed the song "Say Goodbye to Hollywood" live until 2014
In 1982, Billy Joel released "The Nylon Curtain", an album born from a desire to create more lyrically and melodically ambitious music.
In 1982, the album "52nd Street" was the first commercially released album on the then-new compact disc format.
In 1983, Billy Joel released "An Innocent Man", an homage to genres of music from the 1950s.
In 1983, Columbia released a remastered version of Billy Joel's album Cold Spring Harbor with certain songs shortened or re-orchestrated.
In 1983, the video special "Live from Long Island" was originally broadcast on HBO before it became available on VHS.
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.
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.
In January 1985, "Keeping the Faith" peaked at No. 18.
In 1985, Billy Joel participated in the USA for Africa "We Are the World" project.
In 1985, Billy Joel released "Greatest Hits – Volume I & Volume II", which became one of the best-selling albums in the United States.
In 1985, after working on the music video for "Uptown Girl", Billy Joel and Christie Brinkley began a relationship that led to their marriage.
In October 1986, Billy Joel and his team began planning a trip to the Soviet Union for live performances.
On November 18, 1986, an extended version of "Big Man on Mulberry Street" was used on a Season 3 episode of "Moonlighting".
In 1986, Billy Joel contributed to the soundtrack of the film "Ruthless People".
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.
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.
In October 1987, Billy Joel's album "КОНЦЕРТ (Russian for 'Concert')" was released, featuring live recordings 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.
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".
In 1988, Billy Joel provided voiceover work for the Disney animated film "Oliver & Company", performing the song "Why Should I Worry?".
In 1988, the recording of "Storm Front" commenced, coinciding with major changes in Billy Joel's career and business affairs.
In August 1989, Billy Joel dismissed his manager Frank Weber after an audit revealed major 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, who had been with Billy Joel since 1974, left the touring band.
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.
In 1992, Billy Joel contributed to the soundtrack of the film "Honeymoon in Vegas".
In 1992, Billy Joel was awarded his high school diploma from Hicksville High, 25 years after leaving, based on essays he submitted.
In 1992, Billy Joel was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
In 1993, Billy Joel released "River of Dreams" and largely retired from producing studio material.
In 1993, Billy Joel released his twelfth and last studio album, though the title of the album is not mentioned.
In 1999, Billy Joel was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
In 2001, Billy Joel received the Johnny Mercer Award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
In 2001, Billy Joel released "Fantasies & Delusions", featuring classical compositions he composed and performed by Richard Hyung-ki Joo.
In 2001, Billy Joel released a one-off studio album of classical compositions, though the title is not mentioned.
In 2001, Billy Joel's half-brother, Alexander Joel, became the chief musical director of the Staatstheater Braunschweig.
In 2006, Billy Joel was inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame.
In 2008, Billy Joel said in a radio interview that he no longer performs the song "Say Goodbye to Hollywood" because singing it in its high original key "shreds" his vocal cords.
In a 2008 interview in Performing Songwriter magazine, Billy Joel stated that he does not think "The Bridge" is a good album.
In 2011, Howard Joel, Billy Joel's father, passed away.
In May 2014, Billy Joel performed "Say Goodbye to Hollywood" live for the first time since 1982 at the Hollywood Bowl.
In 2014, Billy Joel's half-brother, Alexander Joel, concluded his tenure as the chief musical director of the Staatstheater Braunschweig.
In 2014, Rosalind Joel, Billy Joel's mother, passed away.
As of 2022, "Vienna" became one of Billy Joel's most streamed songs on the internet.
In 2024, Billy Joel returned to composing new music with the single “Turn the Lights Back On”.
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