William Martin Joel, better known as pianist and pop tunesmith Billy Joel, was born on May 9, 1949 in the Bronx. He was raised in a town called Hicksville, New York by an English mother and a German father. He has a sister named Judith and a half-brother named Alexander, who is also an accomplished piano player and conductor. In fact, Joel's father was an acclaimed piano player as well. A talent for tickling the ivories seems to run in the Joel family.Ironically, Billy Joel didn't initially want to take piano lessons. He finally did at his mother's insistence, but neighborhood kids picked on Joel for being interested in music instead of sports. Joel studied under a Julliard music teacher who also happened to teach ballet, so bullies accused him of taking dance lessons.
Joel eventually took boxing lessons in order to defend himself. He ended up being a somewhat successful contender on the amateur Golden Glove circuit.
Partly due to his rock and roll lifestyle, Billy Joel was one credit short of graduating high school. Music was his true calling, and he decided to pursue his dreams of becoming a pop star after seeing The Beatles perform on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964. Joel made his first recording at age 16 with a British Invasion cover band called The Echoes.
Joel signed his first solo record contract in 1971 with Artie Ripp of Family Productions. It was entitled “Cold Spring Harbor," but it was mastered at the wrong speed and distorted the pitch of Joel's voice. Songs like “She's Got a Way" and “Everybody Loves You Now" were on the album, but they consequently didn't garner much attention until the 1980s when they were re-released.
Billy Joel's first hit song was “The Piano Man." Released in 1973, it is still a popular radio and jukebox tune around the world today. It skyrocketed his career, and he was then able to be more hands-on in the production of his own songs. He is one of a select few musicians recording today that are in charge of their own brand of music by having their name on the copyright instead of a recording company.
Once Joel was in control, the hits of the late '70s and '80s started to hit the streets. From ballads like “Just the Way You Are" to rocking tunes like “Uptown Girl," Joel's music made him a household name.
Billy Joel was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999. Although he officially announced his retirement from recording music in 1993, he frequently tours and releases compilation albums. Rumors are circulating about an upcoming tour with Joel and Elton John, reuniting the two piano legends onstage.
By Duane Shinn
