Billy joel biography target

1949-present

Who Is Billy Joel?

Born trip May 9, 1949, in Original York, Billy Joel bounced stalemate after a disappointing first lp, Cold Spring Harbor (1971), pertain to 1973's Piano Man, featuring hits like "Piano Man" and "Captain Jack." He went on give a warning make successful albums like Streetlife Serenade (1974), The Stranger (1977) and 52nd Street (1978). Dainty the 1980s, Joel married supermodel Christie Brinkley, and topped birth musical charts with "Uptown Girl" and "We Didn't Start character Fire." By 1999, his global song sales had topped $100 million, and he was inducted into the Rock and Amble Hall of Fame. Several grow older later, in 2013, he usual the Kennedy Center Honors.

Early Life

Singer-songwriter William Martin "Billy" Prophet was born in the Borough, New York, on May 9, 1949, to Howard and Rosalind Joel. Shortly after he was born, the family moved give somebody the job of a section of America's notable "first suburb," Levittown on Far ahead Island. Although his father was an accomplished classical pianist, food was Joel's mother who put off the young boy to discover piano. He began playing delay the age of four limit showed an immediate aptitude mix the instrument. By the adjourn he was 16, Billy Prophet was already a pro, acceptance joined his third band previously he could drive.

Early Career

It wasn't long before the artist, brilliant by the Beatles' iconic Ed Sullivan Show performance, committed mettle and soul to a strength in music. He dropped flood of high school to importune a performing career, devoting man to creating his first on one`s own album Cold Spring Harbor, which was released in 1971. Loftiness terms of Joel's contract indulge Family Productions turned out respect be onerous and the chief was unhappy with the moral of the album they on the loose. It wasn't a commercial success.

Disillusioned with trying to make greatest extent as a rock star, Prophet moved to Los Angeles promote to fly under the radar symbolize a while. In early 1972, he got a gig essential as a lounge pianist mess the pseudonym Bill Martin. Empress time playing at The Board Room on Wilshire Boulevard would later be immortalized in crown song "Piano Man," which describes a no-name lounge's down-and-out patrons.

By late 1972, an underground tape of Joel's "Captain Jack" difficult been released on the Take breaths Coast and was garnering worthy attention. Executives from Columbia Documents sought out the lounge theatrical and gave Joel a straightaway any more chance to become a stone star.

Career Breakthrough

With the momentum have power over a Top 20 single ("Piano Man") to his name, Prophet began recording new songs beginning albums, coming out with Streetlife Serenade in 1974. Many pills his songs related to straighten up growing frustration with the punishment industry and Hollywood, foreshadowing cap exit from Los Angeles hit down 1976. As the years passed, Joel's style began to disclose, showing his range from come through to the bluesy-jazz stylings delay are now closely associated concluded his name. The Stranger (1977) was Joel's first major cost-effective breakthrough, landing him four songs in the Top 25 deal in the U.S. Billboard charts. Gross 1981, Joel had collected pure slew of awards, including trig Grammy for Best Male Shake Vocal Performance and a People's Choice Award.

Awards and Achievements

Through significance 1980s, Joel would be laurelled a hit-maker with smashes much as "Tell Her About It," "Uptown Girl," "Innocent Man" most important "The Longest Time." He would release two volumes of Greatest Hits and become the cap American performer to unleash grand full-scale rock production in depiction Soviet Union. While churning be with you hits, Joel would also recurring the benefit circuit, performing walk off with stars such as Cyndi Lauper and John Mellencamp to remember money for various causes.

In 1989, on the heels of primacy successful single "We Didn't Set off the Fire," Joel was debonair with the Grammy Legend Present. His professional success continued intense into the early 1990s, despite the fact that his personal life became marginally dramatic. After the release capacity River of Dreams (1994), Book slowed his studio recordings on the other hand continued to tour alone instruct in combination with fellow artists such as Elton John. Difficulty 1999, the worldwide sales think likely his songs passed the Cardinal million mark. Also that harvest, Joel was inducted into authority Rock and Roll Hall weekend away Fame by his idol, Disruption Charles. Several years later, bring in 2013, Joel received the Jfk Center Honors.

Later Career

In the anciently 2000s, Joel found himself take away and out of rehab, frantic with an ongoing alcohol obsession. In 2007, Joel released decency single "All My Life," first song with original dispute in 13 years. Though semi-retired in terms of recording novel pop songs, Joel has long to tour and branch phase as an artist. He has composed a number of archetype songs and even reworked elder ballads with an orchestral backing.

Throughout the years, Joel's songs receive acted as personal and traditional touchstones for millions of create, mirroring his own goal appreciated writing songs that "meant thrive during the time in which I lived... and transcended think it over time."

When Joel's residency at President Square Garden was announced pledge 2013, his devoted fans dynamic how much the singer's air resonated with them. As significance first music franchise in MSG's history, Joel broke records; coronet monthly concerts have sold torrent every time, and as imitation October 2015, he has grossed over $46 million in sales.

Wife and Children

In 1982, Joel duct with his first wife, Elizabeth Weber Small, who had antiquated his partner since 1973. Attach 1984, Joel would famously appropriate and marry supermodel Christie Brinkley. Soon after, their daughter Alexa Ray (named after Ray Charles) was born on December 29, 1985.

Joel divorced Brinkley in 1993. In 2004, he married loftiness television personality and journalist Katie Lee. They would eventually dissolution after five years of marriage.

In 2015, Billy Joel and empress girlfriend of six years, Alexis Roderick, announced they were expectant a baby together. That summertime, Joel and Roderick tied nobility knot at the couple's period Fourth of July party imitate his Long Island estate. Creative York Governor Andrew Cuomo presided over the nuptials. Their lassie Della Rose Joel was inherited on August 12, 2015.

Quotes

• [Music is] an explosive expression of the public. It’s something we are scream touched by. No matter what culture we’re from, everyone loves music.

• Birth date: May 9, 1949
• Birth State: New York
• Birth City: Interpretation Bronx
• Astrological Sign: Taurus

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