Billy JoelBy Michele Schavey

This was the Basis for his career

Born In Bronx, New York in 1949 and was given the name Billy Martin Joel.

Discovered classical music at 5 yrs old

Relocated to Long Island, New York

This is what made Billy decide to become a professional artist.

Ray Charles The Beatles Dave Brubeck Same Cook Rolling Stones Otis Redding

Music Influences

START OF BILLY JOEL’S CAREER

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Billy Joined his first band at age 14.

Billy Worked Evenings to help pay the bills.

Joined the Band, The Hassles in 1968 and recorded two albums with United Artists.

Billy Formed the group Attila, which Epic Records released on album.

The Piano Man

First solo album released with Paramount Records in 1972, called Cold Spring Harbor, which included the song Captain Jack.

Billy Fleas to the West Coast in 1973 and performs in a piano bar under the name “Bill Martin”.

Billy Signed with Columbia Records, and his first single hit was The Piano Man.

Start Of Billy Joel’s Awards, and sold out concerts.

Best New

Male

V0calist.

Male Artist O

f The Year.

Sold out perform

ances at Carnegie H

all and Lincoln Center in N

ew York City.

Hit Single The

Entertainer, recorded on Street Life Serenade in 1974.

1975-1978 1975, Billy moved back to New York and

recorded the Turnstiles Album, which included famous songs such as New York State Of Mind, Say Goodbye to Hollywood.

Billy Started his first Concert tour, which included many sold out shows

1977 Release of the album The Stranger, which allowed Billy to make TV performances.

1978 3 singles made Billboard’s hot 100 charts. In the fall of 1978, 52nd Street album was

released, which was Billy Joel’s first #1 album.

First of many Grammy’s February of 1979, Billy received

“Record Of The Year” and “ Song Of The Year for Just The Way You Are.

Columbia Records named Billy Their biggest selling solo artist of the 20th Century in October of 1979.

Billy had over nine million albums sold.

Many More AwardsBilly received two more Grammy’s in 1980 for “Album Of The Year” and “Best Male Pop Vocal Performance”

Billy also received an American Music Award for “Album Of The Year” for the album Glass Houses, which was #1 on the Billboard Charts for 6 weeks.

Billy recorded his 4th album called Songs In The Attic which included the songs She’s Got a Way, Captain Jack, and many more familiar songs.

1982, Billy was in a

motorcycle Accident

The Nylon

Curtain Album was

released

Many more

awards such as

grammy, billboard charts, 4

star review

Because of Billy’s success, he recorded An Innocent Man, which was music he loved while he was growing up. Many successes came from this album such as Grammy awards, top 40 singles, and top billboard chart numbers.

1985-1987 Great Successes

1985 Release of Greatest Hits 1 and 2 album

.“M

ost consistent and prolific m

ale artist of the decade”

Joined Farm Aid 1 and

USA for Africa

Married Christie Brinkley,

and birth of his daughter.

Release of the album

The Bridge.

1987 Billy brought a fully staged perform

ance to the Soviet Union.

Billy Re-vamped his band and split from his manager

His single and Album We Didn’t Start The

Fire reached #1 on

Billboard Charts

Billy Recorded his 14th album Storm Front

1989

We Didn’t Start the Fire received two Grammy Nominations, and The

Storm Front Tour Started.

Billy received the Grammy Legend Award, and a Humanitarian Award.

Many Changes, and many successes

Songs For Motion Picture “All Shook Up” “Heart Break Hotel”

for the “Honeymoon In Vegas Soundtrack”.

“In A Sentimental Mood” for “A League Of Their Own Soundtrack”.

Billy then released the album River Of Dreams

TRYING TIMES

Billy Joel and Christie Brinkley divorced.

While in Japan on his tour, Billy experienced the Kobe Earthquake Good does happen,

when troubling times arise.

In 1994 Billy Received 4 Grammy Nominations

Billy Toured with Elton John for a summer Stadium Tour

Billy Raised money for the Japan Earthquake Aid.

1997-2001Concerts

Awards

Billy had a New Years sold out show in Madison Square Garden in 2000

Billy toured with Elton John, and all shows were sold out

Billy performed for a September 11th relief fund.

Billy received the American Music Award, “Award of Merit”

Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame

Billy Received an award for Lifetime Achievement

Billy received the John Mercer Award

Billy Joel, over the span of his career Humanitarian efforts

Touched lives with his music

Make A Wish Foundation

Honorary Degrees

Favorite of Many, including former President Clinton

Uptown Girl On The the Album

An Innocent Man released in 1983

#1 on UK charts, and big seller in the US

Song was written about Christie Brinkley, who Billy Joel married

Tribute Album to the music of the 1960’s

Music was about attracting beautiful, glamorous women

Piano Man Was on the Album Piano Man, released in 1973Song went 4x platinumWas written about Joel’s experiences while playing in a piano bar called The Executive Room in Los Angeles

Bill referenced in the song is Billy JoelAll the people referenced in the song were people Billy encountered while working in the bar.Harmonica solo was inspired by Bob Dylan

JUST THE WAY YOU ARE

Was a single on the Album The Stranger, released in 1977

Won a Grammy for Song Of The Year

Song was inspired by Billy’s first wife Elizabeth, and was given as a birthday gift to her.

Saxophone Solo is played by Phil Woods

Joel didn’t like the song and almost didn’t put it on the album until Linda Ronstandt and Phoebe Snow convinced him.

Just The Way you Are is still a favorite for most of the fans.

Joel dreamt the melody and chord progression and wrote the lyrics over a few days.

Uptown Girl Listening Guide

Classified as modern rock

Sounds of a mechanic shop

Drums set the mood of the song

Billy Sings solo, as well as with a chorus

Quick, staccato notes in the chorus of the song

Piano Man Traditional rock/pop form

Song begins with a harmonica solo, then vocals join in along with the piano

Song is played in triple meter, then crescendos going into verse 2

Before heading to the 2nd part of verse 3 the piano and the harmonica have a solo

End of verse 3 has a strong intensity with a piano solo, then heading back to the normal tempo with the piano and vocals

Heading into verse 4 intensity increases, tempo stays the same

End of the song the piano and harmonica have a duet, slowing down to end the song.

Just The Way You Are Moderately Fast and

broken into verses Electric piano,

guitar and voices start off the song

Verse 2 tempo and volume increase, with percussion joining in

Alto Saxophone, drums and vocals being verse 3, then a saxophone solo, then with a duet with piano, voices joining in later

Melody returns to original form, with piano, drums and then percussion

Saxophone solo ends the song

BibliographySongFacts.com

BillyJoel.com

Sing365.com

Billy Joel: The Life And Times Of An Angry Man