Role

:

Composer  

Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

May 9, 1949 in Bronx, NY

Genre

:

Keyboard

 

Billy Joel is a renowned American musician, singer, and songwriter who has made a significant contribution to the world of classical music. He was born on May 9, 1949, in the Bronx, New York City, to Howard Joel and Rosalind Nyman. His father was a classical pianist, and his mother was a homemaker. Joel grew up in a musical family, and his father played a significant role in shaping his musical career. Joel started playing the piano at the age of four and showed a keen interest in music from a young age. He attended Hicksville High School, where he formed his first band, The Echoes. After completing high school, Joel attended the City College of New York but dropped out after a year to pursue his music career. In 1971, Joel signed his first recording contract with Family Productions, and his debut album, "Cold Spring Harbor," was released the same year. However, the album did not receive much commercial success, and Joel was dissatisfied with the production quality. He later re-recorded the album and released it in 1983. Joel's breakthrough came with his second album, "Piano Man," which was released in 1973. The album's title track became a hit, and the album reached the top 30 on the Billboard 200 chart. The album also included other popular tracks such as "The Entertainer" and "Captain Jack." Joel's third album, "Streetlife Serenade," was released in 1974 and featured the hit single "The Entertainer." The album was a commercial success and reached the top 40 on the Billboard 200 chart. In 1977, Joel released his fifth album, "The Stranger," which became his most successful album to date. The album included hit singles such as "Just the Way You Are," "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)," and "Only the Good Die Young." The album reached the top 10 on the Billboard 200 chart and was certified diamond by the RIAA. Joel's next album, "52nd Street," was released in 1978 and became his first album to reach number one on the Billboard 200 chart. The album included hit singles such as "My Life," "Big Shot," and "Honesty." The album was also certified diamond by the RIAA. In 1982, Joel released his seventh album, "The Nylon Curtain," which included hit singles such as "Allentown" and "Pressure." The album reached the top 10 on the Billboard 200 chart and was certified double platinum by the RIAA. Joel's next album, "An Innocent Man," was released in 1983 and included hit singles such as "Uptown Girl," "Tell Her About It," and "The Longest Time." The album reached the top 10 on the Billboard 200 chart and was certified seven times platinum by the RIAA. In 1986, Joel released his ninth album, "The Bridge," which included hit singles such as "Modern Woman" and "A Matter of Trust." The album reached the top 10 on the Billboard 200 chart and was certified double platinum by the RIAA. Joel's tenth album, "Storm Front," was released in 1989 and included hit singles such as "We Didn't Start the Fire" and "I Go to Extremes." The album reached the top 10 on the Billboard 200 chart and was certified four times platinum by the RIAA. Joel's eleventh album, "River of Dreams," was released in 1993 and included hit singles such as "The River of Dreams" and "All About Soul." The album reached the top 10 on the Billboard 200 chart and was certified five times platinum by the RIAA.

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