Billy Joel

William Martin Joel , more known under the name of Billy Joel , was born the May 9th 1949 in the district from the Bronx with New York. Pianist, Singer and Type-setter, it starts in the pop music in 1973 with the disc “Piano Man”. Musician of talent, it gained not less than 6 Grammy Award during his career, put between bracket since 1993.

With more than 100 million discs sold in the world, it is according to RIAA the sixth in the order of the artists having sold the most disc in the USA. It continues to traverse the world to occur in public (in particular with Elton John) and it still writes Classical music.

Its career

Its childhood

Its title “Leningrad” summarizes its childhood in a few words. It takes refuge under the Victor pseudonym to explain his birth right in the middle of the cold war, of the time of McCarthy (in reference at the height movement anti Communiste of the time). He lived the south of Bronx, which was then a modern district with white majority.

He has a sister and a half-brother.

After Bronx, he moves with his family for Long Island, then Levittown and continuous for Hicksville, two towns of working classes in the county of Nassau. His/her father, Howard Joel is a refugee Juif coming from Germany. His/her mother, Rosalind Nyman was born in England from Jewish family Agnostique. His/her father turns over in Europe of the East after having divorced Rosalind. The half-brother of Billy is called Alexander and been also musician.

During its childhood, it shows a great interest for the music, particularly the classical music. It takes lessons of Piano since very an young age, its interest for the classical music will be worth to him to be regularly maltreated by the children of its age, more interested by the sport.

Often abused, Billy decides to follow courses of Boxe to be able to defend oneself. It boxed a time, in the tournament " golden delicious gloves" but the sport gives up quickly to devote itself to its future musical career.

Studies

Billy Joel attended a college of Hicksville and was to receive its diploma in 1967. At this period, it was regularly engaged as professional musician to give concerts and its quota of hour of sleep was in very reduced fact. It often arrived late and with final, at the time of the calculation of the absences, it proved that it missed a course of gymnastics to be able to claim with its diploma. To obtain its paper, it must attend the courses during the summer. It decides not to be compelled with this obligation and during an interview to a journalist, it says to him: “I do not go to the Université Columbia, I go to the Columbia records”.

It leaves the benches of school to follow its musical career. In 1992, one withdraws the obligation to him to follow courses of gymnastics. 25 years after having left the university, it obtains its diploma at the time of a ceremony with Hicksville.

First steps in the music

It joined the " group; The Echoes" at the fourteen years age. In the Sixties, he plays in concert with a group Length Island, the " Hassels" being a good success locally (" Every Step I Take, " " You Got Me Hummin'"). Then, it trains the Attila group with the beater of Hassels, Jon Small. Attila records only one individual who will obtain a good success but the group will be dislocated shortly after.

The group disappears and Joel falls in depression. Wishing to finish some with the life, it is allowed in Meadowbrook Hospital after having introduced a product of polishing for pieces of furniture. This unhappy episode of its life is told in its song " Tomorrow is Today"

Its career in solo

First albums 1970-1976

Cold Spring Harbor (1971)

Billy Joel signs his first song with Artie RIP and records its first album solo with " Family Productions". Cold Spring Harbor (in reference to a town of Island Length of the same name) is recorded in 1971. The album will be recorded at the bad speed and the album sold with this defect.

The contract which binds Billy Joel with the " Family Productions" only bring to him very little of money coming from the sale of the discs. Joel leaves for Los Angeles in California with Elizabeth Weber and plays under the name of Bill Martin. In May 1971, Billy Joel Marie with Elizabeth. From this union will be born from the hits such as " She' S Got has Way" or " Everybody Coil You Now" recorded in the album " Executive Lounge" without having really success. In 1981, during a recording in Live, these two hits join the album Song in the Attic .

Cold Spring Harbor will be re-recorded in 1983 and will have an enormous success.

Piano Man (1973)

Its experiment in Los Angeles brings it closer to Columbia Records, which will obtain from Artie RIP the cancellation of the contract in the condition that the logo of " Family Productions" appear beside the logo of Columbia on the five next albums, in addition to one broad financial equalization.

Its short passage to Los Angeles inspires the song " to him; Man" piano; and the album of the same name will be recorded at the end of 1973. It will be sold some more than 5 million copies. The cancellation of the contract with Artie RIP will cost him much money and the sales of this gold disc will report only 7000 Dollar S. to him.

Streetlife Serenade (1974)

Joel remains in Los Angeles to write Streetlife Serenade, its second album under the Columbia label. One finds references to the city and his suburbs in the album. The title headlight of this album is " The entertainer" who takes again the topics of " Man" piano;. Joel was disturbed by the significant rearrangements carried out on " Man" piano; so that it passes better to the radio, and in " The Entertainer" , it spits in its soup with sarcastic words like " Yew you' Re gonna cuts has hit, you gotta make it made, so they cut it down to 3:05 " ( “If you make a tube, you will have to cut it, so that they make it hold in 3:05” ).

Turnstiles (1976)

In 1976, Joel leaves Turnstiles , a suitable title for this album on the geographical and professional transitions ( turnstiles wants to say swivel in English). Writing to mark the return of Joel on the east coast after having spent three years in California, the first title " Say Goodbye to Hollywood" show that Joel leaves for a new departure. In spite of " I' ve Loved Days" Thesis; , song speaking with regret about Los Angeles about the beginning of the year 1970, Turnstiles clearly returns the return of Joel to the fold. Indeed, " New York State off Mind " , a love song on the birthplace of Joel became traditional.

In Turnstiles, Joel uses his own musicians in the studio for the first time, and it has more control, producing itself its album. These takings risk paid, the album gives much more the impression of live that the preceding albums. Nevertheless, the continuous signature of Joel impressed of cynicism to express itself through pieces such as " Angry Young Man" , a song which will become a pillar of its concerts lasting of the years, partly thanks to its prelude to the piano which introduces it.

Decade 70 and second half of following coincided with its period of apogee. New York State Off Mind , The Stranger , Just The Way You Are , Honesty , My Life and Uptown Girl are without any doubt its tubes most memorable.

Towards the celebrity 1977-1981

The Stranger (1977)

For the album The Stranger, Joel joined to the producer Phil Ramone. Four titles of this disc appeared in Signal 40 in the United States, the sales exceeding those of the album of Simon and Garfunkel Bridge Over Troubled Water , the title best sold before by Columbia Records. It was the first album of Joel to enter Signal 10, going up until the second place of the albums most sold at the time. Phil Ramone was renewed to produce all the albums studio of Billy Joel until Storm Front left in 1989.

The Stranger made it possible Joel to gain two Grammy Awards: one for better album, the other for better song for Just the Way You Are , a song written for its Elizabeth wife.

52nd Street (1978)

Joel was awaited the turning for his next album. 52nd Street represented one day spent with Manhattan, and drew its street name in which were the offices of Columbia Records'. More than seven million copies were sold, in particular thanks to successes of the titles " My Life" , " Big Shot" and " Honesty" : 52nd Street was thus classified n°1, a first for Joel. " My Life" was selected like credits of the Sitcom, " Bosom Buddies ", in which one can inter alia finding Tom Hanks in one of his first roles. 52nd Street was the first album to be left in Compact disk to the Japan in 1982. 52nd Street was rewarded by 3 Grammy Awards: better pop vocal performance, better male artist and better album.

Knell Houses (1980)

Six titles of Glass Houses entered Signal 40: " You May Be Right" , " Closed To The Borderline" , " It' S Still Rock'n'roll & Roll To Me" , " Don' T Ask Me Why" , " All For Leyna" and " Sometimes has Fantasy". This album becomes the first of Joel to being classified n°1. It gained Grammy Award of better vocal performance rock'n'roll, as well as the American Music Award of better pop album/rock'n'roll.

Songs In The Attic (1981)

Its following album, Songs In The Attic , was produced starting from pieces little known of its beginning of career played in concert. It was recorded during a round in rooms and clubs in June and July 1980.

Success 1982-1986

The Nylon Curtain (1982)

The Nylon Curtain is often regarded as the most ambitious album of Billy Joel. He started to work above in spring 1982 when he had an car accident. A roadhog having roasted a red light struck Joel whereas this one was with motor bike. Its left wrist was broken and its seriously wounded hand. Because of the operations and one month convalescence necessary, the production of the album was stopped time that Joel cures.

The December 30th 1982, Joel recorded its first concert on video: Live one Long Island , recorded with the Nassau Coliseum with Uniondale (New York).

The July 20th 1983, Joel and his wife Elizabeth Weber divorced: Elizabeth then obtained half of the fortune of the singer. During this time, The Nylon Curtain arrived 7th of the best sales, in particular thanks to the songs " Allentown" , " Goodnight Saigon" and " Pressure".

" Allentown" arrived 17th of Signal 100 of the time, becoming thus one of the songs most played radio in 1982.

After the end of its round having followed the exit of the album, Joel was withdrawn on the island of St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre to rest. It is with the bar of the hotel that it met the Mannequin Christie Brinkley, which had just divorced. They approached, then ended up marrying the March 23rd 1985.

Innocent Year Man (1983)

The song " Uptown Girl" was one of the first songs written with the return of the holidays of Joel. " Uptown Girl" was conceived as an interrogation aloud of Joel on the reasons which pushed splendid Christie Brinkley to remain with a man like him. This song became a world success as of its exit, and was the only title of Joel to have been n°1 in the United Kingdom. The resulting album, innocent Year man , carried out like a homage to the music " doo-wop" the Fifties, was classified 4th better sales, grace in particular to the presence of six of its songs in Signal 30. The album was also nominated for Grammy of the best album of the year, but it lost vis-a-vis Thriller of Michael Jackson.

Greatest Hits vol. 1 and 2 (1985)

After the success of Innocent Year Man , Joel had been consulted to produce an album of his best titles. It was not the first time that this subject was tackled, but Joel had at the beginning considered the realization of compilations of his best titles as sounding the end of his career. This time, it accepted, and Greatest Hits vol. 1 and 2 left in a format two discs two faces or 2 CD, with the songs in their order of creation. The new songs " You' Re Only Human (Second Wind) " and " The Night Is Still Young" were recorded and diffused to support the album.

Greatest Hits gained one big hit, being sold with more than twenty million copies in the world becoming the double album more sold of all times by an artist solo, only The Wall of Pink Floyd having done better and the Double White of Beatles. Up to now it is the 6th album more sold in the American history of music according to the RIAA.

Coinciding with the exit of Greatest Hits , Joel left a compilation the promotional vidéos which it had recorded of 1977 to 1985. In addition to vidéos to accompany certain pieces of the Greatest Hits , Joel also recorded a clip of its first success: " Man" piano;.

Two version of Greatest Hits left out of CD: one in 1985 and the other in 1998. Although having both the same general screen, one can nevertheless note some light differences:

Although all the longest titles are intact (like " Man" piano; , " Captain Jack" or " Goodnight Saigon"), other shorter songs (" Pressure" , " Just The Way You Are" or " My Life") were shortened significantly in the version of 1985. However, the booklet accompanying the album lists the whole of the words, even those truncated. These songs is in integral version in the version of 1998.
In the album of 1985, it is the live version of " Say Goodbye to Hollywood" on Songs in the Attic which is used whereas it is the version of the album Turnstiles which one can hear on the compilation of 1998.
the version of 1998 has an improved quality of sound, thanks to the technological advancements made from the first exit.

The Bridge (1986)

Joel had just gained a sharp success with " Modern Woman" Original soundtrack of the film " Ruthless People" (with White beet Midler, Danny DeVito and Judge Reinhold) when it started to work on the album The Bridge at the beginning of 1986. Ray Charles contributed her share to the song " Grand" baby; , and Steve Winwood played of the organ on " Getting Closer". Cyndi Lauper also contributed to this album while being part of the choruses.

Although being part of the 10 most sold albums moment, The Bridge did not have as much success than some other albums of Joel. Some songs left nevertheless batch: the ballade " This Is The Time" is traditional balls of end of the year, " Modern Woman" , however regarded by Joel himself as not deserving attention, met a sharp success in its individual form.

It is at that time that Billy took part in the Cartoon of Disney Oliver and Compagnie, left in 1988, in which it doubles the dog Dodger (French Crafty beggar). He also recorded a song especially for film: " Why Should I Worry? ". Billy explained to have accepted this role by love for films of when he was child.

The period Soviet 1987-1989

During the round according to the exit of The Bridge , Joel and his musicians started to envisage a round in the Soviet Union at the summer 1987, a first for an artist American rock'n'roll since the construction of the Berlin Wall. And thus, in June 1987, six concerts had place, three with Moscow and three with Leningrad, all filmed and broadcast.

КОНЦЕРТ (1987)

The album КОНЦЕРТ , " concert" in Russian, left to the autumn 1987. Joel would have lost approximately 1 million dollars for the round, but he stated not to regret this deficit within sight of the hospitality of which the Russians had made proof.

Last albums 1989-1994

Storm Face (1989)

The song " We Didn' T Start the Fire " , the first individual one of the album Storm Face]] , left in September 1989, and quickly became the 3rd song of Joel number 1 in the United States.

Storm Face left in October 1989, and became finally the first album of Joel to being number 1 in the United States since Glass Houses , nine years before. Storm Front was the first album since Turnstiles not to be recorded with Phil Ramone as a producer. For this album, he wanted a new sound, and was thus surrounded of Mick Jones of the Foreigner group and the musician Crystal Taliefero (which became finally its musical director). Except " We Didn' T Start the Fire" , the album comprised also the song " Leningrad" , written after a meeting with a clown in the Soviet city at the time of the round in the USSR.

In 1992, Joel continued his former manager and ex-beautiful-brother Frank Weber (brother of its Elizabeth ex-wife) for various frauds of accountancy. The business was regulated by amicable agreement.

To rivet Dreams Off (1993)

Joel started to work on River Off Dreams at the beginning of 1993. The cover of the album was a painting of Christie Brinkley representing each song of the disc. The song éponyme was the last of Joel to enter signal 10.

A calmer life 1994-aujourd' today

In August 1995, the Bassiste of Billy Joel Doug Stegmeyer committed suicide in its house of Long Island. It had taken part in all the albums of Joel of Turnstiles to The Bridge .

In 1999, Joel occurred with the Madison Square Garden (New York) the day before the new millenium. The concert lasted nearly four hours and was then available in the vats under the title 2000 Years: The Millennium Concert .

In 2001 the album Fantasies & Delusions , a compilation of pieces of piano left. All were composed by Billy Joel and were interpreted by Richard Joo. Besides Joel uses often extracts of these pieces like interludes between his songs in concert. The album was the most sold traditional albums of the moment.

Joel carried out many concerts with Elton John in a round entitled " Face to Face" , during which the two singers interpreted, only or in duet, of the songs of the two men.

In 2005, Columbia left a box, My Lives , which is on the whole a compilation of news, face-B and versions live of tubes of Joel. One can find also there the software Umixit, thanks to which it is possible of remixer " Zanzibar" , " Only The Good Die Young", " Keepin' The Faith" , and of the versions live of " I Go To Extremes" and " Movin' Out (Anthony' S Song) " with its PC. A turned DVD River off Dreams is also included.

January 7th, 2006, Joel began a new round through the United States. Not having written new songs, its concerts rested on new versions of all its songs, including the tubes. 12 concerts with closed counters took place in Madison Square Garden (a record, the holding precedent of the title being Bruce Springsteen with 11 concerts), concerts from which are extracted the songs from the album " 12 Gardens: Live" , left in June 2006. Joel also stopped in the United Kingdom and in Ireland for the first time since many years.

Words of its songs

The words of the songs of Joel comprise very many references to places of New York, and in particular Long Island. For example, the line " Mile" miracle; song " It' S Still Rock'n'roll & Roll to Me" very refers to the district trading of Northern Boulevard of Manhasset.

Several songs of Joel come from his personal experience, like " Man" piano; , in which it describes its work of player of piano-bar with Los Angeles in the Seventies. Its song " Vienna" was surely written in reference to one of its visits to his/her father in Europe.

Contrary, and contrary to a persistent rumor, the song " Big Shot" do not result from an appointment missed with the former woman by Mick Jagger Bianca.

Influences

Its music reflects influences of very many various musical genres like the classical music, the Doo wop, the |musical comedies, the Jazz, the Blues, the punk, the Ska, the Gospel, the pop one and even Russian folksongs. That contributed to its success for one long period, but also made difficult its classification in a single musical genre.

The group

In the middle of the Seventies, the composition of the group of artists accompanying Joel was stabilized. The principal artists were:

Billy Joel - voice, piano, organ, harmonica, guitar
Liberty DeVitto - percussions
Doug Stegmeyer - low
Russell Javors - guitar
David Brown - guitar
Richie Cannata - saxophone, flute, clarinet, organ

It was also the composition of the group for the album live Songs In The Attic .

In the Eighties and Nineties, the group changed radically. At the time of the round To rivet off Dreams (1993), only DeVitto still made party of the group. " men orchestres" Hook Taliefero and Mark Will rivet joined the group of which they make always party besides. Will rivet succeeds in taking over Cannata on the solo of saxophone of the song " New York State off Mind" , that he played besides during the recording of Greatest Hits . Dave Rosenthal as for him joined the group with the keyboards, and is him also always in the group. Tommy Byrnes played regularly of the guitar for Joel, and was one of the musical consultants for the Musical comedy of Joel Movin' Out . For the round of 2006, Joel did not invite DeVitto to play of the percussions: it is Chuck Burgi (of the production of Movin' Out ) which replaced it. Richie Cannata was with the saxophone, accompanied by Mark Will rivet and Taliefero Hook.

Various diplomas and rewards

Although Joel never finished his studies of high-school pupil, he postulated has many doctorate as an honorary member:

Doctorate of human letters in Fairfield University (1991)
Doctorate of Berklee College off Music (1993)
Doctorate of human letters of the University Hofstra (1997)
Doctorate of music of Southampton College (2000)
Doctorate of visual arts in Syracuse University (2006)

Joel was also named MusiCares Persson off the Year in 2002. With the dinner given in its honor, many artists interpreted its songs, and among them Stevie Wonder, Jon Bon Jovi, and Natalie Cole.

Personal life

Marriages

Joel married his manager Elizabeth Weber the May 20th 1971. They divorced the July 20th 1983.

Then, Joel married the Mannequin Christie Brinkley the March 23rd 1985. From this marriage was born a girl, Alexa Ray Joel, born on January 1st 1986. The second first name of Alexa was a homage to Ray Charles, one of the musical idols of Joel. Finally, Billy and Christie divorced the August 25th 1994 but the couple remained in good terms.

In 2004, Joel married Katie Lee, a 23 year old young girl. At the time of the marriage, Joel was 54 years old. The girl of Joel, Alexa, then 18 years old, was young lady of honor. Christie Brinkley, the mother of Alexa, attended the ceremony and wished much happiness to the new couple. Katie Lee is critical culinary for the emission of the chain PBS, George Hirsch: Living room it Up! . In 2006, it presented the emission Top Chief.

Problems involved in alcohol

In 2002 Billy Joel had an car accident close to New York and it entered shortly after to the detoxification center Silver Hill Hospital. In 2003, the car of Joel left the road to run up against a tree against Island Length, and it was transported in Stony Brook University Hospital. In April 2004, Joel had an accident with Island Length again. Joel in March 2005 entered to the detoxification center Betty Ford, where it spent 30 days.

Discography

Albums

Cold Spring Harbor (1971)
Piano Man (1973)
Streetlife Serenade (1974)
Turnstiles (1976)
The Stranger (1977) (diamond Disc)
52nd Street (1978)
Knell Houses (1980)
Songs in the Attic ( Live ) (1981)
The Nylon Curtain (1982)
Innocent Year Man (1983)
Greatest Hits, Flights. 1 & 2 (1973-1985) (1985) (compilation) Disc of diamand in the year 2000
The Bridge (1986)
КОНЦЕРТ ( Live ) (1987)
Storm Face (1989)
To rivet off Dreams (1993)
Greatest Hits, vol. 3 (1997) (compilation)
The Supplements Hits Collection: 1973-1997 (1997) (compilation)
2000 Years: The Millennium Concert ( Live ) (2000)
Fantasies & Delusions (2001) (performed by Richard Joo)
Ultimate Collection (2001) (compilation)
Essential Billy Joel (2001) (compilation)
Movin' Out Original Broadway Cast Recording (2002) (performed by the cast off Movin' Out)
Piano Man: The Very Best Off (2004) (compilation)
My Lives (2005) (compilation)
12 Gardens Live (double album live) (forecast of exit: 06/2006)

Tubes

Piano Man

1973 " Man" piano;

Streetlife Serenade

1975 " The Entertainer"

The Stranger

1978 " Just the Way You Are "
1978 " Movin' Out (Anthony' S Song) "
1978 " Only the Good Die Young "
1978 "She' S Always has Woman"

52nd Street

1978 "My Life" US #3 (1979 release)
1979 " Big Shot"
1979 "Honesty"

Knell Houses

1980 " All for Leyna"
1980 "It' S Still Rock'n'roll to Me"
1980 "Don' T Ask Me Why"
1980 "Sometimes has Fantasy"
1980 "You May Be Right"

Songs in the Attic (LIVE)

1981 " Say Goodbye to Hollywood" (first publication: Turnstiles , 1976)
1982 " She' S Got has Way" (first publication Cold Spring Harbor , 1971)

The Nylon Curtain

1982 " Pressure"
1983 " Allentown "

Innocent Year Man

1983 " Uptown Girl "
1983 "Such Her It" Butt;
1983 "Innocent year Man"
1984 "The Longest Time"
1984 "Leave has Tender Moment Alone"
1985 "Keeping the Faith"

Greatest Hits, Flights. 1 & 2 (1973-1985)

1985 " The Night Is Still Young"
1985 " You' Re Only Human (Second Wind) "

The Bridge

1986 " Modern Woman"
1986 "In Matter Off Trust"
1987 "Grand" baby;
1987 "This Is The Time"

Storm Face

1989 " We Didn' T Start the Fire "
1990 "I Go to Extremes"
1990 "And So It Goes"
1990 "That' S Not Her Style"
1990 "The Downeaster 'Alexa'"

Honeymoon in Vegas soundtrack

1992 " All Shook Up"

To rivet off Dreams

1993 " To rivet Dreams" off;
1993 "All Soul" Butt;
1994 "Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel) "

Greatest Hits vol. 3

1997 " To Make You Feel My Love"

External bonds

Official site
Biography of Billy Joel
interactive Fanzine of Billy Joel

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