Billy Joel (born 9 May 1949, in the Bronx, New York) is an American singer-songwriter, composer, and pianist whose blend of pop, rock, jazz, classical influences, and vivid storytelling has made him one of the most successful and enduring artists in modern music. Often called the “Piano Man”, after his breakthrough 1973 single, Joel has sold more than 160 million records worldwide and ranks among the best-selling musicians of all time. Joel was raised in the Long Island town of Hicksville after his family moved from the Bronx. His father, Howard Joel, was a German-Jewish Holocaust survivor; his mother, Rosalind, encouraged Billy’s early interest in music. He began piano lessons at age four and later developed an appreciation for classical composers, jazz standards, and early rock & roll. Joel attended Hicksville High School but did not graduate on time, choosing instead to play in local bands to support his family. He later earned his high school diploma via correspondence. During the 1960s and early 1970s, Joel performed with several groups, including The Echoes, The Hassles (releasing two albums “The Hassles” (1968) and “Hour Of The Wolf” (1969)), and the duo Attila. After these projects stalled, Joel pursued a solo career. His 1971 debut album, “Cold Spring Harbor”, suffered from mastering issues and poor promotion, prompting him to move to Los Angeles. While performing in piano bars there, he wrote “Piano Man”, drawing heavily from that experience. Joel’s career took off with the release of his second album, “Piano Man” (1973). Throughout the late 1970s and 1980s, he released a string of critically acclaimed and commercially successful albums: “The Stranger” (1977) – featuring “Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song)”, “Vienna”, “Scenes From An Italian Restaurant”, and “Only The Good Die Young” - it became his best-selling album; “52nd Street” (1978) – won the Grammy for Album of the Year; “Glass Houses” (1980) – included the hit song “It’s Still Rock & Roll To Me”; “An Innocent Man” (1983) – a doo-wop inspired project with hits like “Uptown Girl” and "Tell Her About It”; and “Storm Front” (1989) – featured “We Didn’t Start The Fire”, a rapid-fire history lesson set to pop-rock. Joel is known for his character-driven songwriting, sharp sense of place (particularly New York), and melodic craft. He remains one of the most popular live performers in the world. His long-running residency at Madison Square Garden, launched in 2014, became the longest consecutive residency in the venue’s history, concluding in 2024 after 150-plus shows. Joel has been married four times, including to model Christie Brinkley, with whom he shares daughter Alexa Ray Joel. He has two younger daughters, Della Rose and Remy Anne, with his fourth wife, Alexis Roderick. Billy Joel’s music is a fixture of American pop culture. His storytelling, melodic songwriting, and genre versatility have earned him an induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (1999), induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame (1992), The Kennedy Center Honors (2013) and numerous Grammys and other awards.