Questions
What’s Billy Joel’s real name and where is he from?
He was born William Martin Joel on May 9, 1949, in the Bronx, New York, and grew up in Hicksville on Long Island.
How did the song "Piano Man" come about?
Joel reportedly worked for six months at The Executive Room piano bar on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles under the name "Bill Martin," and he wrote his signature song about the bar’s patrons during that time.
Which album made him a household name?
His 1977 album The Stranger established him as a star, selling over 10 million copies and featuring "Just the Way You Are," "Only the Good Die Young," and "She’s Always a Woman."
Did Billy Joel really used to box?
Yes, he competed as an amateur welterweight on the Golden Gloves circuit, reportedly winning 22 of 26 fights before quitting after breaking his nose.
What was his first number one song on the Billboard Hot 100?
"It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me," from the 1980 album Glass Houses, was his first single to top the Billboard Hot 100.
How many records has he sold?
He has sold over 160 million records worldwide, making him the fourth best-selling solo artist in the United States.
How many Grammy Awards has Billy Joel won?
He has won 5 Grammy Awards out of 23 nominations, and his 1978 album 52nd Street won Album of the Year.
Is he in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?
Yes, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999, the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1992, and received the Kennedy Center Honors in 2013.
What’s the story behind "Uptown Girl"?
The song was reportedly inspired by a chance encounter with models Christie Brinkley, Elle Macpherson, and singer Whitney Houston at a Caribbean hotel bar, and Joel married Brinkley in 1985 after she appeared in the music video.
What is his connection to Madison Square Garden?
He holds the record for most concerts performed there, and in 2006 his 12 consecutive sold-out shows broke the venue record previously held by Bruce Springsteen at 10.
Did he get a retired number at the Garden?
Yes, he earned the arena’s first retired number (12) for a non-athlete, honoring his run of sold-out shows.
What bands did he play in before going solo?
He played in The Echoes starting in 1965, then The Hassles, and later the duo Attila, which reportedly disbanded when Joel began an affair with the drummer’s wife, Elizabeth, whom he later married.
Did Billy Joel ever release classical music?
Yes, his 2001 album Fantasies & Delusions featured classical piano pieces he composed, performed by Richard Hyung-ki Joo, and it topped the classical charts at number one.
Why did he stop releasing new pop albums?
He largely retired from writing new pop music after 1993’s River of Dreams, though he continued touring and released the new single "Turn the Lights Back On" in 2024.
What happened when he toured the Soviet Union?
His 1987 tour reportedly produced the first rock radio broadcast in Soviet history, and he performed for more than 100,000 people across Moscow and Leningrad.
