William Martin Joel (born May 9, 1949) is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. He is known by the nickname “Piano Man”, derived from his 1973 song of the same name, and has maintained a career as a solo artist since the 1970s. Between 1971 and 1993 he released 12 studio albums in the pop and rock genres, followed by a studio album of classical compositions in 2001. With global record sales exceeding 160 million, he is among the best-selling music artists worldwide and ranks among the highest-selling solo artists in the United States. His 1985 compilation album "Greatest Hits – Volume I & Volume II" is one of the best-selling albums in the United States. Joel was born in the Bronx in New York City and raised in the Levittown section of Hicksville on Long Island, where he began piano lessons during childhood. After leaving high school to pursue music, he performed in the bands the Hassles and Attila before signing with Family Productions and releasing his debut solo album "Cold Spring Harbor" in 1971. A live radio performance of "Captain Jack" gained attention in Philadelphia and led to a contract with Columbia Records, through which he issued "Piano Man" in 1973. After "Streetlife Serenade" (1974) and "Turnstiles" (1976), his commercial and critical breakthrough came with "The Stranger" (1977), which sold over 10 million copies and produced singles including "Just the Way You Are", "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)", "Only the Good Die Young", and "She's Always a Woman", as well as frequently performed tracks such as "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" and "Vienna". His album "52nd Street" (1978) reached number one on the Billboard 200 chart. "Glass Houses" (1980) emphasized a rock-oriented style and included the single "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me", which topped the Billboard Hot 100, along with "You May Be Right", "Don't Ask Me Why", and "Sometimes a Fantasy". "The Nylon Curtain" (1982) reflected an emphasis on more elaborate lyrical and melodic composition. "An Innocent Man" (1983) paid tribute to musical styles associated with the 1950s, such as rhythm and blues and doo-wop, and featured "Tell Her About It", "Uptown Girl", and "The Longest Time". After releasing "River of Dreams" in 1993, Joel largely ceased issuing pop or rock studio albums, later releasing the classical recording "Fantasies & Delusions" in 2001, composed by Joel and performed by pianist Richard Hyung-ki Joo. He contributed voice acting and the song "Why Should I Worry?" to the animated film "Oliver & Company" and provided music for films including "Easy Money", "Ruthless People", "A League of Their Own", and "Honeymoon in Vegas". He returned to issuing new material with the 2024 single "Turn the Lights Back On". Joel has sustained an extensive touring career and has performed internationally, including a concert tour in the Soviet Union in 1987. He has recorded 33 Top 40 singles in the United States, including three that reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100: "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me", "Tell Her About It", and "We Didn't Start the Fire". He has received 23 Grammy Award nominations, winning six, including Album of the Year for "52nd Street". Joel was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1992, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999, and the Long Island Music Hall of Fame in 2006. Additional honors include the Johnny Mercer Award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2001 and recognition through the Kennedy Center Honors in 2013. Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Joel Studio albums Cold Spring Harbor (1971) Piano Man (1973) Streetlife Serenade (1974) Turnstiles (1976) The Stranger (1977) 52nd Street (1978) Glass Houses (1980) The Nylon Curtain (1982) An Innocent Man (1983) The Bridge (1986) Storm Front (1989) River of Dreams (1993) Fantasies & Delusions (2001)