Performer: Billy Joel
Career Span: 1965-present
Location: Born on May 9, 1949 in The Bronx (New York City), New York.
Band Members: Billy Joel was considered a solo artist; however, he worked with several highly respected groups and people such as The Echoes, The Hassles, and even Elton John.
Bio:
“Hot dogs hot dogs come get your hot dogs!” Despite the stereotype of Bronx natives, the well-known William Martin “Billy” Joel, took interest in the piano at an early age which went on to become the very key to his success. This fellow New Yorker beat all odds when he decided to not graduate high school and go on to sell more than 150 million records worldwide. This achievement was what pushed him to become the third best-selling solo artist in the United States! Joel’s road to success came with plenty of bumps and bruises, but his music career is one kids dream about.
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At the end of his senior year, he was performing at a piano bar to help his mother pay the bills resulting in him not graduating high school. Joel was not extremely upset about this because his focus was on signing with a record company rather than a diploma. In 1964, Joel joined his first group, The Echoes.
After three years with The Echoes, Joel decided to jump the gun and join an admired Long Island act, the Hassels. He appeared on two on their albums before running away with the drummer to form an album together, and then finally broke away to become a solo artist. Joel had his debut in 1971 with the release of his first solo album “Cold Spring Harbor”; unfortunately it did not receive the appropriate recognition due to a lack of advertising. Nevertheless, he hit his big break in 1972 when Columbia Records caught wind of one of his secretive recordings and moved him to Los Angeles upon signing a recording