Biography
William Martin Joel (born May 9, 1949) is an American musician, singer-songwriter, and composer. Commonly nicknamed the "Piano Man" after his first major hit and signature song of the same name as well as the similarly named 1973 album, he has led a commercially successful career as a solo artist since the 1970s, having released 12 studio albums from 1971 to 1993 as well as one studio album in 2001. He is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, as well as the seventh-best-selling recording artist and the fourth-best-selling solo artist in the United States, with over 160 million records sold worldwide. His 1985 compilation album, Greatest Hits Vol. 1 & 2, is one of the best-selling albums in the United States.
Awards & recognition
- honorary doctor of the State University of New York at Stony Brook · 2015
- Gershwin Prize · 2014
- honorary doctor of Syracuse University · 2006
- ASCAP Foundation Champion Award · 2005
- MusiCares Person of the Year · 2002
Show all 12 awards →
- Johnny Mercer Award · 2001
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame · 1999
- honorary doctor of the Hofstra University · 1997
- Grammy Legend Award · 1991
- Grammy Award — Album of the Year · 1980
- Kennedy Center Honors
- star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
Filmography38 titles
Billy Joel: And So It Goes
Billy Joel: A Matter of Trust - The Bridge to Russia
We Are the World: The Story Behind the Song
Once Upon a Studio
Billy Joel: The 100th - Live at Madison Square Garden
America's Game: The Super Bowl Champions
The Greatest Night in Pop
The 25th Anniversary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Concerts
Cola Wars
Billy Joel: Live at Yankee Stadium
Joe Cocker: Mad Dog with Soul
Paul McCartney: Good Evening New York City
Behind the Music
The Greatest Event in Television History
CBS News Sunday Morning
Garth Brooks: The Road I'm On
Saturday Night Live
Mad About You
Oliver & Company
Ruthless People
The Last Play at Shea
Itzhak
Free to Rock
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Dancing with the Stars
Easy Money
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Kevin Can Wait
Honeymoon in Vegas
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
American Idol
The Concert for New York City
The Apprentice
Ultrasuede: In Search of Halston
The Art of McCartney
Harry Chapin - Cat’s in the Cradle: The Song That Changed Our Lives
Ron Delsener Presents
Tony Bennett: Duets - The Making of an American Classic