Billy Joel

About

William Martin Joel, known to millions as the "Piano Man," has built one of popular music's most enduring careers as a singer, songwriter, and pianist. Rising to prominence in the 1970s, Joel earned his iconic nickname following the release of his signature 1973 song "Piano Man," a moment that crystallized his identity as an artist and launched him toward superstardom. For over two decades, from 1971 to 1993, he released twelve entirely self-written studio albums that moved fluidly across pop and rock genres, establishing him as a master craftsman of melody and lyrical storytelling.

With over 160 million records sold worldwide, Billy Joel stands among the best-selling music artists of all time and ranks as the fourth-best-selling solo artist in the United States. His body of work speaks to an extraordinary artistic legacy, with his 1985 compilation album Greatest Hits - Volume I & Volume II becoming one of the best-selling albums ever released in America. Beyond his prolific output in popular music, Joel further demonstrated his artistic range in 2001 with a studio album of classical compositions, confirming his status as a musician of remarkable depth and versatility whose influence continues to resonate across generations.