Billy Joel Timeline
William Martin Joel is born in the Bronx, NY. on May 9. The family moves to the
1949 Levittown section of Hicksville on Long Island where he spends his childhood
and young adult years.
1953 Begins studying piano.
1963 Joins his first band, The Echoes, later known as The Lost Souls.
Joins The Hassles, a Long Island-based band, and records the The Hassles,
1967
the first of two albums for United Artists,.
1968 The Hassles record their second album Hour of the Wolf.
Forms Attila, a heavy metal duo with Hassles' drummer, Jon Small. Attila
1970
records one album on Epic Records.
Signs a solo recording contract and releases his first album, Cold Spring
Harbor.
1971 Commences a world tour with his band to promote Cold Spring Harbor.
Disappears to the West Coast as a result of a contractual dispute, where he
performs in piano bars under the name Bill Martin.
WMMR-FM, a radio station in Philadelphia, starts playing a tape of a new song,
‘Captain Jack,’ taken from a live concert broadcast.
1972 Although he does his best to keep a low profile in Los Angeles, the notoriety of
‘Captain Jack’ prompts Columbia Records to track him down and offer him a
recording contract.
He is signed to Columbia Records by the legendary Clive Davis and records the
1973
album Piano Man in Los Angeles.
1974 The song ‘Piano Man’ becomes his first top 20 single & first gold album.
Records Streetlife Serenade in Los Angeles. The album garners the first of
many music industry awards to come, including a Cashbox award for Best New
Male Vocalist.
1975
Begins to gather recognition as a live concert attraction as a result of extensive
touring, culminating in a sell-out concert performance at New York City’s famed
Carnegie Hall
Returns to New York, assembles a new band and records Turnstiles. Embarks
1976
on his first headline concert tour.
Writes, records and releases The Stranger, his first collaboration with producer
1977 Phil Ramone. From the time of its release in 1977 until 1985, The Stranger is
Columbia Records’ biggest selling album
The song ‘Just the Way You Are’ captures two Grammy Awards for Record of
1978 the Year and Song of the Year.
Releases 52nd St. which becomes his first #1 album.
Travels to Cuba for Havana Jam, an historic three day event at the Karl Marx
1979 Theater.
Headlines a benefit concert for the Long Island based Charity Begins At Home.
Glass Houses reaches #1 on the Billboard Album Chart and remains there for
1980 six weeks. ‘It’s Still Rock N Roll to Me’ becomes his first #1 single.
Receives an American Music Award for Album of the Year.
Wins Best Rock Vocal Performance, Male at the 1981 Grammy Awards, as well
as a People's Choice Award for Favorite Male Pop Performer.
1981
Releases a live album, Songs in the Attic, which becomes his fourth
consecutive top ten album.
Sustains serious injury to both hands in a motorcycle accident while recording
the The Nylon Curtain. After a two month recovery period, the album is
1982
completed. The Nylon Curtain reaches #7 on the Billboard Album Chart and
earns a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year.
Writes and records the album An Innocent Man which reaches #4 on the
Billboard charts and is nominated for a Grammy Award for Album of the Year.
The album generates six Top 40 singles, three of which make it to the Top 10,
1983
including ‘Uptown Girl’ which receives a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Vocal
Performance, Male.
Columbia Records re-releases Cold Spring Harbor.
Greatest Hits Volume I and Volume II is released and becomes his seventh
consecutive top 10 album. ‘You're Only Human (Second Wind)’ becomes his
eighth Top 10 single.
Joins fellow musicians John Mellencamp and Randy Newman for Farm Aid I,
1985 and participates in USA For Africa.
Marries model Christie Brinkley. Their daughter Alexa Ray is born at the end of
the year.
The Bridge album is released featuring collaborations with Ray Charles, Cyndi
Lauper, and Steve Winwood.
Becomes the first U.S. pop star to bring a full rock production to the Soviet
1987 Union. He performs in Moscow and in Leningrad. The two-disc live album
Kohuept (the Russian word for concert) is released in October.
Performs at Radio City Music Hall with Hall & Oates and Cyndi Lauper at a
1988
concert to benefit the New York Police Athletic League.
Begins working with Producer Mick Jones and records Storm Front. The first
single ‘We Didn’t Start The Fire’ reaches #1 on Billboard singles charts.
Storm Front receives Grammy nominations for Best Pop Vocal Performance,
1989
Male and Producer of the Year. ‘We Didn't Start The Fire’ receives nominations
for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Vocal Performance,
Male.
Presented with the Grammy Legend Award.
1991 Performs The Concert for the Bays and the Baymen at the Jones Beach
Amphitheater to benefit marine-related groups.
Performs two USO concerts in the Philippines at Clark Air Force Base and
Subic Naval Base during the Persian Gulf War.
1991 Headlines Back At the Ranch, a concert to benefit Long Island environmental
groups and joins Don Henley and Sting at Madision Square Garden atThe
Concert for Walden Woods.
Records River Of Dreams which debuts at #1 on the Billboard Album Chart. The
single ‘The River of Dreams’ also debuts at #1 on Billboard Hot 100 Chart
where it stays for three weeks. In addition,the single spends 12 weeks at #1 on
1993
the Adult Contemporary Chart, setting a new record.
Joins a star-studded cast for a performance to benefit AIDS Project Los
Angeles.
Receives four Grammy nominations including Record of the Year, Song of the
Year, and Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male for the song ‘The River of
Dreams’ and Album of the Year for River of Dreams.
1994
Teams up with Elton John for an historic summer stadium tour of the U.S.
Marriage to Christie Brinkley ends.
The RIAA certifies Songs in the Attic and The Nylon Curtain for sales of 2
million units which moves him into a tie with the Beatles as the act with the most
multiplatinum albums.
Presented with the Billboard Century Award.
Experiences the disastrous Kobe earthquake while on tour in Japan. Donates
proceeds from two concerts in Osaka to local earthquake relief efforts.
1995
Performs with Sting and others at the Rainforest Benefit Concert at Carnegie
Hall.
Hits the college lecture circuit with „An Evening of Questions, Answers...and a
Little Music.‰ He speaks at 32 different schools.
1996
Starts The Long Island Boat Company to build the Shelter Island Runabout 38’,
a classic powerboat designed by Joel. By 1999, 20 boats are sold.
Releases Greatest Hits Volume III.
1997 Presented with the prestigious ASCAP’s Founder’s Award for lifetime
achievement.
Commences a solo tour of the United States and Canada, and reprises the
‘Face to Face’ tour with Elton John in Japan and Australia.
1998
Performs with Sting and others at the Rainforest Benefit Concert at Carnegie
Hall.
Presented with the American Music Awards’ Award of Merit.
Worldwide sales top the 100 million unit mark.
Reunites with Sting and others at the Rainforest Benefit Concert at Carnegie
Hall.
1999 Received the RIAA Diamond Award for Greatest Hits Volume I and Volume II.
The Diamond Award is presented for albums that have sold over 10 million
copies. Greatest Hits Volume I and II is the highest certified greatest hits album
by a male artist with over 20 million albums sold.
Ray Charles inducts Billy Joel into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Presented with The James Smithson Bicentennial Medal from The Smithsonian
Institution.
Releases Billy Joel 2000 Years - The Millenium Concert.
Received an Honorary Doctorate of Music from Long Island University Southampton College.
Friday, June 16 attends a press conference with the President of the United
States, Bill Clinton, and John Sykes (VH1) for Save The Music to donate
2000
musical instruments in an effort to restore music programs in the New York City
Public Schools. College.
Sings the National Anthem on October 21 at Yankee Stadium for the opening
game of the New York Yankees 2000 Baseball World Series (Subway Series)
versus the New York Mets.
Performs "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" in December at Madison Square
Garden with Elton John for Elton's TV special One Night Only.
Joins forces with Elton John to kickoff the Face to Face 2001 Tour beginning in
San Diego, CA on January 19, 2001.
On June 14, Billy is awarded the Johnny Mercer Award at the Songwriter's Hall
2001
of Fame Dinner in New York City.
On September 21, Billy Joel performed "New York State of Mind" on the
America: A Tribute To Heroes special that aired on 31 networks simultaneously.
2002
Billy Joel is named Music Cares Person of the Year 2002.
Movin' Out opens on October 24.
Billy Joel and Toots Thielemans perform at the Blue Note on October 29.
Billy Joel set to perform the National Anthem at Super Bowl XLI .
Columbia Records will release "All My Life," the long-awaited new pop single
2007 from the iconic singer/songwriter/performer Billy Joel. "All My Life" is Billy's first
new pop music since his 5x platinum Grammy-nominated album, River of
Dreams, was released in 1993.
Grammy Awards
1978 Record of the Year
Just the Way You Are (song)
1978 Song of the Year
Just the Way You Are (song)
1979 Album of the Year
52nd Street (album)
1979 Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male 52nd Street (album)
1980 Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male Glass Houses (album)
1991 Grammy Legend
Grammy Nominations
1979 Song of the Year
1980 Album of the Year
1982 Album of the Year
1983 Album of the Year
Best Pop Vocal Performance,
1983
Male
1984 Best Video Album
1989 Record of the Year
1989 Song of the Year
Best Pop Vocal Performance,
1989
Male
Best Pop Vocal Performance,
1990
Male
1990 Producer of the Year
1991 Best Long Form Video
1991 Best Short Form Video
1993 Album of the Year
1993 Record of the Year
1993 Song of the Year
Best Pop Vocal Performance,
1993
Male
2002 Best Pop Collaboration With
Honesty
Glass Houses
The Nylon Curtain
An Innocent Man
Uptown Girl (single)
Billy Joel Live From Long Island
We Didn't Start The Fire
We Didn't Start The Fire
We Didn't Start The Fire (song)
Storm Front (album)
Storm Front (album)
Live At Yankee Stadium
When You Wish Upon A Star (from the
River of Dreams
The River of Dreams
The River of Dreams
The River of Dreams
New York State of Mind - Tony Bennett and
Vocals
Billy Joel
Other Awards and Honors:
1975 Cashbox award for Best New Male Vocalist for Streetlife Serenade.
1980 American Music Award Album of the Year for Glass Houses
1980 Handi Cap (Humanitarian Award)
1981 People's Choice Award - Favorite Male Pop Performer
1981 The Rehabilitation Institute (Humanitarian Award)
Cable ACE Award - Best Actor in A Comedy or Musical for "A Television First,
1984
Billy Joel"
1987 Cable ACE Award for Best Music Special "Live From Leningrad"
1987 Best Performance in A Music Special for "Live From Leningrad"
1990 International Rock Awards ("The Elvis") for M.V.P. Keyboard
1990 Cathedral of St. John the Divine (Humanitarian Award)
1991 Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters - Fairfield University
1991 Town of Huntington proclaims "Billy Joel Park"
1991 Make-A-Wish Foundation - Honorary Chairman Washington, DC Chapter
1992 Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame
1993 Honorary Doctorate - Berklee College of Music
1993 NARM President's Award
1994 Billboard Century Award
1997 ASCAP Founders Award
1997 Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters - Hofstra University
1999 American Music Awards - Award of Merit
1999 RIAA Diamond Award
1999 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction
2000 James Smithson Bicentennial Medal of Honor
2000 Honorary Doctorate of Music - Long Island University, Southampton College
2001 Johnny Mercer Award - Songwriters Hall Of Fame
2002 Music Cares Person of the Year
Albums achieving RIAA Platinum Status
(sales of 1,000,000 units, U.S. only)
The Essential
2x Platinum
Piano Man
4x Platinum
Streetlife Serenade
1x Platinum
Turnstiles
1x Platinum
The Stranger
9x Platinum
52nd Street
7x Platinum
Glass Houses
7x Platinum
Songs In The Attic
3x Platinum
An Innocent Man
7x Platinum
Greatest Hits Volume I and Volume II 20x Platinum
The Bridge
Kohuept
Storm Front
River of Dreams
Greatest Hits Volume III
Complete Hits Collection
2x Platinum
1x Platinum
4x Platinum
5x Platinum
1x Platinum
1x Platinum
Singles achieving RIAA Platinum Status:
It's Still Rock and Roll To Me
My Life
Singles achieving RIAA Gold Status
(sales of 500,000 units, U.S. only)
Just The Way You Are
Uptown Girl
We Didn't Start The Fire
Tell Her About It