Billy Joel

Synopsis

Billy Joel is an American singer, songwriter, Pianist as well as composer. He is the six-time Grammy Award winner and is the sixth best-selling recording artist in the United States of America, according to the RIAA.

Early life and education

Billy Joel was born as Willian Martin on May 9, 1949, in the Bronx, New York, United States of America. He belongs to white ethnicity and holds an American nationality.

Joel is the son of father Howard who was born in Germany to Manufacturer, Karl Amson Joel, and Merchant and mother  Rosalind Joel who was born in England to Rebecca and Philip Rebecca.

Joel’s parents belong to a Jewish family. His parents were divorced in 1957, and then his father moved to Vienna.

Joel was raised in a Levitt house in Levittown, Oyster Bay with his sister, Judith and Half brother Alexander Joel. His brother is a cla s sical conductor in Europe as well as the chief musical director of the Staatstheater Braunschweig for 13 years since 2001.

Joel started studying the piano lesson since his early age and tested a natural aptitude instrument. He was even guided piano by the American pianist Morton Estrin and songwriter/musician Timothy Ford.

Joel joined Hicksville High Schooll late 1967; Later he attended Summer School where Joel earned his diploma.

Career

In the year, 1963, Joel joined his first band, The Echoes, the name was later changed to The Lost Souls where he recorded many of his instrumental pieces. At the same time, he left high school to began his career in music.

Joel combined with The Ha s sles after leaving The Echoes in 1967. After two years, he again left The Ha s sles band in 1969.

In the year 1971, Joel sang a solo recording contract with the Artie Ripp’s Family Productions where he released his first solo album called Cold Spring Harbor.

Joel released The Bridge in 1983 in which was he collaborated with Cyndi Lauper, Ray Charles, and Steve Winwood.

The next year, Joel became the American first rock start to performed in the Soviet Union after the fall of the Berlin Wall. He also performed in Tbilisi, Moscow, and Leningrad.

In 2007, February, Joel appeared at the Super Bowl XLI where he performed the national anthem. The same year, Joel released his Columbia Records called All MY Life.

Joel won several awards such as Grammy Awards, ACE Award (Award for Cable Excellence), ‘Grammy Legend Award,' Johnny Mercer Award and much more.

Personal life

Billy Joel was first married to Elizabeth Weber Small on September 5, 1973. She was also the ex-wife of his former partner Jon Small. Billy and Elizabeth divorced on July 20, 1982.

Joel then married to Christie Brinkley who is an American model and actress. The couple got married on March 23, 1985, and had a daughter Alexa Ray Joel born on December 29, 1985. After four years of relationship, they divorced on August 25, 1994.

Joel married to Katie Lee for the third time who is an American cookbook author. They married on October 2, 2004, and split up on June 17, 2009.

Joel finally married Alexis Roderick as his fourth wife. Roderick is an equestrian and former Morgan Stanley executive. The couple started dating since 2009 and later married on July 4, 2015. They gave birth to their daughter, Della Rose Joel on August 12, 2015.

Net worth

Billy Joel earns lots of from his signing career, however, his current net worth to be around $160 million. He owns a very large mansion located in Central Island, New York which he bought for about $20 million. He even has a very large mansion in Florida which he listed for sale for $27 million in 2016.