Billy Joel Birthday & Fun Facts

Billy Joel Birthday Highlights

Birth Name

William Martin Joel

Place Of Birth

The Bronx, NYC, USA

Age

74 years old

Birth Date

May 9 1949

Billy Joel Facts

Child Star?

no

Occupation

Singer

Education & Qualifications

Hicksville High School

Net Worth

$225,000,000

Current Partner

Alexis Roderick

Children

Alexa Ray, Remy Anne, Della Rose Joel

Parents

Howard, Rosalind Joel

Siblings

Judy Joel

Billy Joel, born William Martin Joel is a singer/songwriter and composer from New York City.

Billy Joel is one of the most famous Long Islanders of all time. He had a prolific career as a singer, producing 12 studio albums.

Billy Joel is one of the best-selling artists of all time. With a history of over 150 million records sold worldwide, Joel is the singer of some of the most iconic songs in rock and roll history, shaping pop culture as we know it today. Hailing from New York City, Joel began his life as a musician in the late '60s and went on to produce songs that are still relevant in pop culture today, such as 'Uptown Girl' and 'We Didn't Start The Fire'.

Billy Joel has had a successful career from the '70s, boasting 12 studio albums. Joel is one of the best-selling artists of all time, with over 150 million records sold worldwide.

What is Billy Joel’s net worth?

It is estimated that Billy Joel amassed an impressive net worth of $225 million during his prolific career in the music industry.

How much does Billy Joel earn per year?

It is estimated that Joel earns between $45-50 million a year.

During his residency at Madison Square Garden, Joel earned between $2-3 million per show. He has totally earned $150 million from his Madison Square Garden residency.

How tall is Billy Joel?

Billy Joel is approximately 5 ft 4 in (164 cm) tall.

How old is Billy Joel?

Billy Joel was born on May 9, 1949. This makes him 72 years old today.

Billy Joel was born in the Bronx, New York City in 1949. Shortly after his birth, Joel and his family moved to Hicksville, a suburb in the town of Oyster Bay.
At the age of four, Joel began to take piano lessons. He was mentored by the classical pianist Morton Estrin and musician Timothy Ford. However, Joel believed that he was better at playing the organ.

Joel was a student of Hicksville High School until 1967. However, he did not graduate with his class. Joel was playing at a piano bar to support his family and after a late-night gig, he missed an important final exam. As a result, he did not have the required amount of credits to graduate. It was then that Joel decided to begin his career in music. He is famously noted to have said 'If I'm not going to Columbia University, I'm going to Columbia Records'.

Who is Billy Joel's family?

Billy Joel was born to parents Howard and Rosalind Joel. He lived with his mother and younger sister Judy Joel in New York.
Joel's father was a classical pianist, born in Nuremberg, Germany in 1923. Joel's father was born in a Jewish family. To escape the Nazi regime in Germany at the time, Joel's father and his family moved to Switzerland. They eventually reached the United States via Cuba. Joel's mother was born in Brooklyn. Howard and Rosalind met in the late '30s at the City College of New York.
Howard Joel passed away in 2011 and Rosalind Joel passed away in 2014.

Who is Billy Joel’s partner?

Billy Joel is currently married to Alexis Roderick, who he met in 2009. Joel and Roderick married in 2015 and have two daughters- Della Rose and Remy Anne Joel.
However, during his prolific career, Joel was known for his high-profile relationships. Joel was married to Elizabeth Weber, followed by Christie Brinkley, with whom he shares daughter, Alexa Ray Joel.

Billy Joel is often considered to be one of the best-selling artists of all time, boasting some of the most famous songs in history. Joel began his career in the late '60s and was heavily inspired by rock and blues. He was inspired by music legends The Beatles, Elvis Presley, and The Everly Brothers.

Best Known For…

Joel began his stint in the music industry at the age of 16 with his band The Echoes. In 1967, he joined The Hassles' However, they did not experience much commercial success. His claim to fame was in 1971 when he began his career as a solo artist. He released his debut album in 1971, which attracted the attention of Columbia Records.

In 1972, Joel signed with Columbia Records and produced his album 'Piano Man' in 1973. This was followed by the albums 'Streetlife Serenade' in 1974 and 'Turnstiles' in 1976. However, his first hit album was 'The Stranger', released in 1977.

'The Stranger' sold over 10 million copies, and boasted famous songs like 'Just The Way You Are', 'Only The Good Die Young', and 'She's Always A Woman'. He went on to release eight more albums.

Joel's record sales topped 150 million copies worldwide. He has been nominated for the grammy awards 23 times, with six wins. He has also been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriter Hall of Fame.

'We Didn't Start The Fire' is one of Joel's most iconic songs, referencing 118 political, cultural, scientific, and sporting events that occurred between 1948 to 1989 in chronological order. It is still one of the most famous, legendary songs in pop culture history.

Joel's most famous songs are 'Uptown Girl', 'Piano Man', 'We Didn't Start The Fire' and, 'Just The Way You Are'.

Charity Work

Billy Joel has actively supported a variety of charitable causes. These include:

• Charity Begins at Home, founded by Joel in 1978. This is an organization that deals with child abuse, autism, domestic violence, cancer, and other issues.
• Elton John AIDS Foundation.
• GRAMMY Foundation.
• USA MusiCares.
• Rainforest Foundation.

What awards has Billy Joel won?

Considered to be one of the greatest artists to grace the music industry, Billy Joel has won many an award during his extensive career. This includes:

• People's Choice Award for Favorite Male Artist (1979).
• Grammy Award for Song of the Year (1979).
• Grammy Award for Record of the Year (1979).
• Grammy Award for Album of the Year (1980).
• Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance (1980).
• Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance (1981).
• Grammy Legend Award (1992).
• Billboard Music Century Award (1994).
• American Music Award of Merit (1999).
• Kennedy Center Honors (2013).
• Grammy Hall of Fame (2013).

Billy Joel’s Hobbies And Interests

Outside of making iconic songs, Joel was the wonder of the Long Island Boat Company, and a shop in Oyster Bay that manufactures custom-made, retro motorcycles.

• Although Billy Joel did not graduate from his high school class, he submitted essays to the school to substitute for his missed English exam in 1992. These essays were accepted, and he received his high school diploma 25 years after leaving.
• 'Piano Man', the title track from his first solo album with Columbia Records is one of Joel's best-known songs. Hence, he is often referred to as Piano Man.
• Joel has been a champion for mental health awareness, as he himself battled with depression for many years. He later released the song 'You're Only Human' to raise awareness about teen mental health.
• In 2011, Joel planned to release his autobiography titled 'The Book Of Joel: A Memoir'. However, he canceled the release, as he believed that the best expression of his life is through his music.
• Billy Joel is the owner of various honorary doctorates, including the Doctorate of Musical Arts from the Manhattan School of Music, the Doctor of Music from Stony Brook University, and the Doctor of Music from Berklee College of Music.

Main image credits: Debby Wong/Shutterstock