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Piano Man - Billy Joel

© Ann Stanton

After moving to LA, Billy played lounge piano at the Executive Room in 1972, under the name Bill Martin. At year's end, he started playing nightclubs across the country and in 1973, he married Elizabeth Weber. It was around this time that record companies were becoming eager to sign the singer to a deal, after hearing radio broadcasts of Captain Jack. He signed with Columbia records but had to pay Ripp Productions 25 cents for each album he sold. During this same time period, Billy also tried his hand at stand-up comedy. (I'm glad he decided to stick with music.) By the end of the year, Piano Man had been released on Columbia Records. The title cut became a Top 40 single and the album began climbing the charts and the band embarked on a nation wide tour, opening for acts like the Doobie Brothers.

In early 1975, a second album, Streetlife Serenade was released and in 1976, he released Turnstiles; an album which he produced himself due to conflict in the studio. Turnstiles only reached 122 on the charts, but by in the fall of 1977, Billy released The Stranger. Within weeks, it went platinum and boasted four Top 40 singles, including Just The Way You Are, which earned a Grammy. To date, the album has sold more than seven million copies and is still remembered as Billy's breakout record.

The next two albums, 52nd Street and Glass houses were equally successful and boasted hits such as Big Shot, My Life, and Still Rock And Roll To Me. In fall of 1981, Billy released the live album Songs In The Attic. Before completion of his next album, he was involved in a motorcycle accident in which he broke his wrist. Production was halted, Billy divorced his wife, and The Nylon Curtain wasn't released until the fall of 1982. The album sold a disappointing million copies but the singles Allentown and Pressure did find their way to the charts.

Billy Joel was restored to platinum status when in 1983, An Innocent Man sold more than five million copies. The songs, replicating almost an oldies sound, included The Longest Time, Uptown Girl and Tell Her About It, among others. During this time, Billy was dating model Christie Brinkley and many of the songs on the album had been written about her. In addition, Brinkley appeared in several of the album's music videos. The album continued it's success over the months and the couple married in March, 1985. Their only child was born less than a year later.