Billy Joel Presentation By: Joseph Brewer

Biography Born May 9 th 1949 in New York Started studying piano in 1953 (Around 4 years old) 10 years later he joined his first band in 1963 called The Echoes Starts a solo recording contract and creates his first album in 1971 Because of a dispute over a contract billy joel heads to the west coast and starts to play piano in bars under the alias Bill Martin

Birth of a Career 1972 his song “captain Jack” is broadcast on the radio 1973 Records the alblum “The Piano Man” 1974 the song “Piano Man” becomes a top 20 hit and Billy Joel has his first Gold Album 1975 performs a sell-out concert at Carnegie Hall

Ongoing Success 1977 Releases the album “The Stranger” which from is Columbia records top selling alblum 1978 “Just the Way You Are” wins two grammy awards In the same year “52 nd St.” becomes Joel’s first #1 alblum The song “Its still Rock’n Roll to me” Becomes his first #1 single in 1980

Things to know All of his songs are written single handedly Once a successful boxer, but went into music after he broke his nose “Just the Way You Are” One of his most popular songs is also one of the most covered both other artists and radio played songs of all time. He is the 3 rd most selling solo artists of all time. Elvis and Garth brooks take places 1 st and 2 nd Seven of his album's have made the top 40 consecutively Has had hits that made the top ten throughout 3 decades the 70’s 80’s and 90’s

Overall Has won 6 Grammy awards Over 18 Grammy nominations Over 25 other awards and Honors he’s received 16 Platinum alblums many of wich are 4 time and up platinum alblums 2 Platinum singles (Its still rock n roll to me, My Life) 4 Gold Singles (Just the way you are, Uptown Girl, We didn’t start the fire, Tell her about it)

Music styles Main genre used are branches of Rock being rock n roll, soft rock and pop rock He also has written classical songs but is most well known for his rock songs Has also has done acapella songs in wich his voice is used for both lead vocals and background vocals “The Longest Time” Instruments used in his music Vocals Piano Organ Keyboard Synthesizer Guitar Harmonica

Noteworthy Songs Piano Man Longest Time We didn’t start the Fire Captain Jack It’s still Rock and Roll to me Just the way you are Movin’ out My life New York State of Mind Only the Good Die young She's always a woman Tell her about it The entertainer The Angry young Man Uptown Girl You May be Right The river of dreams

“We Didn’t Start the Fire” Listen for rock back beat Listen for the diversitiy in instruments used Guitar Drums Vocals Etc Listen for the “Headline Events” named throughout the song

“Tell Her About It” Clapping on the beat, Listen for where the beat is being emphasized Backbeat (Rock) or a Upbeat (Jazz)? Listen for Chorus vocals Lead vocal Brass instruments Drums Guitar Piano

“Still Rock and Roll to Me” Strong Emphasized back beat (Rock) Listen for how each instrument has a specific role Lead guitar Rhythm Guitar Drums Vocals Saxaphone

Sources Album Images. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr Billy Joel at Piano at Concert with Elton John. Digital image. Babblingbrookesblog.wordpress.com. N.p., 17 July Web. 13 Apr "Billy Joel." IMDb. IMDb.com, n.d. Web. 13 Apr "Billy Joel Timeline." Billy Joel. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr Piano Background Wallpaper. Digital image. Wallpapersonweb.com. N.p., 18 July Web. 12 Apr