Quando, di solito, parlo di Billy Joel mi sembra di parlare, alla stragrande maggioranza della gente, di uno sconosciuto. O meglio conosciuto, non per il suo grande talento, ma per qualche spot pubblicitario che ospita la sua musica (Calzedonia...) o l'inizio di qualche soap opera (Sentieri...). 
E' un po' limitativo in questi esempi, questo gran genio del piano, che ha scritto anche cd classici, con una tecnica strabiliante e con canzoni piene di fascino e di atmosfera. Forse la colpa sarà anche, che Billy, viene poco in Italia, molto spesso si esibisce negli Stati Uniti e poche volte in Europa( famoso fu il suo live in Leningrado e Mosca). Lo ricordiamo (Maybe) for a concert a few years ago (31 July 2006) in Rome with Bryan Adams, made at the Roman Forum and totally free, but with all due respect to the trial between the two is unequal. 
Billy (William Martin) Joel was born in 1949 just in New York, and author of this purely American brand, it has always been on him, unfortunately. It began, as a lover of the piano, and played very little as a kid in the early complessini amateur. He was influenced early compositions by Bob Dylan, Beethoven, the Beatles, Ray Charles, Elton John. But the Beatles were the blinding flash and mark the first steps of his career. 
Dette anche una svolta al suo virtuoso classicismo pianistico, pubblicando un album Heavy Metal, ma la scelta decadde molto presto. Cercò la sua strada pubblicando l'album "Cold Spring Harbour" uscito nel 1971, ma la cosa non ebbe affatto successo. Decise quindi di darsi al piano bar, dove già aveva suonato, e dove il suo talento veniva ampiamente riconosciuto sia dai propietari dei locali, sia dalle persone che lo ascoltavano. Non cantava con il suo nome, ma si faceva conoscere come Bill Martin, quasi a vergognarsi dei suoi trascorsi. Non sapeva che proprio il piano bar sarebbe stata la sua fortuna. 
Infatti con l'album "Piano man" del 1973, si fa conoscere con canzoni come "Captain Jack", "Piano Man" etc.. ancora oggi molto conosciute ed arriva alla 27ma posizione delle classifiche statunitensi come album, al ventesimo posto come singolo (piano man) e ricevette il suo primo disco d'oro. Tornato da Los Angeles a New York nel 1976 autoprodusse i suoi albums migliori con memorabili canzoni quali "NY state of Mind" e sempre accompagnato dalla fedelissima band che lo aiuterà nel suo progresso musicale. Fu uno dei pochi cantanti a tenere per tre sere consecutive, e tutte esaurite, una prestigiosa esibizione al "Carnegie Hall".
In 1977 
get its deserved consecration with the album "The Stranger" remastered in 2009, with more than ten thousand copies sold, setting a record for the Columbia Record's exceeded only by Bruce Springsteen with "Born in the USA ". All this brought him to win several Grammy awards and gold with the song "Just the Way You Are."
get its deserved consecration with the album "The Stranger" remastered in 2009, with more than ten thousand copies sold, setting a record for the Columbia Record's exceeded only by Bruce Springsteen with "Born in the USA ". All this brought him to win several Grammy awards and gold with the song "Just the Way You Are." 
The success did not abandon him, followed "52nd Street" ranked first and best voice of the year and Billy could be considered ready for tironfali tour, which includes also songs written in the early years as a musician . 
another huge success it had with the album "An Innocent Man" , another nomination for best album and best pop-rock performance with the song "Uptown Girl", dedicated to his second wife, the beautiful model Christie Brinkley. In '85 participated in humanitarian events, such as "USA for A frica," singing the famous "We Are the World" with major U.S. and world stars in favor of the tragic famine that was consumed in Ethiopia. But his inexhaustible music stops.
produces "The Bridge" where he sees his idol Ray Charles singing with him. Continued success in the production, unfortunately, until the dissolution of the band that had always accompanied the original, but that does not dampened its success, although the agreement with the first musicians ever was declared unique. 
Joel In 1993 the last public solo song "River of Dreams", first place in the Billboard charts and, almost without interruption, Billy Joel devoted himself to bringing his music throughout the world. Other realized his dream is to have toured with Elton John live in Japan, Australia etc etc. His name was entered in the "Rock and Roll of Fame, introduced in the Ray Charles in 1999. 
His private life was not as fortunate as his career. He was married with his first manager Elisabeth Weber, then with supermodel Christie Brinkley's greatest muse, and with whom he had daughter Alexa. 
In 2004 he married again with his twenty-three Katie Leemalgrado played 54 years and blessed by his second ex-wife and daughter were the pretty bridesmaids at the wedding. Although this marriage fails, convincing her that her husband Joel as he could possibly have some confused idea! 
Unfortunately in 2009, the only daughter, Alexa, for having been left by her fiancé attempts suicide with a high dose of medication. The father does not seem to give up in trying young girlfriends or partners. After the final divorce and grief for his daughter, finds love with the twenty-nine bank Roderick Alexis, who assists him during his forced rest for hip operation. In his spare time, Billy is a lover of motorcycles, so as to open a shop to cater to this hobby. in recent days has been a tremendous success with his live concert at "Shea Stadium" with him hosting mac Carteney Paul, Tony Bennett, John MayerJohn Mellecamp, Roger Daltrey, the famous "Tommy" of "Who".
As you can see a tireless public and private life. In it, think about a lot of hidden energy? Maybe if you feel better, you will not have that surprise.
