250 likes | 556 Views
Billy Joel. By Michele Schavey. This was the Basis for his career. Born In Bronx, New York in 1949 and was given the name Billy Martin Joel. Discovered classical music at 5 yrs old Relocated to Long Island, New York. This is what made Billy decide to become a professional artist.
E N D
Billy Joel By Michele Schavey
This was the Basis for his career • Born In Bronx, New York in 1949 and was given the name Billy Martin Joel. • Discovered classical music at 5 yrs old • Relocated to Long Island, New York
This is what made Billy decide to become a professional artist. • Ray Charles • The Beatles • Dave Brubeck • Same Cook • Rolling Stones • Otis Redding Music Influences
Start of Billy Joel’s Career Billy Joined his first band at age 14. Billy Worked Evenings to help pay the bills. Joined the Band, The Hassles in 1968 and recorded two albums with United Artists. Billy Formed the group Attila, which Epic Records released on album.
First solo album released with Paramount Records in 1972, called Cold Spring Harbor, which included the song Captain Jack. Billy Fleas to the West Coast in 1973 and performs in a piano bar under the name “Bill Martin”. Billy Signed with Columbia Records, and his first single hit was The Piano Man. The Piano Man
Start Of Billy Joel’s Awards, and sold out concerts. • Best New Male V0calist. • Male Artist Of The Year. • Sold out performances at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York City. • Hit Single The Entertainer, recorded on Street Life Serenade in 1974.
1975-1978 • 1975, Billy moved back to New York and recorded the Turnstiles Album, which included famous songs such as New York State Of Mind, Say Goodbye to Hollywood. • Billy Started his first Concert tour, which included many sold out shows • 1977 Release of the album The Stranger, which allowed Billy to make TV performances. • 1978 3 singles made Billboard’s hot 100 charts. • In the fall of 1978, 52nd Street album was released, which was Billy Joel’s first #1 album.
First of many Grammy’s • February of 1979, Billy received “Record Of The Year” and “ Song Of The Year for Just The Way You Are. • Columbia Records named Billy Their biggest selling solo artist of the 20th Century in October of 1979. • Billy had over nine million albums sold.
Many More Awards Billy received two more Grammy’s in 1980 for “Album Of The Year” and “Best Male Pop Vocal Performance” Billy also received an American Music Award for “Album Of The Year” for the album Glass Houses, which was #1 on the Billboard Charts for 6 weeks. Billy recorded his 4th album called Songs In The Attic which included the songs She’s Got a Way, Captain Jack, and many more familiar songs.
The Nylon Curtain Album was released 1982, Billy was in a motorcycle Accident Many more awards such as grammy, billboard charts, 4 star review Because of Billy’s success, he recorded An Innocent Man, which was music he loved while he was growing up. Many successes came from this album such as Grammy awards, top 40 singles, and top billboard chart numbers.
1985-1987 Great Successes • 1985 Release of Greatest Hits 1 and 2 album. • “Most consistent and prolific male artist of the decade” • Joined Farm Aid 1 and USA for Africa • Married Christie Brinkley, and birth of his daughter. • Release of the album The Bridge. • 1987 Billy brought a fully staged performance to the Soviet Union.
Billy Re-vamped his band and split from his manager Billy Recorded his 14th album Storm Front 1989 Billy received the Grammy Legend Award, and a Humanitarian Award. We Didn’t Start the Fire received two Grammy Nominations, and The Storm Front Tour Started. His single and Album We Didn’t Start The Fire reached #1 on Billboard Charts Many Changes, and many successes
Songs For Motion Picture • “All Shook Up” • “Heart Break Hotel” for the “Honeymoon In Vegas Soundtrack”. • “In A Sentimental Mood” for “A League Of Their Own Soundtrack”. Billy then released the album River Of Dreams
Good does happen, when troubling times arise. • In 1994 Billy Received 4 Grammy Nominations • Billy Toured with Elton John for a summer Stadium Tour • Billy Raised money for the Japan Earthquake Aid. Trying Times Billy Joel and Christie Brinkley divorced. While in Japan on his tour, Billy experienced the Kobe Earthquake
1997-2001 Concerts • Billy had a New Years sold out show in Madison Square Garden in 2000 • Billy toured with Elton John, and all shows were sold out • Billy performed for a September 11th relief fund. • Billy received the American Music Award, “Award of Merit” • Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame • Billy Received an award for Lifetime Achievement • Billy received the John Mercer Award Awards
Billy Joel, over the span of his career Humanitarian efforts Touched lives with his music Make A Wish Foundation Honorary Degrees Favorite of Many, including former President Clinton
Uptown Girl • On The the Album An Innocent Man released in 1983 • #1 on UK charts, and big seller in the US • Song was written about Christie Brinkley, who Billy Joel married • Tribute Album to the music of the 1960’s • Music was about attracting beautiful, glamorous women
Piano Man Was on the Album Piano Man, released in 1973 Song went 4x platinum Was written about Joel’s experiences while playing in a piano bar called The Executive Room in Los Angeles Bill referenced in the song is Billy Joel All the people referenced in the song were people Billy encountered while working in the bar. Harmonica solo was inspired by Bob Dylan
Just The Way You Are Was a single on the Album The Stranger, released in 1977 Won a Grammy for Song Of The Year Song was inspired by Billy’s first wife Elizabeth, and was given as a birthday gift to her. Saxophone Solo is played by Phil Woods Joel didn’t like the song and almost didn’t put it on the album until Linda Ronstandt and Phoebe Snow convinced him. Just The Way you Are is still a favorite for most of the fans. Joel dreamt the melody and chord progression and wrote the lyrics over a few days.
Uptown Girl Listening Guide Classified as modern rock Sounds of a mechanic shop Drums set the mood of the song Billy Sings solo, as well as with a chorus Quick, staccato notes in the chorus of the song
Piano Man Traditional rock/pop form Song begins with a harmonica solo, then vocals join in along with the piano Song is played in triple meter, then crescendos going into verse 2 Before heading to the 2nd part of verse 3 the piano and the harmonica have a solo End of verse 3 has a strong intensity with a piano solo, then heading back to the normal tempo with the piano and vocals Heading into verse 4 intensity increases, tempo stays the same End of the song the piano and harmonica have a duet, slowing down to end the song.
Just The Way You Are • Moderately Fast and broken into verses • Electric piano, guitar and voices start off the song • Verse 2 tempo and volume increase, with percussion joining in • Alto Saxophone, drums and vocals being verse 3, then a saxophone solo, then with a duet with piano, voices joining in later • Melody returns to original form, with piano, drums and then percussion • Saxophone solo ends the song
Bibliography SongFacts.com BillyJoel.com Sing365.com Billy Joel: The Life And Times Of An Angry Man