“Piano Man”

By: Marissa Wimer

“PIANO MAN”

BILLY JOEL

• Born on May 9th, 1949.

• Born in Bronx, New York.

• Started playing the piano at the age of 4.

• Joined his first band at age 14, The Echoes.

• 1971 he signs his first solo contract.• Disappeared playing across west coast. • Columbia Records offers a contract. • 1974 records album “Piano Man”

• 1976 the band goes on tour. • 1978 ‘Just The Way You Are’ receives awards.• ‘It’s Still Rock and Roll To Me’ becomes his first #1 single. • 1981 he wins the Best Rock Vocal Performance and the

Grammys. • Wins People’s Choice Award for Favorite Male Pop Performer.

• 1982 divorces first wife Elizabeth Weber Small.• Later that year, Billy was in a motorcycle

accident• Recorded ‘Nylon Curtain’• Later landing #7 on the charts and receives

nomination

• 1985 marries Christie Brinkley• Daughter Alexa Ray, born in the same year • 1987 receives full rock production in the

Soviet Union • 1989 “We Didn’t Start The Fire” reaches

#1

• 1994 Billy teams up with Elton John for touring• This same year he divorces Christie Brinkley.• 1995 while touring in Japan he experienced the

Kobe Earthquake.• He donated all his proceedings to Osaka • Continues touring with Elton John

• September 21, 2001 performed on the America:Tribute To Heroes.

• 2002 named Music Cares Person of the Year.• 2004 Billy married Katie Lee and later divorced after 5

years. • 2007 sings National Anthem at Super Bowl XLI.

• Billy has made history throughout the world with over 140 number one hits. Billy has continued and will continue to tour throughout the world to share with us all his many talents. I have enjoyed learning about Billy Joel and his many successes throughout his life.

• Inspired by playing in a piano bar• Characters are real people he had met• “Paul is a real estate novelist”- a broker who was

writing a book. • Bob Dylan inspired harmonica• Strapped harmonica to be able to play another

instrument

WE DIDN’T START THE FIRE

• List of events his generation isn’t responsible for• Wrote lyrics to the song first• No melody to the song• Not a favorite• Hard time remembering words

Only the Good Die Young

• About a girl he had a crush on• Original reggae beat• Church official condemned song• Woman chaste and pure and man has nothing

Piano Man• Piano and harmonica play melody• Billy sings the vocals• Bridge – la la la di da da • Repetitive chorus• Verses follow the same rhythm with different words

Only The Good Die Young• Piano and drums play dynamics

• Billy sings the vocals

• A lot of crescendo

• Verse has same rhythm, different words

• Chorus follows the same form

• Add on – repeating title until song ends

We Didn’t Start the Fire• Percussion, piano, and guitar play harmony• No melody• Billy chants vocals rather than sings• Billy sings the chorus with background singers• Verses follow the same form as well as the

choruses• Add on – repeating on and on and on until the

end

CITATIONS• http://www.billyjoel.com/biography

• http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/billy-joel/biography

• http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=1079

• http://www.biography.com/people/billy-joel-9354859?page=2