Advanced Obituary: William Martin "Billy" Joel

William Martin Joel, American singer-songwriter who produced musical emotional touchstones for many, died at age TK on TK TK TK.

Billy Joel’s indelible songs captured the zeitgeist of the 1970s and ‘80s while their popularity today proves their timelessness.

Born in May 9, 1949 in Bronx, New York, Billy Joel began playing the piano at age 4 with the musical influence of his father, Howard Joel, an accomplished pianist, and his motivational mother, Rosalind Joel. The family moved to Long Island where Joel continued to focus on music and dropped out of high school with hopes of making it in the industry.

Joel recorded his first ever two first albums as a part of the band The Hassles in the late 1960s. In 1971, he created his first solo album, “Cold Spring Harbor,” which did not take off as he wished.

Joel, disheartened by his lack of commercial success, though continuing to write more songs, moved to Los Angeles, where he was a lounge pianist at The Executive Room under a pseudonym. A live recording of Joel performing his song “Captain Jack” at the Executive leaked and ultimately scored him a record deal with Columbia Records.

In 1973, Joel released his first album, “Piano Man,” featuring a hit single by the same name. Based on his experiences at the Executive, the song “Piano Man” lent Joel a new nickname and momentum to release more acclaimed songs.

Greatly lionized were his next two albums “Streetlife Serenade” (1974) and “Turnstiles” (1976), which outlined Billy Joel’s struggles with the music industry. These albums paved the way for the release of the album that would distinguish Joel forever as a prestigious musician: “The Stranger.” Released in 1977, “The Stranger” featured four songs in the Top 25 of the U.S. Billboard charts and won him a Grammy Award for record of the year. The album remains to be Columbia Records’ best-selling album with 5 million copies sold.

Billy Joel went on to write catchy hits like “Uptown Girl,” further solidifying his unabated success. With “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” Joel procured the Grammy Legend Award in 1989.

By 1982 Joel’s musical career was in full swing, but his first marriage of 9 years with Elizabeth Weber Small ended. He remarried in 1984 with Christie Brinkley, and their daughter Alexa Ray was born on December 29, 1985. This marriage would conclude in divorce in 1993.

Joel married journalist Kate Lee in 2004, resulting in divorce in 2009. He then remarried and had a baby with Alexa Roderick after dating for 6 years. Daughter Della Rose Joel was born on August 12, 2015.

In the early 2000s, Billy Joel struggled with his ongoing alcohol addiction and spent time in and out of rehab. Still, Joel released a concert album in 2006 and continued to go on tour and compose classical music.

Joel became a regular performer at Madison Square Garden in 2013 and broke records as every concert sold out.

Joel’s savvy work with melodies and lyrics will be remembered, especially due to the devotion he had to his work: “If you are not doing what you love, you are wasting your time,” he said.