Billy Joel is Creating a Buzz in North Florida
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Billy Joel has widespread appeal to many fans of all ages. His fan base is so diverse that it’s hard to state what his “target audience” would even be categorized as. Recently, he has started expanding on his musical tours to also include question-and-answer tour stops at colleges and universities.
This wasn’t always a likely path for Joel. According to Hank Bordowitz's book, Billy Joel: The Life and Times of an Angry Young Man, the beloved singer was one English credit short of obtaining his high school diploma. The book quotes Billy as referring to the school when he states, “I told them, 'To hell with it. If I'm not going to Columbia University, I'm going to Columbia Records and you don't need a high school diploma over there'."
As a matter of fact, it was Columbia Records who did sign Billy. Also, it seems his attitude toward continuing education has changed quite a lot. He has been granted numerous honorary doctorate degrees despite his one-time status as a high school dropout. Fairfield University granted him an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters. New York’s Hofstra University gave him an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters. His other honorary degrees include a Doctor of Music that was granted from Berklee College of Music, another Doctor of Music from Southamption College, and a Doctor of Musical Arts from the Manhattan School of Music. He was even granted his high school diploma 25 years after he left the school.
Meet Alexa Ray Joel, Billy Joel's Daughter
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Most Billy Joel fans know that the singer just adores his daughter. He beams when speaking of her, and he has had her join in on his projects. How much do you really know about her, though?
Billy’s only child, Alexa Ray Joel, is his pride and joy. Alexa was born to Billy Joel and Christie Brinkley on December 29, 1985. Brinkley is known as a supermodel, and she can be seen in the music video for Billy’s “Uptown Girl.” She is also noted for activism in speaking out against the cruelty toward animals inflicted by circuses like Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey.
With two famous parents, Alexa inevitably faced both extreme privileges and undeniable challenges. She always had a great love of music, and her dad sang nursery rhymes for her on the piano from the time she was very little. Alexa, whose middle name is in honor of one of Billy’s idols, Ray Charles, took classical piano lessons from the age of eleven until she was sixteen. She now cites classical music as the foundation for all other types.
The Story Behind Billy Joel's "Piano Man"
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Billy Joel has had so many beloved hit songs that are instantly recognizable that it’s impossible to cite any one song as his “signature” tune. However, when many people hear Joel’s name, they think of his enchanting song, “Piano Man.”
Joel acknowledges the song’s widespread appeal and usually lets the audience sing the chorus during his live concert performances. “Piano Man” is storytelling in song at its best. Although the basis of the song may seem simple, the detail and heart in it is unique, especially for a pop song. The story behind the song is just as telling in many ways.
A Look at Billy Joel's "The Last Play at Shea"
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Billy Joel fans are eagerly awaiting the DVD release of his latest film, the unique documentary that’s called “The Last Play at Shea.” Joel’s own Maritime Pictures produced the movie in cooperation with Steve Cohen and Nigel Sinclair. Paul Crowder directed the piece.
The movie, which also features the music of Billy Joel, goes of the beaten path of traditional narrative documentaries, and the results are stellar. Since is world premiere at the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival in New York City, this little film that could has gotten rave reviews and a large following.
Your Guide to Finding Billy Joel Online
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Official Website, Store, Facebook, Twitter, and more!
Like many celebrities these days, Billy Joel has decided to embrace the Internet. There are many ways you can keep track of the man, his career, and his music online without missing a thing. He even has several social media accounts to reach out and communicate with fans. Use this guide to find several pages to bookmark and check in with regularly in order to get up-to-the-minute news straight from Billy and his team.
First of all, you want to check in with his official website, BillyJoel.com. News, videos, multimedia articles, and special offers on his music are just some of the perks offered on this well-designed website. You can even read an in-depth timeline and biography that goes all the way back to the year of Billy's birth, 1949, and continues to the present day. Did you know that he was born in the Bronx, but he grew up in Levittown, Long Island, New York? He has since brought his daughter back to his hometown to show her their roots. Read more about Your Guide to Finding Billy Joel Online
A Look at 3 Fun Songs By Billy Joel
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Billy Joel has had a very varied career since he became an icon with his rock and roll in the 1970s and 1980s. His best-loved and most popular tunes are his exuberant pop-rock from this era. Yes, the songs are fun for dancing and singing along, yet there is also a deeper meaning to them as well.