🎹 Who's the real piano man?
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These two piano men have a ton of hits between them. They have toured together over they years, playing each other’s songs and playing together. On one such tour, John called it off, complaining he felt Joel wasn't getting the help he needed for his alcoholism.
Billy JoelBilly Joel, or William Martin "Billy" Joel, is an American singer and songwriter. Billy Joel was born on May 9th, 1949 in The Bronx, New York. Joel's father was a pianist, and his mother pushed him to study piano. Joel began playing the piano at 4 years old, and at 16, he was already considered a pro. It is reported that Joel had been in his 3rd band before he was even able to drive. Joel dropped out of highschool to pursue a career in music, where he released his first solo album, Cold Spring Harbor in 1971. He later moved to Los Angeles, and began working gigs in 1972 as a lounge pianist, using the fake name "Bill Martin". While playing at The Executive Room, Joel was inspired to write his famous song, "Piano Man". Late in 1972, a recording of Joel's song "Captain Jack" was released and gained popularity. From this, Columbia Records offered him a deal.
In 1974, Joel released Streetlife Serenade. His 1977 album, The Stranger, had four songs that landed on the US Top 25 Billboard Charts. In 1979, Billy won Grammys for "52nd Street '', winning "Album Of The Year", and "Best Male Pop Vocal Performance''. In 1978, he won Grammys for "Just The Way You Are", winning "Record Of The Year", and "Song Of The Year". By 1981, Joel had already been awarded a Grammy for "Best Male Rock Vocal Performance'' as well as a People's Choice Award. In the 1980's Joel saw a huge amount of success. He has hit songs including, "The Longest Time", "Uptown Girl", and "Innocent Man". He became the first American musician to release a "full scale rock production" during the Soviet Union, and he released two volumes of, Greatest Hits. In 1989, Joel was awarded the Grammy Legend Award, following the success of his number one song, "We Didn't Start the Fire". In 1994, Joel released River of Dreams, slowed his recording, and toured solo. In 1999, he passed the million mark in song sales. In 1999, Joel was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In the early 2000's Joel suffered with addiction and entered rehab.Â
In 2004, Billy Joel received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2013, Joel received the 36th annual Kennedy Center Honors award. Joel was with his first wife, Elizabeth Weber Small, from 1973 to 1982. Joel met and married supermodel Christie Brinkley in 1984, and they had their daughter in 1985. They divorced in 1993. In 2004, Joel married Katie Lee, but they divorced in 2009. In 2015, Joel had a daughter (his second child) with girlfriend Alexis Roderick. Joel and Roderick married in the summer of 2015 as well. In 2013, Madison Square Garden announced Billy Joel would be the first music franchise of “The World’s Most Famous Arena.”, or MSG. In 2014, Billy Joel received The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. Billy Joel has had 33 Top 40 hits and 23 Grammy nominations.
In 1974, Joel released Streetlife Serenade. His 1977 album, The Stranger, had four songs that landed on the US Top 25 Billboard Charts. In 1979, Billy won Grammys for "52nd Street '', winning "Album Of The Year", and "Best Male Pop Vocal Performance''. In 1978, he won Grammys for "Just The Way You Are", winning "Record Of The Year", and "Song Of The Year". By 1981, Joel had already been awarded a Grammy for "Best Male Rock Vocal Performance'' as well as a People's Choice Award. In the 1980's Joel saw a huge amount of success. He has hit songs including, "The Longest Time", "Uptown Girl", and "Innocent Man". He became the first American musician to release a "full scale rock production" during the Soviet Union, and he released two volumes of, Greatest Hits. In 1989, Joel was awarded the Grammy Legend Award, following the success of his number one song, "We Didn't Start the Fire". In 1994, Joel released River of Dreams, slowed his recording, and toured solo. In 1999, he passed the million mark in song sales. In 1999, Joel was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In the early 2000's Joel suffered with addiction and entered rehab.Â
In 2004, Billy Joel received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2013, Joel received the 36th annual Kennedy Center Honors award. Joel was with his first wife, Elizabeth Weber Small, from 1973 to 1982. Joel met and married supermodel Christie Brinkley in 1984, and they had their daughter in 1985. They divorced in 1993. In 2004, Joel married Katie Lee, but they divorced in 2009. In 2015, Joel had a daughter (his second child) with girlfriend Alexis Roderick. Joel and Roderick married in the summer of 2015 as well. In 2013, Madison Square Garden announced Billy Joel would be the first music franchise of “The World’s Most Famous Arena.”, or MSG. In 2014, Billy Joel received The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. Billy Joel has had 33 Top 40 hits and 23 Grammy nominations.
Elton JohnElton John is a British singer, composer, and pianist. Elton John was born on March 25th, 1947, in Pinner, Middlesex, England. He taught himself how to play piano at just four years old, .He had an immense amount of musical talent, winning himself a scholarship to a youth program at the Royal Academy of Music in London. As a teenager, John has spoken about him gaining interest in pop and rock and roll music after the divorce of his parents. At 17 years old, John dropped out of school, and began to pursue his career in music. He began his career with the group, Bluesology. In 1967, John saw an ad for a songwriter for Liberty Records, and applied. He began working for Liberty Records, and wrote songs with lyricist Bernie Taupin, where they both later switched to the DJM label.
In 1969, John began his career as a singer, releasing the album, Empty Sky. In 1970, John released a handful of songs, including hits, "Your Song", "Crocodile Rock", "Island Girl", and "Bernie and the Jets". In 1973 and 1975, John released hit albuns, "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" and "Rock of the Westies". Elton John was known across the world for his live performances. John is famously known for his over the top, glamorous outfits, and different style glasses. In 1976, John released the hit song, "Don't Go Breaking My Heart". During this year, John announced he would be taking a break from music to focus on the soccer team he partly owned in England, and came out as bi-sexual (later cocmes out as gay). In 1979, John returned to the music world, coming back with his album, A Single Man. John continued to release songs throughout the '80s, including tribute song to late John Lennon, "Empty Garden (Hey, Hey Johnny)". I
n 1992, John created the Elton John AIDS Foundation. In 1994, John helped write and produce the soundtrack for The Lion King. The song "Can You Feel the Love Tonight", earned John his "Best Original Song" -- his first Academy award . He won a Tony Award in 2000 for "Best Original Score" in Aida. 1994, John was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 1995, Queen Elizabeth II awarded John as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire, and was knighted years later (became Sir Elton John). In 1997, John released "Candle in the Wind", in honor of the passing of his friends, Princess Diana and Gianni Versace. The song soon became a number one hit. In 2008, John's adaptation of the 2000's show, Billy Elliot the Musical, opened on Broadway. In 2011, John worked on animated movie, Gnomeo and Julliet. In 2018, John had his "Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour", where he was announcing his retirement from the road.
In 2019, a biopic of John's life titled, Rocketman, debuted at the Cannes Movie Festival. In 2020, Rocketman's "(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again earned John and Taupin a Golden Globe for "Best Original Song" . John was married to Renate Blauel from 1984 to 1988. John then married his longtime boyfriend David Furnish in 2005, where they then married legally in 2014 after gay marriage was allowed in Britain. They have two children together welcomed through surrogacy
In 1969, John began his career as a singer, releasing the album, Empty Sky. In 1970, John released a handful of songs, including hits, "Your Song", "Crocodile Rock", "Island Girl", and "Bernie and the Jets". In 1973 and 1975, John released hit albuns, "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" and "Rock of the Westies". Elton John was known across the world for his live performances. John is famously known for his over the top, glamorous outfits, and different style glasses. In 1976, John released the hit song, "Don't Go Breaking My Heart". During this year, John announced he would be taking a break from music to focus on the soccer team he partly owned in England, and came out as bi-sexual (later cocmes out as gay). In 1979, John returned to the music world, coming back with his album, A Single Man. John continued to release songs throughout the '80s, including tribute song to late John Lennon, "Empty Garden (Hey, Hey Johnny)". I
n 1992, John created the Elton John AIDS Foundation. In 1994, John helped write and produce the soundtrack for The Lion King. The song "Can You Feel the Love Tonight", earned John his "Best Original Song" -- his first Academy award . He won a Tony Award in 2000 for "Best Original Score" in Aida. 1994, John was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 1995, Queen Elizabeth II awarded John as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire, and was knighted years later (became Sir Elton John). In 1997, John released "Candle in the Wind", in honor of the passing of his friends, Princess Diana and Gianni Versace. The song soon became a number one hit. In 2008, John's adaptation of the 2000's show, Billy Elliot the Musical, opened on Broadway. In 2011, John worked on animated movie, Gnomeo and Julliet. In 2018, John had his "Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour", where he was announcing his retirement from the road.
In 2019, a biopic of John's life titled, Rocketman, debuted at the Cannes Movie Festival. In 2020, Rocketman's "(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again earned John and Taupin a Golden Globe for "Best Original Song" . John was married to Renate Blauel from 1984 to 1988. John then married his longtime boyfriend David Furnish in 2005, where they then married legally in 2014 after gay marriage was allowed in Britain. They have two children together welcomed through surrogacy
