Billy Joel began his journey into music by studying classical piano. Influenced by early rock & roll and rhythm & blues artists such as The Beatles and Ray Charles, Joel started focusing on contemporary music, setting the groundwork for a career that still continues. Early in his career, Joel joined his first band, the Echoes, at age 16 and played piano on a recording of the Shangri-Las' "Remember (Walking in the Sand)." In July 1970, he formed the duo Attila with drummer Jon Small and released their debut album "Attila."

Joel gained widespread recognition with his 1973 hit single “Piano Man,” written during his time performing at The Executive Room piano bar under the pseudonym "Bill Martin." Joel's ability to craft relatable lyrics and memorable melodies earned him critical acclaim and a devoted global fan base. "The Stranger" (1977) and "52nd Street" (1978) are among Joel's most successful albums, with "52nd Street" winning Grammy awards for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male and Album of the Year. It was also the first commercially released album on the compact disc format in 1982.

Throughout his career, Joel has been recognized with several awards and honors. He has won six Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year for "Just the Way You Are." Joel was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1992 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999. In 2001, he received the Johnny Mercer Award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Joel was also honored at the 2013 Kennedy Center Honors.

He performed at the historic Havana Jam festival in 1979, an event documented in the film "Havana Jam '79." His album "Glass Houses" won the Grammy for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Male and the American Music Award for Favorite Album, Pop/Rock category. In 2001, Joel released "Fantasies & Delusions," a collection of classical piano pieces that topped the classical charts.

In 2014, Joel began a Madison Square Garden residency, playing one concert a month indefinitely. In 2023, he co-headed a series of concerts across the United States with Stevie Nicks, labeled the "Two Icons - One Night" tours. His Madison Square Garden residency, which earned him the description as a franchise at the venue, ended in July 2024 with his 104th performance in the series. That same year, Joel released a new single, "Turn the Lights Back On," which was his first pop single in years.

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