American singer/songwriter and pianist. Born May 9, 1949, in the Bronx, New York, and shortly thereafter moved to the Levittown section of Hicksville, Long Island, New York, where he started playing piano at age 4. In 1964, inspired by the Beatles, he formed his first band "The Echoes," which became "The Lost Souls" in 1965 and then "The Emerald Lords" in 1966. In 1967, he joined The Hassles and recorded two albums, which were not successful. Billy Joel and Jon Small, the drummer of The Hassles, then formed the psychedelic duo Attila (5) and released one album without success. In 1971, Billy Joel started his solo career with the album "Cold Spring Harbour" and finally achieved fame in 1973 with his song "Piano Man." Inducted into Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1992. Inducted into Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in 1999 (Performer)
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