Billy Joel is an American singer, pianist, composer and songwriter. Commonly nicknamed the “Piano Man” after his single and signature song of the same name.
Today we will discuss some of the intresting Facts about him:
Joel was once a successful Long Island boxer, winning 22 out of 24 fights. He had taken boxing lessons because he was frequently beaten up by neighborhood bullies. He left his boxing career and went into music when his nose was broken in his 24th fight.
He is writer of his all the songs single handedly.
His and Twyla Tharp’s hit musical “Movin’ Out” received 10 Tony Award nominations for the 2003 Tony Awards including: Best New Musical, Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical, Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical, Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical, Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical, Best Direction of a Musical, Best Choreography, and Best Orchestrations. Out of the 10 nominations “Movin’ Out” received two Tony Awards, one went to Tharp for Best Choreography, and the other went to Joel himself for Best Orchestrations.
Son of Rosalynd Nyman, born in England to an agnostic Jewish family, and Howard Joel, a Jewish Holocaust survivor from Germany, whose family owned the fourth largest mail order company in Germany before dispossessed by the Nazis
After his divorce, Howard returned to Europe and married again. Billy’s half-brother is the famous concert pianist Alexander Joel.
Attempted to commit suicide in 1970 by drinking furniture polish.
American companion to British musician Elton John.
