The Book of Joel

by Billy Joel, Fred Schruers

This soul-searching chronicle offers fans an unprecedented glimpse into the heart and soul of one of the world's best entertainers--the Piano Man himself, Billy Joel. Known the world over for classic rock songs like "The Entertainer," "The Stranger," and "New York State of Mind," here the beloved songwriter offers a serious and reflective memoir of his life from early hard times to top-of-the-world successes, including the ups and downs of romance (and his marriage to Christie Brinkley, for whom he wrote "Uptown Girl"), insights about fatherhood, and reflections on both the joys and the burdens of superstardom. Fans of rock biographies like Keith Richards' "Life," " "Jimmy Buffett's "A Pirate Looks at Fifty," Bob Dylan's "Chronicle," and others will be captivated as one of the music world's greatest storytellers reveals all, in Billy Joel's powerful memoir of tears, excitement, and a river of dreams come true.

368 pages, Hardcover

First published April 19, 2011

About the author

William Joseph Martin "Billy" Joel is an American pianist and singer-songwriter. He released his first hit song, "Piano Man", in 1973. According to the RIAA, he is the sixth best-selling recording artist in the United States.

Joel had Top 10 hits in the '70s, '80s, and '90s; is a six-time Grammy Award winner; and has sold in excess of 150 million albums worldwide.[2] He was inducted into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame (Class of 1992), the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (Class of 1999), and the Long Island Music Hall of Fame (Class of 2006). Joel "retired" from recording pop music in 1993 but continued to tour (sometimes with Elton John). In 2001 he subsequently released Fantasies & Delusions, a CD of classical compositions for piano. In 2007 he returned to recording with a single entitled "All My Life", followed by an extensive "World Tour" from 2005-2008, covering many of the major world cities.

Reviews

[Jay Jason]

It's too bad this book wil never be published...

[DaveH · Rating 2 out of 5]

Billy Joel had it all, and through self inflicted wounds has had to rebuild himself many times over. Live through every single goddamn minute of it through this book.