1. The ‘Piano Man’ Biography, Composition history and Listening guides of
William Martin “Billy” Joel
The ‘Piano Man’
William Martin ‘Billy’ Joel
Evan Easton, Music 1010, Semester Project, July 11, 2014

2. Known the world over by the way he commands the ivories, and rocks out in arenas of all sizes. He is a diverse talent of music and lyrics that span almost half a century. He started his music career early in life but discovered other interest and talents as well. He has spent his life entertaining and inspiring people the world over. His success has been proven through honors, distinctions and awards.

3. A Legend is born…
Billy was born William Martin Joel to a German Father and an English mother on May 9, 1949 in Bronx, New York. He is Jewish by heritage, attended the Catholic Church with friends, later baptized into the Protestant church where his mother attended. He currently maintains an unaffiliated stance in regards to religion. He grew up on the piano and started taking lessons at the age of 4. He tells the story;
May 9, 1949

4. “I would walk to my piano teachers studio (who also taught ballet), and the neighbor kids would tease me, asking where was my tutu and such. Along my path was the Police boys club that taught boxing. I joined the club and trained and became pretty good. We would have intramural fights with the boxers on the gold glove circuit. I won 22 bouts and quit when my nose was broken. I did, however, have the opportunity to vindicate myself with the bullys. One day on my way home from piano lessons they started razzing me and so I decked one of them. When he hit the ground I asked if anyone else wanted any. They left me alone from then on.”

5. The Lost Souls, Billy on left.
The Hassles
Billy 2nd from right.
As good as he was in the ring he reined on the piano. He joined his first band in 1963 called The Lost Souls. A few years later he joined a Long Island band named The Hassles and released two albums for United Artists. When he was 16 he played the piano for a demo recording of “The Leader of the Pack” by the Shangri-Las. He took on his solo career in 1970 after writing ‘Cold Spring Harbor’ and began touring to promote the song.
Played piano for the demo recording at age 16.

6. When his contract fell apart he moved to Los Angeles where he scraped by playing in piano bars under the alias William Martin. In 1972 a song he had played at a concert in New York was heard on an underground radio station in Philadelphia. His notoriety was about to hit the front page. Columbia Records signed Billy Joel in 1972 after hearing “Captain Jack” on the radio in Philly. His signature song “Piano Man” was written and released in Helen Reddy originally recorded the song under the title “You’re My Home”. In an interview with Howard Stern he voices his displeasure with the way she performed it. Shortly after that he released it himself and it has been his anthem ever since, closing every show with it

7. . He speaks his mind through his music, at time taking shots against the media and record labels as heard in the tune “The Entertainer”. He tells Howard Stern that his main inspiration for his music is Ray Charles with whom he played. He has toured with Sir Elton John, who once asked Billy, “why don’t you make more albums?” to which he responded, “why don’t you make less?” Elton and Billy had a falling out for a short time when Billy decided not to tour again with him. He never wanted to be a ‘rock star’; rather he just wanted to be a songwriter. However, after the tour to promote ‘Cold Spring Harbor’ it was clear that he was a performer. He has toured all over the world from the seventies to the present day where he maintains a monthly show permanently at Madison Square Garden in New York.

8. Won 6 Grammys, nominated for 18 more…
Billy is a decorated musician having won 6 Grammys and nominated for another 18. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll hall of fame in 1999 and the songwriter’s hall of fame in He has sold over 150,000,000 albums and continues to woo crowds and inspire younger musicians.
Over 150,000,000 albums sold

9. Composition History Composition History
I have chosen to analyze two songs from Billy Joel. They are not his top hits but for some reason I am drawn to them. I will be reviewing “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant” from his 1977 album The Stranger, and “Keeping the Faith” from the 1983 album An Innocent Man.

10. “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant”
“Scenes from and Italian Restaurant” released in 1977 never made the top 40. It was produced in New York City and released through Columbia Records. It has a run time of 7:37, the longest of any of his songs featured on any of his albums. It is a personal song to Billy as it accounts the experience he had at an Italian restaurant across from Carnegie Hall. The restaurant, which inspired this song, since closed, was the Fontana di Trevi. Billy shared in an interview with USA Today in 2009; "It was for the opera crowd, but the Italian food was really good. They didn't really know who I was, which was fine with me, but sometimes you would have a hard time getting a table. Well, I went there when the tickets had gone on sale for (my dates at) Carnegie Hall, and the owner looks at me and he goes (in an Italian accent), 'Heyyy, youra that guy!' And from then on, I was always able to get a good spot." I love the way that the music seems to bookend the story. Starting slow and building into the climax of the sotry and settling back to its genesis. At least 16 different instruments are found in this song, one that I would have never thought of finding in a rock and roll song was the accordion, unique in every aspect is blends the music in soft subtle way.

11. “Keeping the Faith”
“Keeping the Faith” is a better-known song released as well through Columbia records in 1984 reached #18 on the Billboard charts in January It runs for 4:41 and goes through what it was like for him growing up in the 60’s and things he did and experienced. It gives you a window into the life of a teenager in the 60’s that one might not have ever seen without having been there. It is fun and energetic. It is complex in its simplicity. I have discovered at least 10 different instruments some of which I had to really go searching to figure out what it was that was making the sounds. The cabasa and the guiro are two that he uses in many of his songs.

12. “Scenes from and Italian Restaurant”
0:00- Introduction. The song starts with a soft piano in an inverted arch contour. The piano is slow and establishes and rhythm that is easy to listen to. It is in a simple quadruple meter.
0:24 the piano continues with a greater volume and an accordion is added into the piece that is dejunct in its part. Both play together and follow a diminuendo softening the mood of the music. This creates a deeper texture to the song that also make you feel as though you may have just sat down to dinner at the restaurant of which he sings.
0:49 although very subtle the bass is added enriching the dynamic of the music. It seems to follow the flow of the piano in its pitch. Guiro is added that gives it a rustic feel. This is an elegant dynamic that mimics the questions asked in the lyrics of which kind of wine to have. Though I wouldn’t consider this the first verse it is the first of the lyrics. I feel like it is more like the set up for the end of the song, a place to return to so to speak.
1:08 Bridge. At this point in the piece the tempo is changing beginning to build into a crescendo with the cymbals, saxophone and snare drums. A violin or two follow continuing to build as if getting ready to jump out of an airplane. The variety of the instruments and the differences of sounds give it a polyphonic sound. The tempo picks up as well.
1:40 Verse 1. This is the point that the song seems to completely shift gears. We go from a nice harmonic flow much like and orchestra to a rock song. We hear a loud hard beat from the piano matched with the drums and a tambourine in a conjunct style. It is as if we have left the quiet restaurant for a late night diner with a jukebox in the corner, reminiscent of the happy days era. He begins to tell a story of reminiscing with an old friend and the good times they used to have at the local hangout.
2:07 The Saxophone is added in again to piece. We hear three saxophones. The Soprano, Alto, and Baritone Sax.
2:24 Bridge. This bridge seems to be more of a circus feel that is leading us in to the next part of a story about the popular kids that everyone wanted to be like who probably lived more of a circus kind of life than others.

13. 3:14 Verse 2. We lose all the other instruments with the exception of the piano. The tempo is fast and forte. It leads the lyrics in to a new part of the story. We can feel the building of the song in to its climax. During the next parts the drums and bass join the piano.
3:44 Verse 3. The song continues to tell the story and you can hear the piano in the background hitting hard on the downbeats that grabs your attention and keeps you engaged in the music.
5:00 Verse 4. The instruments are limited and the vocals are accentuated and the leaves a feeling of lacking, that matches the loss of a lifestyle of those in the song.
5:15 Verse 5. The electric guitar and the piano provide the melody while the drums keep the beat. The hard beats emphasize the feeling of the story as he wraps up the story. There is a dynamic texture between the piano, drums and the vocals that accentuate the feeling of the lyrics.
6:05 we begin diminuendo with a descending contour with the strings that lead us back to where the piece started.
6:20 Coda. The piano matches the beginning of the song as it brings the piece to its close. As if saying goodbye to a friend, much like the lyrics describe the reminiscing of two old friends while dinning at the restaurant. They talk and enjoy the time spent in a quiet restaurant while remembering a more rowdy time when they were younger.
6:48 Finale the strings/cymbal, crescendo into alto sax solo with drums/bass/piano accompaniment
7:33 end of song

14. “Keeping the Faith”
0:00 Introduction. The piece starts with a fast tempo and a quick beat laid down with a synthesizer, electric guitar, cabasa, snare and bass drums, all playing conjunct in an arch contour. It is a simple duple meter and gives a feeling of excitement of life as a young man.
0:11 Verse 1. Lyrics begin to tell a story of himself as a young man and remembering how great it was to be there. He is very descriptive in his words, which contrast the seemingly simple melody.
0:45 Chorus. The chorus is short and it is a quick phrase that ties into the end of each verse. The bass is added here to give the piece a greater dynamic, which helps to round it out. “…Till their music set me on fire, then I was saved…”
1:04 Verse 2. He begins the description of what he wore and how he would get ready to hit the town. It is easy to hear the chorus come on by the ascending melody and how the words begin to rhyme with “keeping the faith”
1:41 Chorus. Though it is a chorus it is not typical as the words are a bit different because they are the end of the verse that leads into the chorus. “…combed my hair in a pompadour like the rest of the Romeos wore a permanent wave…”
1:55 Bridge. The trumpets fell somewhat irreverent in the way they interrupt the song. There are a few lyrics but not the same number of lines or duration as the other verses. It is like it is a little breather between verses.
2:18 Verse 3. The music remains upbeat and fun its dynamics and tempo. The verse comes in quick and on the heels of the bridge.
3:10 Bridge. This is more of a true bridge as the trumpets play a completely different melody than that of the rest of the song. They are a quick tempo and short quick notes. They are similar enough to feel good in the song but different enough to know that this is a different part of the song. He sings his “OH’s” though the bridge that lend some continuity to the bridge.
3:27 Verse 4. He gives a quick phrase almost as a precursor to the main verse. The tempo and pitch of the music remains high and excited.
4:09 Coda. He repeats the song title as if it were a condensed version of the chorus. And the music and lyrics fade together to the end of the song.

15. I have always loved Billy’s music and could find inspiration in my life through his words. I can now see the inspiration in the music. I can see how it can take you away and find yourself lost in the music. Sometimes the words get in the way. If a picture can be worth a thousand words the music can be worth a million. There is a degree of passion and emotion that you just can get from a canvas, you can feel the sounds penetrate your soul.

16. Bibliography http://www.billyjoel.com/biography
Sirius/XM radio town hall, Billy Joel Town Hall Masterclass with Howard Stern 4/28/14,