BY THE NUMBERS: Billy Joel
Billy Joel celebrates his birthday today (May 9), and while we’re all well aware of just how storied his career has been, sometimes reading a bunch of stats is a friendly reminder of someone’s greatness.
In honor of The Piano Man’s birthday, here’s just a handful of notable figures from his career.
- Albums sold worldwide: 150 million +
- Studio Albums Released: 13
- Cold Spring Harbor (1971)
- Piano Man (1973)
- Streetlife Serenade (1974)
- Turnstiles (1976)
- The Stranger (1977)
- 52nd Street (1978)
- Glass Houses (1980)
- The Nylon Curtain (1982)
- An Innocent Man (1983)
- The Bridge (1986)
- Storm Front (1989)
- River of Dreams (1993)
- Fantasies & Delusions (2001)
- Albums That Topped the Billboard 200: 4
- 52nd Street
- Glass Houses
- Storm Front
- River Dreams
- Number of Billboard Hot 100 Singles: 42
- Number of top ten Billboard Hot 100 Singles: 13
- “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me” – #1
- “We Didn’t Start The Fire” – #1
- “Tell Her About It” – #1
- “The River Of Dreams” – #3
- “Just The Way You Are” – #3
- “Uptown Girl” – #3
- “My Life” – #3
- “I Go To Extremes” – #6
- “You May Be Right” – #7
- “You’re Only Human (Second Wind)” – #9
- “A Matter Of Trust” – #10
- “An Innocent Man” – #10
- “Modern Woman” – #10
- Number of GRAMMYs won: 5
- Record of the Year – “Just The Way You Are” (1978)
- Song of the Year – “Just The Way You Are” (1978)
- Album of the Year – 52nd Street (1979)
- Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male – 52nd Street (1979)
- Best Rock Vocal Performance, Male – Glass Houses (1980)
- GRAMMY Legend Award (1991)
- Year Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: 1999
- Year Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame: 1992
- Year Received Kennedy Center Honors: 2013
- Year Received Gershwin Prize for Popular Song: 2014
- Number of shows at Madison Square Garden (including upcoming residency dates): 105
Erica Banas is a rock/classic rock blogger that loves the smell of old vinyl in the morning.
Erica Banas is a news blogger who's been covering the rock/classic rock world since 2014. The coolest event she's ever covered in person was the 2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. (Sir Paul McCartney inducting Foo Fighters? C'mon now!) She's also well-versed in etiquette and extraordinarily nice. #TransRightsAreHumanRights
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