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William Joseph Martin (Billy) Joel, born May 9, 1949, in Levitown Long Island, New York. He began piano lessons at age 4. As a young teenager, Joel discovered the joys of reading books and decided to become a history teacher.
Billy Joeldivided his time between music, street gangs and boxing. After 22 bouts he gave up the ring for piano. "...when I came to a difficult passage I'd start knuckling the keyboards."
"I idolized The Beatles, especially Paul - nobody could come up with the melodies he could."
His first band (1963) was a four piece beat band called The Echoes. The Echoes played cover versions of popular hits, including songs by The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, The Zombies and, of course, The Beatles. The band was formed by his friend Howie Blauvelt, who played bass. Billy started out as a singer and pianist, but switched to Vox organ later.
In late 1964, Billy was pressed into service by producer Shadow Morton, who was recording The Shangri-Las in a Levitown basement studio. Billy played on Leader Of The Pack, but was never paid, since he wasn't a union member.
The Echoes became The Lost Souls in 1965. Mercury Records signed them and they were renamed The Commandos, since another group was already called The Lost Souls. Among the tracks cut, but never released by Mercury, was Billy's song Journey's End.
The band was also known as The Emerald Lords in 1966.
Jon Small asked Billy to join his band, The Hassles, in the spring of 1966. Billy was to replace fired organist Harry Weber. Billy accepted the offer on two conditions, he could bring his Vox organ (Weber used a Hammond B-3) and Blauvelt be added as their bass player.
The Hassles now featured: John Dizek (vocals), Billy Joel (Keyboards), Jon Small (drums), Howie Blauvelt (bass) and Richard McKenner (guitar). He occasionally billed himself as: Billy Joe Joel!
Early 1967, and the success of The Young Rascals (Good Lovin', Groovin'), found record companies looking for Long Island bands. Atco signed The Vagrants and Vanilla Fudge and United Artists signed The Hassles.
The band recorded seven songs in May of 1967. All the songs remained unreleased until the 1992 CD release of The Hassles debut album (EMI Legends Of Rock'n'Roll Series 0777-7-98828-2-3).
The seven songs were:
The CD also included the B-side: I'm Thinkin' (T.Michaels/V.Gorman)
Their first single (UA 50215, released August 28, 1967) was:
The song got regional airplay and enough National exposure to place #112 in Billboard and #71 in Record World's chart.
The Hassles self-titled debut album contained original songs (by W. Joel) and covers. Produced by Tony Michaels and Vinnie Gorman. United Artists 6631. Released November 21, 1967.
A second single followed the album's release (UA 50258, January 2, 1968) with the songs:
Neither the album or the second single got much airplay outside of stations like WBAB in Babylon NY.
On August 19, 1968, their third single (UA 50450) was released:
Later the same year, 1968, The Hassles recorded and released their second, and final, album: Hour Of The Wolf. Produced by Thomas Kay. United Artists 6699. Released on January 23, 1969, this album's songs were all originals by the band.
A second single (UA 50513, February 19, 1969) was issued:
The album was followed by a non-LP single (UA 50586, August 14, 1969),
Produced by The Hassles, that release sunk without a trace, and The Hassles were disbanded.
Here are some CDs of The Hassles material:
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Buy: The Hassles - The Best of the Hassles: You've Got Me Humming CD |
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Billy and Jon Small (The Hassles' drummer) then formed Atilla, and recorded an album Billy later described as "psychedelic bullshit". The Atilla album was released on Epic (E 30030) and produced by Irwin Mazur, William Joel and Jonathan Small. All music and lyrics by William Joel and Jonathan Small.
Billy reportedly still loves Jimi Hendrix, but hates the album that was influenced by him.
Billy eventually married Jon Small's wife, Elizabeth.
After Atilla, Billy worked as a rock journalist for Changes magazine and recorded a commercial for Bachmann's Pretzels with Chubby Checker.
In 1971, he recorded his first "solo" album, Cold Spring Harbor, for Family Records. Billy was embarrassed by the record, which had been mastered at the wrong speed. It was produced by Artie Ripp. All songs were composed by Billy Joel.
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Buy: Billy Joel - Cold Spring Harbor CD |
Two singles were released:
Discouraged by touring for six months to support the album, opening for acts like J. Geils Band and Badfinger, Billy moved to California. There he performed as Bill Martin at Corky's on Van Nuys Blvd and at the Executive Lounge piano bar on Wilshire Blvd. The experience is related in his first Columbia single: Piano Man.
Information from this article is from liner notes by Dawn Eden and Glenn A. Baker and articles and books by Jeff Tamarkin and Peter Gabaccini. Also from the records themselves.
Paul Maclauchlan () Last change: Thu Jan 31 10:02:11 EST 2008
