I drink with jam and bread and that leads us back to Do. A childhood tune that introduces all children and adults to the common C-scale on a piano all thanks to the Rogers & Hammerstein's 1965 classic The Sound of Music. However, 1949 held offers of another classic to be born much before the Rogers & Hammerstein's classic.
Born in 1949, William Joseph Martin Joel had humble beginnings, both personally and musically. At the age of four he began to develop an interest in the classical instrument he is known for today. As he grew, Billy Joel took piano lessons up until the day he began to notice girls. His fascination with the instrument always continued though. He dropped out of high school just short of graduation to follow his love of music. His early projects proved less than successful; he bombed in failed bands like the Echoes, the Hassels and Attila. At one point, Joel attempted to be a lounge pianist and also a composer of commercial jingles. Finally, Joel decided to do it on his own and became the infamous singer-songwriter we know him for today. He unknowingly signed a lifetime contract with the financially struggling Family Productions and recorded the album Cold Spring Harbor in 1971. After hearing a live version of the song "Captain Jack" on the radio, Columbia Records bought out Joel's contract and shortly after they released the1973 album, Piano Man. The title track made it to the Top 40, which began Joel's rise to the top of stardom.
Life was never easy, and nor would it ever be. Joel went through dramatic changes when troubles raised with his producer and Management Company. This caused Joel to seek the help of producer Phil Ramone who was known for his work with such stars as Barbra Streisand, Paul Simon and Frank Sinatra. The change in focus gave Joel the creative jumpstart he needed and resulted in the brilliant 1977 album The Stranger. The album contained the Top 40 singles "Just the Way You Are," "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)," "She's Always a Woman" and "Only the Good Die Young.
