Branson - A Biography On The Life & Times of Billy Joel

Though Billys mother wasBritish-born, it was a different British Invasion that put Billy on the path tohis destiny. After watching The Beatles on TheEd Sullivan Show, Billy knew what he wanted to do with his life, even whilestill in high school. The ordinary-looking lads made Billy realize that he toocould be a rock star.

Billy soon founded a band, TheEchoes, which featured covers of British Invasion bands. The group beganrecording in 1965, but Billy failed to see any success from it. The bandchanged names and finally called it quits in 1967, while Billy was in his lastyear of high school. During that time, Billy began playing a variety of songsput together by Kama Sutra Productions. His biggest accomplishment for that period of time was playing the demo of the chart toppingLeader of the Pack, which the Shangri-Las later recorded.

Not to be deterred, Billy quicklybecame part of a group out of Long Island called The Hassles. The groupreleased two albums and four associated singles before Billy and the bandsdrummer, Jon Small, left the band and created a duo named Attila. Together,Billy and Jon released their debut album in 1970, but personal matters would sooninterfere with professional success.

Billy began an affair with Jonswife, Elizabeth; Billy had felt a spark from the first moment they met. Thefact that Jon and Elizabeth had a young son did not stop Billy and Elizabethfrom being with each other. When the affair was exposed, the recording duo wasdissolved in October of that year. Elizabeth left both Jon and Billy.

The breakup with Elizabeth was toomuch for Billy, and he sank into a depression that would lead to one ofmultiple suicide attempts. Feeling heartbroken, Billy called Jon to apologizefor the affair before taking a fatal amount of Nembutal, an anesthetic. It wasJon who saved Billys life. After hanging up on Billys apology, Jon raced toBillys mothers house and found him unconscious. Billy had his stomach pumped,which saved his life.

A later suicide attempt, drinkingfurniture polish, landed Billy in Meadowbrook Hospital, under suicide watch,while he underwent treatment for his depression. While there, he was surrounded by those who were not as fortunate as he was anddid not have people looking out for them . The experience led him tolater record Youre Only Human (Second Wind) as an outreach for teen-agedsuicide prevention.

Despite his personal and emotionalturmoil, Billy signed a recording contract and released his Cold Spring Harbor album in 1971. Thealbum was not considered a success, even though it included songs like ShesGot a Way, which was inspired by Elizabeth. It would take a decade for thesongs on the Cold Spring Harbor albumto gain popularity.

Elizabeth and Billy did end upreuniting. As Billys career began to take off, he was still fighting hispersonal demons, remaining medicated for his depression and supplementing his drugswith heavy drinking. Still, Billy was completely in love with Elizabeth andcontinued to write songs in her honor, including Shes Always a Woman.

In late 1971, Billy played in NewYork and came to the attention of an executive at Columbia Records, HerbGordon. Herb then introduced Billy to the company. Though he was still undercontract with his previous label, Billy signed with Columbia Records and movedto Los Angeles. For a six month period, Billy performed as Bill Martin at theExecutive Room. It was during this stint at the piano bar on Wilshire Boulevardthat Billy composed Piano Man. Billys first album with Columbia Records, appropriatelynamed Piano Man, was released in 1973with only moderate success, but the song went on to define his career whenBilly made it the finale to all of his performances.

Billy continued to look toElizabeth as his musical muse. Meanwhile, Elizabeth seemed more concerned withthe business of their coupling. In spite of the differences between how each viewedthe relationship, Billy and Elizabeth married on September 5, 1973. Elizabethalso stepped into the role of Billys manager, replacing Billys long-timefriend, Jon Troy.

In 1976, the Long Islander had had hisfill of Los Angeles after three years of marginal success in recording, touringas an opening act for groups like The Beach Boys and the J.Giels Band, andworking with Bo Diddley. Billy and Elizabeth moved back to New York. It wasalso during this time that Columbia Records introduced Billy to a new producer,Phil Ramone, who would take charge of all of Billys studio albums for the nextten years. The two moves, returning to New York and working with Phil, wouldsignal Billys rise into the ranks of the rock and roll elite.