William Martin Joel is an American singer-songwriter, composer, and pianist. Commonly nicknamed the "Piano Man" after his first major hit and signature song of the same name, he has led a commercially ...
First Spin
Last Spin
- Jan 27, 2026
9:35 AMHey John - It's taken me a while to get the words and time right but my 41 yr old brother Tyler took his own life last September. For the last 14 years I've heard people share stories of loss and have felt for those listeners but never thought I’d have a reason to write in. Well here I am. Last Monday my wife Tripti (trip-tea) and I welcomed our baby girl, Vienna, into the world. I’d do anything to have him meet her. Since that can’t happen, can you play Vienna by Billy Joel and maybe somewhere out there Tyler will catch the tune? I know I’m not alone. -Brent in Austin
John Richards - Jan 2, 2026
2:45 AMOpening track of Billy Joel's 1977 album The Stranger. - Nov 13, 2025
18:15 PMFor Matt Hi Evie –My oldest brother, Bain, passed away this morning after a long struggle with Parkinsons Disease. I had forgotten that today was music heals but tuned into Larry’s show and heard song after song that seemed just ‘right’ for me on this day – when I heard the stories of others, I realized, yet again, that I am not alone. My brother was a piano player and might have appreciated hearing Piano Man by Billy Joel if you can wrangle it. Thanks for all you do. - Nov 9, 2025
14:21 PMOn this day in 1973 Billy Joel released his second album, Piano Man. The title track, based on his nights performing at a piano bar in Los Angeles called The Executive Room, becomes his first hit when it peaks at #25 in America. - Oct 8, 2025
10:09 AM#332 "Joel first wrote this song to a soft ballad mystery tune he had in his head. When he performed it for his band in the studio, they informed him WHERE he got the tune - it was identical to Neil Sedaka's "Laughter In The Rain." Embarrassed, Joel changed it to a more rocking tune." www.songfacts.com - Jul 28, 2025
5:05 AMFrom Billy Joel's second studio album. "Captain Jack" was written in Joel's apartment in Oyster Bay, Long Island. "It's about coming out of the New York suburbs, but in my travels I have seen a lot of the same suburb all over the country. The song is sort of brutal, but sometimes it is good to be brutal and offend people—it keeps them on their toes." bit.ly
