Dropping out of high school to start pursuing a professional singing career, Billy Joel released his debut album "Cold Spring Harbor" in 1971. The set, unfortunately, was a flop, prompting him to end his contract with Family Productions and moved to Los Angeles. There, he worked as a lounge pianist, a job that he immortalized in his hit song "Piano Man", the title song of his second album released in 1973.
In late 1972, Joel ousted an underground recording titled "Captain Jack" which received positive reviews and later caught the attention of Columbia Records which immediately signed him under their wings. He released several new albums since, all of which reflected his evolving style ranging from pop to jazz. One of his sets that became his major commercial breakthrough was the 1977 "The Stranger", spawning four songs in the Top 25 of the U.S. Billboard charts.
Joel puts on a yellow badge that the Jews were forced to wear during the Holocaust in response to the white supremacist rally.
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