Billy Joel: His music, life on Long Island and more

Through the years

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Through the years

Take a look through Joel's well-documented decades, from early performances on through his current residency at Madison Square Garden.

Newsday

What’s your Joel IQ?

Quiz

What’s your Joel IQ?

From his first song for daughter Alexa to the setlist for the Last Play at Shea, test your Joel knowledge.

Bruce Gilbert

July anniversaries

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July anniversaries

July 1, 2015, sees Joel breaking the record for most consecutive shows at MSG, but the month holds many other notable dates.

AP

The music

Top 14 songs

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Top 14 songs

Newsday music critic Glenn Gamboa ranks the Hicksville native's best songs.

Getty Images / Michael Ochs

Your MSG photos

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Your MSG photos

Concertgoers' pictures from Joel's residency at Madison Square Garden.

tysonk via Instagram

The albums

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The albums

Joel's catalog of studio albums is so deep that he continues to pull out new versions of songs to keep his set fresh.

Sony Music

Live at the Paramount

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Live at the Paramount

Joel played an intimate show at the Paramount Theater in Huntington on Oct. 16, 2013.

Chris Ware

Musicians inspired by Joel

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Musicians inspired by Joel

Countless musicians, from Rufus Wainwright to Ben Folds, have taken inspiration from Joel.

AP / Keith Shimada

His Long Island

Joel's Long Island

Map

Joel's Long Island

Take a tour of his motorcycle shop, LI homes and more.

Bruce Gilbert

13 ways he’s SO Long Island

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13 ways he’s SO Long Island

With more than 500,000 votes, LIers crowned Joel as the most Long Island person, place or thing.

Newsday / John Cornell

His philanthropy

Article

His philanthropy

Joel generally goes about things quietly, though his actions still generate widespread impact.

Newsday / John Paraskevas

Accolades & milestones

Kennedy Center Honors

Article

Kennedy Center Honors

Musicians from the worlds of jazz, country, emo and rock paid tribute to Joel at the 36th annual Kennedy Center Honors on Dec. 8, 2013.

Getty Images

Joel: 'Why me?'

Article

Joel: 'Why me?'

“It's like an abundance of good fortune,” Joel said about being a Kennedy Center Honor recipient.

AP / Manuel Balce Ceneta

''The Definitive Biography''

Excerpt

''The Definitive Biography''

Read an excerpt, from the 2014 biography, that revisits a career highlight: the Last Play at Shea.

Crown Archetype

Newsday covers

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Newsday covers

Joel has graced the cover of Newsday many times, whether the topic was his music, boat, motorcycle shop or personal life.

Newsday

ASCAP Centennial Award

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ASCAP Centennial Award

Along with Sting, Joan Baez, Stevie Wonder and more, Joel received an American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers award on Nov. 17, 2014.

Rogers & Cowan

Gershwin Prize honor

Article

Gershwin Prize honor

''George Gershwin was always a hero of mine,'' Joel said as he accepted the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song on Nov. 20, 2014.

AP / Carolyn Kaster

Gershwin Prize concert

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Gershwin Prize concert

A lineup of musical heavy-hitters saw Tony Bennett, LeAnn Rimes, John Mellencamp and many more paying tribute to Joel and his music.

AP / Carolyn Kaster