Bronx-born and Long-Island raised, Billy Joel has had a huge impact on the musical world as a whole. His standout song “Piano Man” still gets constant play on classic stations and by players who are just learning how to tickle the ivories. And how can we forget “We Didn’t Start the Fire”?
Joel rose to prominence in the late seventies, and between his start in 1993, he released twelve studio albums and put out another in 2001. He’s cemented himself as one of the greats, with a bit of a twist on the classic recipe – instead of wailing on an ax, Joel’s chosen instrument was the piano.
Bruce Springsteen
He's the Boss, as the bumper stickers say. Springsteen became one of the biggest singer-songwriters and musicians during the seventies and even started to attract international fame after “Born to Run” came out in 1975. The next few albums didn't disappoint either, with “The River,” “Born in the USA,” and “The Rising” all achieving critical acclaim.
The songs he came up with were musically complex, but his straightforward and memorable lyrics helped turn Springsteen into a musical storyteller that still hasn't been topped. Many of his songs revolve around the life of the working-class American.
Bruce Springsteen Today
The immense success of Bruce Springsteen's career has made him into a name that almost nobody can pretend to not know. He's collected twenty Grammy Awards, two Golden Globes, an Academy Award for Best Original Song, and, of all things, a Tony Award. He's also joined the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
He starred on Broadway alongside his traditional backing band, the E Street Band, a group of musicians that would frequently have his back when he was on stage or recording. He and the band have also performed on Saturday Night Live in December 2020.
Billy Joel Today
No doubt you're aware that Billy Joel is one of the biggest best-selling music artists of all time, but did you know that he's the number three best-selling solo artist in the United States, ever? He has over a hundred and fifty records sold worldwide, and he's also the sixth best-selling recording artist, not just among solo artists.
He's into his seventies now, and this member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame still tours around the world and sells out massive arenas. For music fans who have never seen the piano man live, do yourself a favor and try to find a performance near you.
Bono of U2
Bono is without a doubt the most well-known Irish musician performing today. Born Paul David Hewson, Bono is a singer-songwriter, philanthropist, activist, and more, and he's the lead vocalist and primary lyricist of rock band U2. The band began in 1976, and they rose to worldwide acclaim with the release of their 1987 record “Joshua Tree.”
Bono and U2 as a whole have received a whopping twenty-two Grammy Awards, and the band became a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005. The guy who carries the bass when they play even got in with them.