Billy+Joel

Billy Joel Kevin Black "Billy Joel (1949- )."Hutchinson's Biography Database.” Dec 1st, 2003.

Billy Joel (1949-) tells the reader the little known things about Billy Joel’s life. It really shows the reader the struggles he’s gone through, going from band to band, and all the awards he’s won. After reading all that Billy went through it made me see how hard he had to work. At any point he could have quit but he kept going and that’s what makes him a role model.

Crosbie, Thomas. "Billy Joel car crash parts sold for charity." Breaking News. 8 Mar 2009. http://www.breakingnews.ie/2004/05/08/story 146688.html

Billy Joel car crash parts sold for charity informs the reader how Joel got into a car accident. After his car was ruined Joel was slightly upset but he didn’t let it get him down; instead he took his car parts and got them auctioned off for a charity that donates its money to cancer research. The article confirms my idea of Joel being a role model because Joel took something so negative and made it something so positive for many people. Most famous people would have made a huge deal about this but Billy kept his cool and did the most resourceful thing possible.

Gamboa, Glenn. "Billy Joel to conduct 'master class' for charity." Redeye. 8 Mar 2009. http://redeye.chicagotribune.com/entertainment /movies/ny-etbilly085874263oct08,0,5708669.story

Billy Joel to conduct 'master class' for charity tells the reader how Joel is doing a “master class" where he tells stories from on the road and takes questions while he performs. This master class will be benefiting the Charity Begins at Home organization. This would be the second but not last major charity he would be doing that month. This article shows the read how Joel is a role model because he is always giving to the poor. Doing so many charities in one month and adding in his tour he must feel a little under pressure, but he is showing that he can handle it and do what needs to be done.

Greene, Andy. "Billy Joel Rocks Against the War." Rolling Stone 12 Dec 2007: 2.

Billy Joel rocks against the war reports to the reader how Joel had been receiving many letters for troops in Iraq. After reading the letters he was so touched he wrote a son titled Christmas in Fallujah. Shortly after writing the song Joel knew he couldn’t sing it because it wouldn’t mean as much; so he chose a 21-year-old boy, Cass Dillion, to sing it because Cass was closer to the age of the soldiers writing him. This article supports my idea that Joel is a role model because not only did he write a special song for soldiers he helped someone start their career.

Greene, Andy. "Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel." Rolling Stone 13 Nov 2008: 1.

Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel tells the reader about how Joel and Springsteen team up together for an Obama charity event. Once together Joel agrees to learn Springsteen’s songs. After a few songs it was known that the two were a dream team. Though it was only for one night, those two men proved how well they work together. This article supports my idea that Joel is a role model because instead of forcing Bruce to learn his songs Joel agreed to spread his range of musical knowledge and do Springsteen’s songs. Compromising like that proves how big someone truly is. I’m sure it wasn’t easy to learn all of those new songs but I guess when Billy Joel is put to the test he gets things done.

Jerome, Jim, Rebecca Paley, Rachel Felder, and Debbie Seaman. "Self-Admission." People 08 July 2002: 2.

Self-Admission informs the read how Joel, after months of depression and alcohol abuse, admits himself to a rehabilitation center. But Joel did not just do this for him; he did it for his 16-year-old daughter. This article tells me Joel is a role model because he could have just waited his life away but instead he got help and that takes a big man to do.

Waddell, Ray. "New York State of Mind." Billboard 02 Aug 2008: 1.

In the article New York State of Mind the reader learns how Joel got to play the very last concert at the Shea, which sold out in one hour. Joel had done 10 concerts that month and with the Shea it would be 11 but that wasn’t enough to stop him. Because of the high demand for the concert Joel decided to do another concert at the Shea, the real last concert at the Shea, making 12 concerts in one month. This article makes me know Joel is a role model because he can sell out a whole stadium in one hour, and also he is willing to do so many concerts in one month.

Waddell, Ray. "30 YEARS OF KEEPING THE FAITH." Billboard 22 Mar 2006: 2.

As most people know celebrities go through about 50 managers over the years they perform but not Billy Joel. Joel has gone 30 years with his manager, Arfa, To be able to keep that commitment to a manager for so long takes a true loyal friend that is a also why Joel is a role model.