Billy Joel is set to celebrate his 75th birthday in a grand style today. The celebration will be marked with a show at his monthly residency at New York's Madison Square Garden, mirroring his 70th birthday celebration. This tradition of celebrating his birthdays with performances began on May 9th, 2019, when Billy turned 70.
The 70th birthday celebration was a star-studded event featuring video messages from Pink, AC/DC’s Brian Johnson, Don Henley, and Paul McCartney. The highlight of the evening was when Joel's daughter, Alexa Ray Joel, joined her father on stage for a rendition of "New York State of Mind." Peter Frampton also rocked his classics "Show Me the Way" and "Baby I Love Your Way," and then he joined Billy for the last number of the evening, "You May Be Right."
The 75th birthday show promises to be just as spectacular, if not more. It will be the third-to-last show of Joel's residency at the Garden, with the remaining dates being June 8th and July 25th. Despite his fame and success, Joel maintains that his original goal was to be a successful songwriter, not a "rock star." He humorously reflects on his journey, saying, "I became Billy Joel -- rock star, which to me, is hysterical."
Billy reflected on his career, saying, "I know how to write music and lyrics. I know how to play my instrument. I know how to sing and I know how to perform on stage. And I know the recording techniques. I'm not, by any means, an extraordinary artist. I don't think I'm all that good. Now, if you're competent in an age of incompetence, that makes you appear extraordinary. So, that's my rationale for why I've been around a long time. I'm not all that good -- I just know how to do the job."
Happy 75th Billy Joel...and many more!
[Source: Classic Hits Today]