When Billy Joel was growing up in Hicksville, New York, rock music was all about guitars. Pianos were for classical music and jazz, not for rock and roll. Joel, born May 9, 1949, changed that. He started taking piano lessons at age four. By his teens, he was playing in local bands. Joel's big breakthrough came in 1973 with the song "Piano Man." The song tells the story of a piano player performing in a bar, singing about the people around him. Each verse introduces a different character -- a waitress, a real estate agent, a sailor. The song felt personal and real because it was based on Joel's own experience playing in a Los Angeles lounge. Over the next two decades, Joel released hit after hit. Songs like "Uptown Girl," "We Didn't Start the Fire," and "Just the Way You Are" showed his range as a songwriter. He could write love songs, energetic rock anthems, and thoughtful historical songs. Joel has sold over 150 million records worldwide. He holds the record for most consecutive performances at Madison Square Garden, with over 100 shows. He proved that a piano could rock just as hard as a guitar.