From Long Island Record Stores to 30+ Concerts: My Billy Joel Story

Most people who know me well know I’m kind of a Billy Joel fanatic. I was first introduced to Billy Joel’s music in 1976 when as a teenager, I worked in the record department of Mays Department Store in Massapequa, NY. Billy and his band were from Long Island where I lived and I learned that his drummer, Liberty Devito, lived in Seaford, which is where I spent my last 2 years of high school (I actually grew up in Plainview, NY).

Anyway, from then until now, I have always loved Billy Joel’s legendary song-writing and music and know all of the words to and can sing many of his songs; most of the time in the shower but over the years, I’ve been known to belt one here and there in front of my family. I have every Billy Joel album ever released – including collector editions - and I’ve probably been to over 30 Billy Joel Concerts.

When they became tweeners, I introduced Billy’s music to my two kids and started bringing them to Billy's concerts and they too now love his music and have been to a bunch of his concerts with me. I always try to get great seats on the floor, within the first 10 rows.

Just these last few years, we saw him in Buffalo, Cincinnati, Baltimore, DC and Madison Square Garden (MSG) in NYC.  I even had tickets to see him in the summer of 2025 at Yankee Stadium in NY and at Nationals Stadium in DC, but then all of his remaining concerts were cancelled after Billy was diagnosed with a brain condition called Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus that was impacting his balance. As he told Bill Maher on a podcast, 'My balance sucks, it’s like being on a boat,' but he's been working hard in physical therapy!"

My all-time favorite Billy Joel song is "Vienna," and if you look at the Billy Joel 'Vienna' meaning, it’s all about slowing down, which feels ironic now.

As of this article, Billy Joel is 76 years old and recovering from his medical condition. While I don't think we'll ever see another massive Billy Joel concert tour, you never know because he's not only a LEGEND, but a TOUGH GUY too!