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Billy Joel: The Biography
Billy Joel ranks among rock'n'roll’s most talented artists. This biography is the first in-depth portrait of a man who is the son of German Jews who fled the Nazi regime, including his childhood in the Bronx, his professional struggles, and his six Grammys.
Billy Joel is also widely known for his professional struggles — his substance abuse problems, his marriage to Christie Brinkley, and a string of car accidents. This is a portrait of a larger-than-life figure, featuring interviews with his bandmates and representatives from Columbia Records, an extensive examination of his diverse music tastes, and never-before-seen photographs.
Billy Joel is also widely known for his professional struggles — his substance abuse problems, his marriage to Christie Brinkley, and a string of car accidents. This is a portrait of a larger-than-life figure, featuring interviews with his bandmates and representatives from Columbia Records, an extensive examination of his diverse music tastes, and never-before-seen photographs.
- GenresBiographyMusicNonfiction
448 pages, Hardcover
First published May 22, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 17, 2025
Reads more like a history book than a good biography. Most of the book is quotes from previously published interviews, with a few conversations between the author and people who knew Billy Joel. Many of the quotes are repeated in different places in the book, and it starts to feel like filler simply to make the book longer. When faced with differing quotes from people about specific events, he makes no attempt to dive deeper and get additional information, or to even give his impression of what may have occurred. The bottom line is that there is really nothing new or insightful here.
February 23, 2019
What I liked most about this book is that the author helped "get" Billy Joel. Not that I didn't think I "got" Billy Joel before. Here's a guy with some baggage. He's a good guy - He's a jerk. It's all here. But one thing is unmistakable. He doesn't "settle" when it comes to music - and that's what I got.
The book is an easy read and though the author gets somewhat bogged down in describing songs to us, it's been worse in other books.
The book is an easy read and though the author gets somewhat bogged down in describing songs to us, it's been worse in other books.
August 19, 2023
There's no question that this book is thorough.
In fact, I think it would have benefited from a heavier-handed editor.
All of my Billy Joel-related questions have been answered - I just wanted it to end!
In fact, I think it would have benefited from a heavier-handed editor.
All of my Billy Joel-related questions have been answered - I just wanted it to end!
May 11, 2013
What is it with over detailing?
This reader lost interest very quickly.
This reader lost interest very quickly.
October 8, 2013
Horribly written, wrong information, bad editing. Unfortunately I don't think there's actually a good Joel bio out there -- I would suggest just reading a wikipedia bio and leaving it at that.
November 14, 2010
Some people should not be allowed to write books
September 6, 2018
Mark Bego's "Billy Joel: The Biography" was a wonderful read for one of my favorite music idol's of the 1980. It's a biography of the Great "pop rock" musician from his early childhood when he lived on Long Island in New York--till he gained his long, and current fame!
Reading Bego's "Billy Joel: The Biography" makes me remember where I first was when "It was Saturday night in the Piano Bar," "Heading to Hackensack, Sack, Sack, "My Life," "New York State of Mind," "She's Always a Woman," and "Big Shot," all considered the classics of Joel's works, were first heard on the radio.
What surprised me was that Joel is half Jewish, and that it was a log of the Jewish music, (Klezmer) which aided him in his music. I also though his search for agents was written well. And easy read about someone who started out humble, and to some extend is still pretty humbled, although he has a lot of the ownership of Madison Square Garden for his performances....
Laura Cobrinik,
Boonton Township NJ
Reading Bego's "Billy Joel: The Biography" makes me remember where I first was when "It was Saturday night in the Piano Bar," "Heading to Hackensack, Sack, Sack, "My Life," "New York State of Mind," "She's Always a Woman," and "Big Shot," all considered the classics of Joel's works, were first heard on the radio.
What surprised me was that Joel is half Jewish, and that it was a log of the Jewish music, (Klezmer) which aided him in his music. I also though his search for agents was written well. And easy read about someone who started out humble, and to some extend is still pretty humbled, although he has a lot of the ownership of Madison Square Garden for his performances....
Laura Cobrinik,
Boonton Township NJ
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews