Billy Joel's big moments in April: 'Piano Man' charts on Billboard, a motorcycle crash, more
April 2
Credit: MRG Ventures Inc.
April 2, 1972: Billy Joel plays the Mar y Sol Festival in Puerto Rico, which brings him to the attention of Clive Davis of Columbia Records. Here, Joel performs at My Father's Place music club in Roslyn in the early 1970s.
April 5
Credit: Newsday / J. Conrad Williams Jr.
April 5, 2017: Billy Joel ushers in the new, aluminum-finned era of the renovated Nassau Coliseum with a powerful set filled with Long Island references, including Joan Jett and Kevin James.
April 6
April 6, 1974: The "Piano Man" single finally enters the Billboard chart, five months after its release.
April 13
Credit: AP / Mark Duncan
April 13, 2007: Billy Joel throws the ceremonial pitch before a baseball game between the Chicago White Sox and the Cleveland Indians in Cleveland.
April 15
Credit: Newsday / Dick Kraus
April 15, 1972: WMMR broadcasts a live performance by a somewhat-unknown Billy Joel from Sigma Sound Studios. Hosted by then-WMMR DJ Ed Sciaky, Joel's version of "Captain Jack" from the broadcast begins to get a lot of radio play on WMMR; soon word spreads about Joel.
April 15
Credit: Bruce Gilbert
April 15, 1982: Billy Joel injures both of his hands in a serious motorcycle accident on Long Island.
April 17
Credit: Sony Music Entertainment / Art Maillet
April 17, 1978: Billy Joel concludes his 11-concert, 16-day "The Stranger" tour in Brisbane, Australia.
April 18
Credit: Yana Paskova
April 18, 2014: Billy Joel performs liveat Madison Square Garden in Manhattan.
April 18
Credit: Getty Images / Larry Busacca
April 18, 2014: Billy Joel speaks with Howard Stern and Robin Quivers at SiriusXM's Town Hall at The Cutting Room.
April 26
Credit: Getty Images / Donald Bowers
April 26, 1999: Billy Joel, as himself, appears on a "Mad About You" episode titled "Murray at the Dog Show." He wrote the music for the song "Lullabye For You," which was featured in the episode. Here, he is pictured with "Mad About You" actors Paul Reiser, left, and John Pankow in April 2005.
April 27
Credit: Getty Images
April 27, 2013: Billy Joel performs during the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Music Festival at Fair Grounds Race Course.
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