It's Still Billy Joel to Me Multiple Choice Quiz | Music

Answer: 1949

Billy Joel was born as William Martin Joel on May 9th 1949 in the Bronx, New York but his family later moved to Levittown on Long Island.

Answer: From a line in Frankie Valli's song "Rag Doll"

Joel took the title of "Just the Way You Are" from the last line of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons' hit "Rag Doll" "Ah, Rag doll I love you just they way you are"

Answer: O'Leary

Sergeant O'Leary became a bartender at night in Billy Joel's "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)" from 1977.

Answer: 52nd Street

"52nd Street" made it to the top of the Billboard chart and stayed there for eight weeks, though it was in heavy competition with an equally popular movie soundtrack - "Grease" starring John Travolta. Billy Joel laughs about this today: "John Travolta was always one step ahead of me". Earlier, in 1977, Billy Joel's album "The Stranger" had also been beaten by the soundtrack from a John Travolta movie - "Saturday Night Fever".

Answer: Beethoven

It was written by Ludvig van Beethoven.

Answer: The Downeaster "Alexa"

Billy Joel and his wife at the time, Christie Brinkley, had their daughter Alexa Ray Joel in 1985. She was named after the piano legend Ray Charles who was a great hero to Billy Joel. The Downeaster "Alexa" was Billy Joel's powerful tribute to the baymen and fishermen of his beloved Long Island.

Answer: False

It's actually: "In the middle of the night, I go walking in my sleep". The lines are taken from the song "The River of Dreams" from 1993.

Answer: Careless Talk

The song "Careless Talk" can be found on the 1983 album "An Innocent Man".

Answer: Charlie and Baker

It was Charlie and Baker. Paul and Davy are characters from "Piano Man", Bobby and Johnny appear in "Say Goodbye to Hollywood" and Viktor and McCarthy are names taken from "Leningrad". "Goodnight Saigon" was a poignant reflection on the Vietnam experience told through the eyes of a Marine.

Answer: Boxer

Long before he became a household name, Billy Joel was a successful Long Island boxer, winning 22 out of 24 fights. He had taken boxing lessons because he was frequently beaten up by neighborhood bullies. He left his boxing career and went into music when his nose was broken in his 24th fight.

He has later worked at many jobs to support his music; he's been a factory worker, short order cook, oysterman, underground journalist, housepainter and - of course - piano man.