Piano Man is the 1973 signature song of American singer-songwriter Billy Joel, written from his real-life experiences as a lounge musician. In 1972 and 1973, Joel performed at The Executive Room, a piano bar in Los Angeles, under the alias Bill Martin — a name he used to sidestep a restrictive recording contract. The people he met there became the characters of the song, and the result became Joel's breakthrough hit and the title track of his second studio album.
Piano Man Song Credits
Song: Piano Man
Artist: Billy Joel
Album: Piano Man
Released: November 1973
Songwriter: Billy Joel
Label: Columbia
Genre: Soft rock / folk rock
Chart Peak: Billboard Hot 100 No. 25, April 1974
About the Song
"Piano Man" is sung from the point of view of a bar piano player quietly observing the patrons around him. The song grew directly out of Joel's 1972–73 spell as a lounge musician at The Executive Room in Los Angeles, where he played under the alias "Bill Martin" while tangled in a dispute with his first record company. The regulars he watched from the piano bench inspired the song's cast of characters, each based on real patrons he knew.
Decades later, the song's legacy was formally recognized: "Piano Man" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2013, and according to reports it was selected by the US Library of Congress for the National Recording Registry in 2015. It remains Billy Joel's signature song and a staple of his live shows.
Watch the Official Video
Watch the official HD music video for Piano Man below:
Frequently Asked Questions
When was "Piano Man" released?
"Piano Man" was released in November 1973 as the title single from Billy Joel's second studio album, with the US single release following in early 1974.
What is "Piano Man" about?
The song is a piano player's-eye view of a bar crowd — told from behind the keys as the narrator watches the regulars, the bartender and the waitress, all drawn from Joel's own years playing the Executive Room lounge.
Who is Bill Martin?
Bill Martin was the alias Billy Joel used while working as a lounge pianist in Los Angeles, a way to dodge the terms of his contract with Family Productions during his dispute with the label.
How did "Piano Man" perform on the charts?
The single peaked at No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 in April 1974 and reached No. 10 in Canada, becoming Joel's first major hit.
Keep exploring LatestLyrics: read our Billy Joel health update, or dive into more English classics — Hotel California lyrics — Eagles, Back in Black lyrics — AC/DC and Zombie lyrics — The Cranberries.
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