I highly recommend the HBO Billy Joel documentary.
The insights into his life and the music industry are incredibly informative.
Glad you mentioned this as I was going to and forgot.
A two part, 5 hour documentary, I'm a huge fan of his work, found out so many interesting things about his life and his music.
His grandfather owned a textile mill in Germany before WWII, he was forced to sell it for pennies on the dollar, got out of Germany just in time or else he would have ended up in a concentration camp, several of Joel's relatives did and did not survive.
The person who bought the mill ended up producing the striped pajamas that were worn in the concentration camps, very sad.
He's got a step son and a brother who's a famous conductor, he had a sad relationship with his Father, his first agent screwed him over, as did his second manager, which was his ex wives brother.
How he met Christie Brinkley was very interesting, as was the basis for a lot of his songs.
I started going through his catalog the past week or so, he has no less than 20 songs I like, a great performer and writer as well, my top ten in no order are Allentown, Downeaster Alexis, And so it goes, Innocent Man, Scenes from an Italian Restaurant, piano man, anthony's song, goodnight Saigon, These are the times, in the middle of the night.
Stretch it out to top 15 with just the way you are, big shot, you may be right, we didn't start the fire, uptown girl.
If you are a fan, highly recommended, thanks for posting this.
