Number One Album

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This well-known rocker was just 16 when he played the piano on the number one hit “Leader of the Pack” by the Shangri-Las. At the age of 18 William Martin Joel better known as Billy Joel dropped out of school to become a professional musician. He spent a number of years playing with different bands until he released his first solo album in 1971 at the age of 22 and finally in 1978 Joel’s album 52nd Street rose to the number one spot on the Billboard pop chart. He had made a name for himself with his album The Stranger in 1977 which included the hit singles “Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song)”, “Just the Way You Are” and “She’s Always a Woman”. 52nd Street brought such hits as “Big Shot”, “My Life” and “Honesty”. Once the album reached number one it stayed on the charts for seven weeks at that spot. This album earned Joel his first Album of the Year award at the 22nd Annual Grammy Awards in 1980. Billy Joel is ranked as the sixth best-selling recording artist in American history having sold nearly 80 million albums. Who is a Billy Joel fan?