Billy Joel

Yesterday Billy Joel joined Carlos Santana, Herbie Hancock, opera star Martina Arroyo and actress Shirley MacLaine in receiving the Kennedy Center Honors. All have been playing music, dancing or singing since they were children. It was on this day back in 1989, that Billy Joel started a two week run at No...

It took Billy Joel more than half a decade and five albums to catch a break. 'Piano Man' was a Top 30 hit in 1974, but it didn't launch the singer-songwriter into any sort of career stratosphere. Then came 1977's 'The Stranger.'

By the time Billy Joel entered the studio for his 12th album, 'River of Dreams,' he had sold millions of records, toured the world, won Grammy Awards and had a wife and family. By all appearances, he seemed happy, fulfilled and poised for another two decades of success. Behind the scenes, however, he was struggling.

Finding a new lover sure can put a spring in your step, huh? Rarely has this phenomenon been more clearly demonstrated in rock history than with Billy Joel's ninth album, 1983's 'An Innocent Man,' which turns 30 years old today.