Phamous in Philadelphia for phiphteen minutes once again

Philadelphia Magazine is retelling the story of Billy Joel's breakout to stardom in Philadelphia and it's all my fault!

Here’s How Philadelphia Created Billy Joel

The hitmaker, who plays Philly on Friday, tells us all about it.

....Back in 1971, Joel was a no-name 22-year-old from Long Island. In November of that year, he released his first album, Cold Spring Harbor, which got virtually no attention or airplay. But then one day in 1972, Philly music producer Dennis Wilen, who had launched a live WMMR concert series from Philadelphia’s Sigma Sound Studios, got wind of this singer-pianist named Billy Joel during a visit to New York. Wilen invited Joel to do one of those WMMR live broadcasts....

Read the whole story @ Philadelphia Magazine Thanks to VINNIE for the clipping.

Look. Mom! I'm big in Japan!

If this is what they mean by globalization, count me in! Or source me out. However it works.

My music with/by Billy Joel is hella story. Read all about it here....

Hey, Mom! We made the Philly Pops Billy Joel Program Book

If you're at the Kimmel Center for the Music of Billy Joel concert by the Philly Pops, you might recognize this handsome young guy in the program book.

Still famous after all these years: BILLY JOEL redux

I've gotten lotsa press over the years, but my Billy Joel Captain Jack adventure is probably one of my greatest hits.

This ^^^^ image is a screencap of an ad on Facebook excerpting the Philadelphia Magazine story from August of last year.

You can read a short version of the saga in my Amazon review of Billy's CD.

And look for my retelling of the story in the upcoming Sigma Sound Studios documentary.

How my version of 'Captain Jack' made Billy Joel a star

I spoke with Philadelphia Magazine's Victor Fiorillo two months ago about Billy Joel and me. His story is now online:

Billy Joel has released just one studio album in the past 20 years — a 2001 recording of his classical compositions that you’ve likely never heard. Yet when he takes the stage in Philadelphia on August 13th, he’ll do so at Citizens Bank Park in front of some 40,000 fans and play through his repertoire of modern American classics. He’s a true star, and one with a fiercely loyal following. But it wasn’t always that way.

Back in 1971, Joel was a no-name 22-year-old from Long Island. In November of that year, he released his first album, Cold Spring Harbor, which got virtually no attention or airplay.

Then one day in 1972, local music producer Dennis Wilen [photo], who had launched a live WMMR concert series from Philadelphia’s Sigma Sound Studios, got wind of Joel during a visit to New York and invited him to do a show.

Continued @ PhillyMag.com....