William Joseph Martin -Billy- Joel (born May 9; 1949) is an American pianist and singer-songwriter. He released his first hit song; -Piano Man-; in 1973. According to the RIAA; he is the sixth best-selling recording artist in the United States.Joel had Top 10 hits in the -70s; -80s; and -90s; is a six-time Grammy Award winner; and has sold in excess of 150 million albums worldwide. He was inducted into the Songwriter-s Hall of Fame (Class of 1992); the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (Class of 1999); and the Long Island Music Hall of Fame (Class of 2006). Joel -retired- from recording pop music in 1993 but continued to tour. "Baby Grand" is the third single released off Billy Joel's album The Bridge. A duet with Joel and Ray Charles, the song is a ballad to an instrument, the baby grand piano, and its beloved relationship it can possess with its players. Comparisons are made throughout the song to 'one-night stands', women, relationships, personal toil, fame, money, and love. The single peaked at #75 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and at #3 on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart.William Joseph Martin -Billy- Joel (born May 9; 1949) is an American pianist.