You may have caught the occasional hint from Billy Joel that he comes from New York State. 'New York State of Mind' is a fairly big hint, as is the entire lyrical content of 'Miami 2017.' Joel is a proud New Yorker, and New York music fans have every reason to be just as proud of him. He's one of the most successful singer-songwriters in history. We have his pushy mother to thank for that - she pretty much forced him to take piano lessons as a child.
It's a small wonder that Joel didn't come to resent the instrument, but instead, he embraced it, even coming to recognize himself as the 'Piano Man,' although some believe that song is actually about his father, who was also a pianist and traveling musician. After releasing thirteen albums, Joel mostly retired from writing new music in 1993, although he still tours his old classics. He devotes much of his time to his other businesses, including his custom motorcycle shop in Long Island.