"Got a Pop History/Pop Culture question from the 60's, 70's, 80's or 90's?" Just askmrpophistory@mrpophistory.com

Billy Joel

From Kat V – Mr. Pop – When did singer Billy Joel first put anything on a record? Wasn’t it with a band? Thank you.

Mr. Pop History – Long Island born-and-raised Joel first joined a local rock band called the Echoes. This was after the Beatles and before he graduated from high school. Joel was supposed to graduate with the class ’67, but he missed a bunch of, well, classes. In 1968, he joined a band called the “Hassles” and they released two albums on United Artists records. Billy Joel then teamed up with Hassles drummer Jon Small, forming the duo Attila and released an album on Epic Records in 1970. This is all before he went solo in 1971. Hope that helps.

Come back soon, as I answer, to the best of my knowledge, another one of your pop history/culture questions.