| It seems as though pop music sometimes gets a bad | | | | Piano Man" single was an instant success. The album |
| rap. A glimpse at three of modern pop's most famous | | | | "The Piano Man," which was released in 1973, went |
| pianists may dispel the myth that pop is an inferior | | | | gold. To date, over 4 million copies of this recording |
| genre. Their skill and level of musical expertise rivals | | | | have been sold. |
| that of pianists of other genres. | | | | Joel went on to make several more albums in his |
| Sir Elton John: Born in England in 1947, his illustrious | | | | career. His works include an album of original classical |
| career has spanned three decades. John's talent for | | | | piano pieces. |
| playing the piano became apparent before the boy | | | | Jerry Lee Lewis: Much of the credit for advancing the |
| even entered school. He was often overheard picking | | | | role of rock music in society must be given to this |
| out difficult classical pieces on the piano by ear as | | | | artist. In fact, Lewis is considered a pioneer in the |
| young as four years old. In fact, he was considered a | | | | industry. He began playing the piano in childhood and |
| prodigy. John entered the Royal Academy of Music on | | | | had a clear gifting for music. Fascinated by "negro |
| a scholarship award at the age of 11 and outshone | | | | music," he began to develop his own style based on it. |
| most of the other students. | | | | It was a mix of gospel, which he had grown up with, |
| His professional career began like that of many | | | | and country, R&B and boogie woogie. What emerged |
| musicians. John spent several years playing in pubs. | | | | was the earliest form of rock and roll. |
| Eventually a chance opportunity led him to partner with | | | | Lewis was often publicly condemned for playing in a |
| Bernie Taupin. Taupin and John write songs together | | | | style that had not been heard before. Even his own |
| to this day. Songwriting eventually led to the release of | | | | family denounced his work. This criticism seemed to |
| his first album in 1970. Shortly thereafter he became | | | | only fuel his artistic nature even more. His fame |
| known as "the father of piano rock," a title that still | | | | spread, and even Elvis Presley took notice. He is |
| befits him today. | | | | quoted as saying "If I could play the piano like that, I'd |
| Billy Joel: Though he is often associated with his first | | | | quit singing." |
| big hit, "The Piano Man," Joel almost didn't learn to play. | | | | Lewis' life, like that of many artists, was fraught with |
| It was with great reluctance and upon his mother's | | | | personal problems and scandals. His marriage to his |
| insistence that he began piano lessons. He excelled in | | | | 13-year-old cousin in 1953 (while still married to his first |
| proficiency, despite taunts from classmates about his | | | | wife) nearly plummeted his career into obscurity. Soon |
| preference for music over sports. Joel even took up | | | | after, his fame became limited to being the butt of |
| boxing in high school to quell those taunts. Though he | | | | jokes and public ridicule. Health problems, alcoholism, |
| won many boxing championships, he gave up boxing | | | | drug addiction and family tragedies nearly did him in. |
| after a nose injury and focused on his musical pursuits. | | | | But after a movie about his life was released in 1989, |
| Joel began playing professionally at age 14. He played | | | | his career made a comeback. This included another hit |
| with various bands from 1964 until he recorded and | | | | album in 2007, his first since 1973, and his induction into |
| released his first solo album in 1971. Though that first | | | | the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame the same year. |
| album didn't gain much acclaim, but his second did. "The | | | | |