Billy Joel Accepts Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Award in 1999

[@blkd2545]

Finally, someone who speaks the truth about what real Rock & Roll came from...Thank You, Billy

[@kevinzhang3313]

Exactly, well it's obvious rock and roll has jazz in its roots, what else could have? And music is meaningful to everyone. Jazz plays in numerous nations despite it being originally African-American. Mozart and Beethoven were German, and their music is quite literally universal, and even THEN classical composers from all over Europe came to vienna for people to worship music. Music diverges and advances.

[@waynedurning8717]

You should get around more. I don’t know anyone (certainly not any musician) who wouldn’t admit this openly and with gratitude.

[@Coolrockndad]

Sorry but Billy should have mentioned Elvis who brought the black musicians to the for front.

[@billydeaton3560]

@@Coolrockndad He probably would have but like alot of those cats like Elvis Buddy Holly Jerry lee Lewis Roy Orbison. They wanted the recognition of there interpretation of rock and roll then to give it to the ones who started it all . Just sad that our world was so messed up in the early days of rock and roll that black and white wasn't merged from the beginning ! We got our tastes throughout the years but I believe it would have been so much more if there would have been no color bearers from the beginning . As bad as it sucks to thank about the past from that sense the future is definitely a bigger and brighter bubble !

[@frankaddington1773]

The irony is that his music is closer to the sound of the ones he bagged on- Pat Boone, Frankie Avalon, etc.

[@TerrenceBowden-i4k]

A true talented artist. Always paid respect to the pioneers of Rock and Roll. Billy Joel is one of my favorites of all time.

[@rebeccawagner4167]

Billy Joel is humble and a cool guy,and he is really respectful to the people who he honored and thanked 🎉🎉. He really gave a beautiful acknowledgement to his mother and daughter 🎉🎉

[@EricFansher]

How nice of Billy. Thanked and recognized that his band played a huge roll in getting him where he is. Then he fired them! He needs to call them up and go out on a high note. Liberty is such an amazing, unique drummer. He is the Billy Joel backbone.

[@margueritemazzeo2904]

He's so humble..Billy..I love you..🥰💯

[@natalieg9023]

An amazing speech by Billy Joel I love his songs and I love him but 5:04 Paul and his daughter in the audience that warms my heart

[@rocknrollcomedyguy]

"...but the guys in the band have names" lol wow billy xD

[@ChipGreene]

This was commentary on the controversy of Springsteen being inducted that year, but the E Street Band not being eligible. Billy's band didn't have a name like Bruce's did, and he wanted to make sure that they got some recognition too, which is why he went to the trouble of introducing them by name... including members of his crew. Class.

[@kathyfox8288]

I love this man.

[@karb58benefits]

One of a kind. Terrific speech

[@SnafuFrank]

Congratulations Billy!

[@unfreeze18]

That had to be a relief, the truth is soooooo liberating

[@blairm.3550]

It takes a lot of guts and humility to stand in from of a crowd of white people at your rock and roll hof speech and say your derivative and all white people associated with rock and roll are derivatives. He's already my favorite artist of all time, I love him even more now. By far the greatest musician to ever live

[@pauanui8391]

True.

[@coryfriedman8085]

You are a total Moran Aaroon... Billy brought his own 'sophisticated' flavor... everything in life is derivitive... Billy is untouchably unique... he was just being PC. It was a smart career move at the time. He is working class American through and through. DONT bring billy down to what appears (based on your pic) is some very classless level. Is that a leatherman S & M pic? If not, forgive me. Billy does not need your input... you prob weren't born and he was writing genius level compositions.

[@onemoore6387]

Aaron Aiden

[@WakaWaka2468]

Cringe... Self hating whites are so embarrassing..

[@caseyw1286]

Very true! Rock and Roll came from blues, which originated from jazz, which originated from African Americans singing songs during slavery. I applaud Billy for having the guts to admit the true influences of Rock and Roll!

[@ChrisDutch]

Next should be Kennedy Center honors. Billy Joel should not be overlooked for this.

[@thomasnelson5758]

7 years later and you called it, in fact a year after your comment in 2014. Legend of music

[@bryani2449]

Amen Billy, great speech

[@rustysworldofentertainment850]

Billy's band did have a name for a few years late 70s-early 80s, they informally called themselves The Lords of 52nd Street. Most of those same musos were the former Long Island band Topper.

[@girlfromthebronxbywayofelb7288]

How sweet is Alexa his daughter at this age! Maybe she is 13? What a wonderful voice she has now!

[@pmalbeiro]

You're one of the best... for sure

[@abigailsockeye1586]

he had to be a big shot, dincha

[@rebecaespinozagomero2837]

S0Y PERUANA,,,BILLY ME GUSTARIA SABER COMO ESTA

[@DrBlues76]

What’s wrong with that crowd? They’re dead!

[@TweedSuit]

Thanking his whole band. That's nice of him. Then he fired them all.

[@fbayer72]

His band members that he thanked at this induction are all still with him now...2023

[@EricFansher]

You are incorrect@@fbayer72

[@anraymcneil751]

4:30 There ya my brotha!❤️❤️❤️✌🏾👑

[@PhillyfurEver]

Love Danny DeVito smokin' his cigar lookin' all chill.

[@MrCherryJuice]

'I've had the most amazing life...'. It's too bad he didn't just step out of the biz at that point. And it's too bad that the industry won't accept him for what he now wants to do musically. He's a tremendous player...really knows his stuff. I'd always hoped he'd do an r'n'b record, which is what he alludes to here as being his main interests.

[@howtodoitdude1662]

MrCherryJuice, listen to ‘easy money’

[@opertinicy]

2:55 danny devito?

[@guyfawkes6]

+the_others 5:25

[@redemptiongoes6030]

He was probably there because Joel made “Modern Woman” for a movie he was starring called “Ruthless people”.

[@frenchoffry]

I thought that the band was called the affordables.

[@Aingefor3]

Not enough people will get this.

[@narrabeenstudent7027]

@@Aingefor3 tell her about it music video

[@nicolek.3614]

The guys in the band have names, but I’m not mentioning any of the ones who stood behind me every step of the way on my first seven albums.

[@jacobbell2178]

He mentioned liberty, but Richie Canatta and Doug Stegemeyer hadn’t been with him for 10 years

[@egett]

Good Old depression years Billy

[@fs55261]

Yeah, was a hard time. He had decided in the late 90s to give up performing. But, hey, that only lasted about a minute... he just couldn't stay away!

[@maybeimjustadreamer7]

❤

[@microphen]

No, it's not a stretch at all.

[@RedHotMessResell]

I said "Aw it's little Alexa," and my Amazon Echo thought I was talking to it. NO NOT YOU ALEXA. ALEXA JOEL.

[@sanyo782]

Perfection. Truth spoken. I am unfortunately white. Indian by heritage. But I don't matter.

[@CindyBarrymore]

You matter. Everyone matters.

[@utub1473]

Unfortunately white? Bruh don’t put down your own race to bring up another

[@alanvaytsmanpiano]

Alexa is now a singer.

[@alexstockwell895]

One thing I definitely agree with him on: Growing up with only white people around sucks.

[@ThisWholeWorld100]

What a bigoted comment. Say that about another race and see the reaction.

[@karaokelola]

Bigoted? Hmm - diversity is good. Perhaps if folks didn’t segregate themselves (and segregate others by laws/zoning), we’d have fewer problems.

[@pointblank8216]

@@karaokelola God damn I hate this mentality, go to detroit or chicago and see how it is nowadays

[@robertromero9488]

I think Liberty sued Billy. they had a falling out

[@joe6096]

Yeah he and Billy split in 2004.

[@fs55261]

Don't get me wrong, I don't know where rock would be without African Americans, but Billy Joel is being too hard on himself! He's incredible...

[@michaelprince3486]

There Would be no ROck & ROLL without all the Brothers, Billy said it Himself. He didnt mention Elvis or Jerry lee Lewis or Buddy Holly because he knows who created the genre. No if's ands or but"s

[@fs55261]

@@michaelprince3486 I'm very aware, sorry if I came across as dismissive. I really love Billy Joel, and I think he's very creative, and he's inspired by those who came before him :)

[@nugraharycr]

what is he talking about ?

[@CindyBarrymore]

What are you talking about? He sounded pretty clear to me.

[@justinherbert9146]

How he did not thank The Beatles is beyond me - no Beatles no Billy Joel.

[@erichinton5774]

You're not wrong. At all. But Macca was there that night to be inducted solo; maybe Billy said something then. In fact, he probably ALWAYS tells him

[@habyss]

5:03 Lou Reed looks bored.

[@markr.9626]

My only criticism is the fact that Billy dumped his longtime bandmates and friends who are all from N.Y. by a letter from his manager ... that is not the N.Y. way ... When did he become a "Somebody" who is too big for his bandmates ? Without his bandmates many of his famous songs would not be what they are. And Billy is one of my all time favorites ...

[@kevinzhang3313]

Ynahwdamean?

[@slow-mo_moonbuggy]

I ain't falling for the good guy routine.

[@darius595]

that's a bit of a stretch

[@markmontgomery3097]

No it's not

[@seanhornof6705]

@@markmontgomery3097 native American music?

[@seanhornof6705]

@@markmontgomery3097 classical

[@seanhornof6705]

@@markmontgomery3097 European folk

[@dianneeato1958]

He talks nothing like he sings...

[@battim]

He comes off as patronizing

[@alisonpearson1139]

sorry for saying this but he's a dead ringer for Mel Gibson!!!

[@johnpellegrino6701]

Alison Pearson I love Billy but that’s the greatest insult to Mel Gibson.

[@bradcrawford1998]

Mild similarities at BEST. Billy isn't a prince like Mel Gibson was, not even close. He's a decent looking guy at best, but a HUGE heart and personality that cares about people. You don't write some of the most BEAUTIFUL songs Billy wrote without having love in your heart.

[@carolynwilson2206]

Brad, Mel didn't turn out to be a prince.

[@Guitarguy1995]

is he drunk? lol

[@hgpo27]

Why would you say that?

[@Buttsac]

not sure he ever wasnt

[@joe6096]

There's a contingent of Billy's music that is like, a half step above elevator music. OTOH he does have some good rockers. I would say he's less derivative than extreme light rock. Led Zeppelin is far more derivative than Billy Joel. They literally copied the blues and just turned the amplifiers up.

[@michaelalley214]

wrong

[@RockinProfessor]

Can Anybody BELIEVE that this mediocre, vastly over-rated lounge singer is in the R&R Hall of Fame and 'Grand Funk Railroad' is Not ?