Billy Joel shared a health update with his fans when he announced that he would be canceling or rescheduling his tour dates to focus on his recovery. In an Instagram post on May 22, the âPiano Manâ singer shared a short statement about his diagnosis with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH).
âThis condition has been exacerbated by recent concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision, and balance,â the statement read. As Joel stepped away from the public, there was some hope he would still attend the premiere of his documentary, âBilly Joel: And So It Goes,â which premiered on Wednesday, June 4, at the Tribeca Festival in New York City. He was noticeably absent.
Billy Joel Opens up About His Childhood
Joelâs documentary shares insight into his life, and both he and his sister, Judy Molinari, reflected on their experiences as children. They grew up surrounded by music because their father, Howard, was a classical pianist. In his documentary, Joel described him as a âwonderful pianist,â but he was also strict and a purist when it came to the music.
The singer recalled a memory when his father got angry with him because he had altered Beethoven’s âPiano Sonata No. 14â to reflect his own style, creating a rock and roll version. Instead of being impressed with his creativity, his father reacted badly. âHe knocked me out, I was unconscious for like a minute,â Joel said in the documentary, People reports. âAnd I remember waking up going, ‘Well, that got his attention,’ and that was my memory of his piano lessons. So, he didnât teach me much.”
Molinari also recalled that her father was not supportive of her brother, saying, he “never really showed Bill kindness and compassion and understanding towards his talent.â
Billy Joel Reflects on His Mother & Their Relationship
The âUptown Girlâ singerâs parents would eventually get divorced, but before this, Joel noticed that their interactions with each other were âtense.â Although he does not have fond memories of his father, he recalled how his mother, Rosalind, was “a very loving woman.”
Rosalind was dealing with her own struggles, including mental health and addiction, and was “difficult to live with.â However, she was supportive of Joel’s career and worked hard to ensure she had money for piano lessons.
Despite his challenges as a child, Joel managed to grow his musical skills and become an incredible performer, loved around the world. He and his sister also share an incredibly close bond. “We felt each other’s pain and worry, and we would get strength from each other,â Molinari said, People reports. She added, âWe were very close, we were very close, yes. We had to be.â
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