Music superstar and native Long Islander Billy Joel, 74, was honored by the Town of Oyster Bay when a street was named in the "Piano Man's" honor last week.
The naming ceremony was held on Thursday, October 19, to unveil "Billy Joel Way," located in Oyster Bay's downtown in front of 20th Century Cycles, a business that Joel owns.
The newly-christened street will replace a replace a portion of Audrey Avenue.
At the ceremony - which was attended by local dignataries and policitians such as Oyster Bay Supervisor Joe Saladino - Joel noted that he often visited Oyster Bay while he was a young boy living in Hicksville.
The six-time Grammy Award winner - who has released 13 albums over the course of his career - then noted that he went on to purchase three homes in Oyster Bay.
“There were all these beautiful houses and beautiful areas. It was all rich people. I thought, ‘wow I’ll never live there because they never sell their stuff, they just keep inheriting things.’" Joel said. “Now I’ve come full circle,” he said. “But I always appreciate being here. I think about it all the time, and this is where I want to be, mostly.”
Joel related that he had been previously approached by the town about naming a street after him, but he declined due to the fact that such an honor was have to be bestowed posthumously; eventually, an exception was made for him.
“I said honestly I’d rather still be alive and not have the street,” he said. “But now I’ve got the best of both worlds...I’m alive and I have the street. This is very cool."
In addition, Joel was presented with a key to the city and October 19 was declared "Billy Joel Day" in Oyster Bay.