Billy Joel's song “Piano Man” was inspired by his time working in a bar in Los Angeles. In the early 1970s, Joel performed as a lounge pianist at the Executive Room in the Wilshire district while using the professional name Bill Martin.
Joel took the job after moving to Los Angeles during a difficult period in his career. His first album, Cold Spring Harbor, had been affected by technical problems, and he was also dealing with an unfavorable recording contract. Playing requests and standards in the bar helped him earn money while he considered his next move.
The song's characters were based partly on people Joel encountered there, including the bartender, a waitress, and regular customers. However, “Piano Man” is a fictionalized retelling rather than a literal transcript of every conversation. The familiar setting is sometimes confused with New York because Joel later became strongly associated with Long Island and New York City.
Released in 1973, “Piano Man” became Joel's signature song and remains one of his best-known recordings.