List of Billy Joel band members

This line-up included Richie Cannata on saxophones and organ, Liberty DeVitto on drums, Russell Javors and Howie Emerson on guitars, and Doug Stegmeyer on bass.

Joel's original touring band, formed in 1971 to support the Cold Spring Harbor album, comprised Rhys Clark on drums, Al Hertzberg on guitar, and Larry Russell on bass.

In an online interview, DeVitto describes how Joel's classic late 1970s-early 1980s band first came together: Billy and I used to play the same club in Plainview, Long Island, called My House.

[Billy] told Doug that he wanted to move back to New York and find a permanent band he could record and tour with on a regular basis.

The three of us recorded the basic tracks for Turnstiles and we both recommended Russell Javors and Howie Emerson, who played guitars in Topper and with the addition of Richie Cannata on saxophone, the “Billy Joel Band” was born.

Joel also added lead guitarist David Brown in 1978 who stayed with the band throughout the 1980s, beginning with the recording of Glass Houses (1980).

Tom "T-Bone" Wolk joined the band, just for the River of Dreams tour, playing bass guitar, as well as other instruments, including accordion.

In August 1995, Joel's long-time bassist Doug Stegmeyer, who had been let go from the band prior to the recording of 1989's Storm Front album, committed suicide in his Long Island home.

On February 27, 2010, Joel's bassist from his River of Dreams tour, Tom Wolk, died from a heart attack at the age of 58.