Joel serenades Syracuse students, Billy Joel speaks at SU commencement

Joel serenades Syracuse students
Newsday - Long Island,NY,USA
SYRACUSE, NY (AP) _ Singer Billy Joel got a standing ovation from nearly 5,000 Syracuse University graduates Sunday morning after he serenaded them and urged ...
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Joel serenades Syracuse students

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May 14, 2006, 1:35 PM EDT

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Singer Billy Joel got a standing ovation from nearly 5,000 Syracuse University graduates Sunday morning after he serenaded them and urged them to do what they love in life.

"Don't do it for security or status, prestige, money, or, for crying out loud, don't do it for somebody else," he said. "Do it for love. Because if you love what you do, you'll always do what you love."

Joel, who never graduated high school and instead traveled "the college of the road," estimated he has received 5 or 6 honorary degrees. That includes a new doctorate of fine arts from Syracuse.

"I'm not here to give you a big song and dance. Maybe a song," Joel said, and then he led the audience in a tune based on "Down in New Orleans." In part, the lyrics said, "Come on everybody, take a trip with me, up to Onondaga County, that's where I'll be. Oh, you're going to be a lawyer or an engineer, you can even study music in the college here. With any luck, you'll get a PhD at Syracuse University."

The crowd answered with thunderous applause.

Last fall, Joel gave $320,000 to the university's college of visual and performing arts for music fellowships.

Joel has sold more than 100 million records over last 25 years.

Billy Joel speaks at SU commencement
News 10 Now - Syracuse,NY,USA
Billy Joel returned to the Carrier Dome Sunday for the second time in as many months. But this time he wasn't wowing the crowds with his music. ...
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Billy Joel speaks at SU commencement
5/14/2006 11:57 AM

Sunday's SU commencement ceremony was extra special for all of the Billy Joel fans at the Dome. The singer, songwriter delivered the 2006 commencement address.

He encouraged all of the graduates to do what they love, instead of doing something for fame or money.

Joel, who never graduated from high school, was also presented with an honorary degree, and what better way to honor the "piano man" than with a doctorate of music.

Thank you for inviting me to be here with you today, and thank you for this doctorate you're going to give me. Now I can get out of this dead end job and get a real career going for myself,” said Joel.

Joel also surprised the more than 15,000 people at the Dome with a special little song he wrote.

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