STANDING OVATION FOR 'INSPIRATIONAL' JOEL

Last updated: Monday, May 15, 2006

STANDING OVATION FOR 'INSPIRATIONAL' JOEL

Veteran rocker BILLY JOEL roused a 5,000-strong crowd of American college graduates to their feet on Sunday (14MAY06) when he encouraged them to follow their dreams.

Billy Joel

The singer, who never graduated from high school, was addressing Syracuse University, New York graduates and urged the class to enjoy their success.

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

He later led the thrilled audience into a specially-adapted version of DOWN IN NEW ORLEANS, with lyrics including, "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 Ph.D. at Syracuse University."

Joel, who last year (05) donated $320,000 (GBP177,777) to the university's college of visual and performing arts, picked up a doctorate of fine arts from Syracuse.

| Monday, May 15, 2006

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STANDING OVATION FOR 'INSPIRATIONAL' JOEL

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