Billy Joel opens up about quitting songwriting

Billy Joel says he stopped writing new music after his 1993 album River of Dreams because he wanted to leave on a high note rather than risk damaging the legacy he built over decades.

Speaking in a ">YouTube interview with music producer Rick Beato, the 77-year-old said he had watched other artists continue releasing records long after their creative peak.

"I've heard artists who keep putting out records and, really, they're past..." Joel said. "They dilute their legacy."

Joel says he wanted to quit while ahead

The Grammy-winning singer explained that he no longer had the same motivation to write songs and decided it was better to stop than continue producing work that failed to meet his own standards.

"I didn't want to just keep beating a dead horse and being played because I was Billy Joel," he said. "I wanted it to be good."

Joel added that saying no was difficult, but he felt it was the right decision once he realised his passion for songwriting had changed.

Family life changed his priorities

The "Uptown Girl" singer said he felt finished after completing River of Dreams, noting that he was married to Christie Brinkley at the time and raising their daughter, Alexa Ray Joel.

He explained that he no longer wanted to devote himself entirely to writing music, comparing the milestone of 12 studio albums to The Beatles' catalogue.

Joel also revealed that he recently struggled to offer songwriting advice to a younger musician because he believes he has "tapped it out" creatively and no longer wants to put himself through the pressure of trying to reach the same artistic heights.