BILLBOARD: Billy Joel’s Co-Writer Freddy Wexler on His First Words to the Legend and How They Created ‘Turn the Lights Back On’ Together

15 Feb 2024/Filed in: Press

BILLBOARD: Billy Joel’s Co-Writer Freddy Wexler on His First Words to the Legend and How They Created ‘Turn the Lights Back On’ Together

Freddy Wexler already had a good career going long before he co-wrote and produced “Turn the Lights Back On” with Billy Joel. Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, Post Malone, P!nk and Lil Wayne were among the artists who had recorded tunes by the Grammy-nominated songwriter. But writing with his musical hero, who had long ago stopped writing pop songs, fulfilled an unimaginable dream for Wexler and brought Joel back onto the Hot 100 this week for the first time in more than 25 years.

ROLLING STONE: Meet the Songwriter Who Coaxed Billy Joel Back into the Recording Studio

15 Feb 2024/Filed in: Press

ROLLING STONE: Meet the Songwriter Who Coaxed Billy Joel Back into the Recording Studio

Freddy Wexler has written hits for everyone from Justin Bieber to Kanye West, but the biggest challenge of his life was getting the Piano Man to finish his song “Turn the Lights Back On,” and record it.

NYT: Billy Joel Said He’d Retired From Pop. Here’s What Brought Him Back.

15 Feb 2024/Filed in: Press

NYT: Billy Joel Said He’d Retired From Pop. Here’s What Brought Him Back.

Billy Joel’s first new pop song in nearly two decades was sparked by someone miles from the record business: a Long Island doctor. Joel, 74, has long made it known that he isn’t interested in making more albums. He released 12 studio LPs between 1971 and 1993 — most platinum several times over — and retired from the format, though he never stopped tinkering with classical music, or playing live.