Award from Billy Joel and his artist management celebrating the success his albums The Stranger and 52nd Street. The albums were released in 1977 and 1978 respectively.

The Stranger reached #2 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart with "Just the Way You Are", "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)", "She's Always a Woman", "Only the Good Die Young", and "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" all becoming classic tracks. "Just the Way You Are" picked up Grammy awards for Record Of The Year and Song Of The Year. 52nd Street topped the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart on strength of classic singles "My Life", "Big Shot", and "Honesty" and earned Joel the Album Of The Year Grammy award in 1980. 

The Stranger also ended up being certified Diamond by the RIAA for 10 million in sales while 52nd Street is at 7x Multi-Platinum. Note that this is not a RIAA award. 

Item Highlights:

• Artist/management award for Billy Joel's The Stranger and 52nd Street albums
• Award features album art and presentation plate
• Presented to radio station
• Estimated to have been made in 1979
  
• In VG condition with only minor mars on frame and plexiglass
• Award measures approx. 21" x 17"
• Great collector's item for any Billy Joel fan

Detailed Item Description: This is an in-house combo album award was presented by Billy Joel and Home Run Management that would have been manufactured around 1979 which makes it approximately 42 years old. It is presented to radio station 96KX and owned by a radio industry executive. A letter of provenance from this executive will be provided with purchase. Provenance letter can be seen in images with executive's name obscured for privacy. Item buyer will receive a non-obscured copy of the letter.

The award is all original with backing paper. A tear in the paper has been taped to help prevent dust intrusion. The award is complete with original Creative Glassics manufacturer's sticker. (Creative Glassics also made RIAA awards during this time period). The award is in VG condition, with only a some typical scratches and mars on the frame.  

Notes on the condition of all vintage RIAA and other awards like this one: Please do not buy this item if you want a brand new piece of memorabilia. These are historical artifacts from the year they were produced. As a result they may show signs of wear. Frankly, if you see a 20 to 50-year-old award purported to be in 100% perfect condition, it might be too good to be true. After all, an antique should have "good' wear. If not, you might want to question the piece.

As to where they came from, they could have been displayed in record label offices, recording studios, artist manager's offices, radio stations, private collector's homes and yes, of course, possibly the artist's or songwriter's home. Typically, we don't know all the places they may have been over the years other than what we've stated in the description.