New York High School Names Building for Billy Joel's Mother

A New York high school that singer Billy Joel helped save from closing has named a building after the performer's mother.

Newsday reported that the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer attended a ceremony on Tuesday at the newly dedicated Rosalind Joel Conservatory for Music and Theatre, which houses the performing arts programs at the Long Island High School for the Arts' campus in Syosset, The Associated Press reported.

Students performed for and chatted with Joel, whose mother died in 2014.

He said his mother encouraged his interest in music by paying for his piano lessons and taking him to shows when he was growing up.

The Long Island native pledged $1.5 million last year to help save the school, which had been facing closure because of decreasing enrollment and tuition revenue.

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