Billy Joel performing on Billy Joel Day before a reported 12,500 fans at the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photograph by Staci McKay)

Legendary performer and songwriter, Billy Joel has been on a worldwide tour since 2006 where an estimated million people have seen the superstar in peak form deliver more than two hours of songs covering his career each night. But rarely has even Joel seen the reception he received in Des Moines, Iowa. In recognition of the legendary entertainer Billy Joel’s first-ever performance in Des Moines, at Wells Fargo Arena on Tuesday, April 15, Mayor Frank Cownie and Polk County Officials and officially proclaimed it, "Billy Joel Day" throughout both Des Moines and Polk County.

"Polk County and the City of Des Moines’ Billy Joel fans hope to welcome the 7-time Grammy Award Winning Piano Man so that on this day, Billy Joel will remember his visit and Say Goodbye to Hollywood and hello to Polk County and the City of Des Moines," read the proclamation, filled with tongue-in-cheek references to Bill Joel songs.

After officially proclaiming April 15, 2008 'Billy Joel Day'— in honor of his first-ever concert in Des Moines, Iowa, Billy Joel takes time to meet with (left to right) Mike Killion, Marketing Manager, Wells Fargo Arena, Mayor of Des Moines Frank Cownie, Angela Connolly, Vice Chair, Polk County Board of Supervisors, and Matt Homan, General Manager, Wells Fargo Arena. The Street in front of the venue was re-named "Billy Joel Way," for the day. Joel is also holding his key to the city of Des Moines. (Photograph by Staci McKay)

"Polk County is proud to be a part of ‘Billy Joel Day’ and provide the citizens of our state with this great opportunity to enjoy the talent of this quality entertainer as he ignites Wells Fargo Arena with his performance," said Angela Connolly, Vice Chair, Polk County Board of Supervisors.

"We're looking forward to finally playing our first show in Des Moines, after years of entertaining great audiences in Iowa," said Joel, a few days before the Wells Fargo Show.

The Wells Fargo Arena, managed by Global Spectrum, opened its doors in 2005 and is part of the Iowa Events Center, which also includes the Polk County Convention Complex, the Hy-Vee Hall, and the Veterans Memorial Auditorium. The multi-purpose venue is the largest publicly-funded building project in the history of the state of Iowa and is owned by the people of Polk County, which has more than 388,000 residents and is Iowa’s largest county.