Help Bring Billy Joel’s Lost 1971 Interview to Life.

Dear Friends, Family, and Supporters,

I am reaching out with a very personal and heartfelt project that I’ve been working on — one that connects not only to my passion as a filmmaker but also to my family’s history in music.

In December of 1971, a 22-year-old Billy Joel sat down for an audio interview with radio host Ed Mann, following the release of Billy’s debut solo album, Cold Spring Harbor. That interview was broadcast once in 1971, then disappeared — unheard for more than 50 years. Incredibly, the only surviving copy has resurfaced, and I’ve secured the exclusive rights to bring it to audiences for the very first time.

This 1971 recording is the earliest-known interview with Billy Joel prior to his promotion of Piano Man in 1974.

Billy Joel’s Lost Interview is not just another documentary — it’s the preservation of music history. We’re creating a fully animated, thirty-minute film that brings this lost audio interview to life, combining Billy’s original words with striking visuals to capture his energy and spirit at the dawn of his career - before his hits, before his fame, before his fortune.

For me, this is especially meaningful: my father, Artie Ripp, produced Billy’s debut album Cold Spring Harbor. Growing up, I heard so many stories about those early days, and this project feels like a chance to honor not only Billy Joel’s beginnings but also the legacy my father was a part of.

Why I Need Your Help

Making a state-of-the-art festival-ready documentary requires resources — from cutting-edge animation and rendering to post-production and insurance costs. Our total budget is $30,000 and with your support, we can fully fund this labor of love.

Every dollar you contribute will go directly toward:

- Animation and production

-Editing, sound and music

-Entertainment lawyer legal fees

-Required insurance

- Festival submissions, publicity and marketing

Why This Matters

• This interview is a one-of-a-kind piece of music history — never before heard since 1971.

• It’s a chance to preserve and celebrate the beginnings of one of America’s greatest singer-songwriters.

• It will be of great value to Billy Joel fans and music education.

• It’s a deeply personal passion project for me, carrying forward my family’s connection to this pivotal moment in Billy Joel’s career.

How You Can Help

• Donate: Every contribution, big or small, makes a difference.

• Share: Please share this page with friends, family, and fellow Billy Joel fans — the more people who know about it, the better chance we have to bring it to life.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for reading, for supporting, and for believing in this dream. With your help, we can finally share 1971: Billy Joel’s Lost Interview with the world.

With gratitude,

Adam Ripp

Producer/Director