--- title: Billy Joel Wants People to Stop Killing Elephants and Rhinos for Pianos description: Piano Man Billy Joel wants poachers to stop killing elephants and rhinos for piano keys canonical: https://time.com/2895764/billy-joel-wants-people-to-stop-killing-elephants-and-rhinos-for-pianos/ author: Laura Stampler article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2014-06-18T19:14:27.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-04-13T07:10:54.868Z og:title: Billy Joel Wants People to Stop Killing Elephants and Rhinos for Pianos og:description: The Piano Man has had enough og:url: https://time.com/2895764/billy-joel-wants-people-to-stop-killing-elephants-and-rhinos-for-pianos/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt2526cfe8c9148b12/69869828cd684830d0095457/450257280.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 3000 og:image:height: 1688 og:image:alt: Billy Joel And Gavin DeGraw In Concert At The MGM Grand og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Billy Joel Wants People to Stop Killing Elephants and Rhinos for Pianos twitter:description: The Piano Man has had enough twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt2526cfe8c9148b12/69869828cd684830d0095457/450257280.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Billy Joel Wants People to Stop Killing Elephants and Rhinos for Pianos > Sponsored content. 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Every edition is assembled by TIME editors rather than generated automatically. by [Laura Stampler](https://time.com/author/laura-stampler/) ## Laura Stampler Jun 18, 2014 7:14 PM UTC  Singer/songwriter Billy Joel performs at the MGM Grand Garden Arena Singer/songwriter Billy Joel performs at the MGM Grand Garden Arena Ethan Miller—Getty Images by [Laura Stampler](https://time.com/author/laura-stampler/) ## Laura Stampler Jun 18, 2014 7:14 PM UTC “Piano Man” Billy Joel has seen an ivory key or two in his day, but the musician has a message to piano aficionados: Stop killing elephants and rhinos to make instruments. In support of a [New York bill](http://www.longisland.com/news/06-17-14/bill-to-fight-illegal-ivory-and-rhinoceros-horn-trade.html) that aims to ban illegal ivory trade, Joel posted [this message on his website:](http://www.billyjoel.com/news/whom-it-may-concern-bill-fight-illegal-ivory) _To whom it may concern:_ _I wholeheartedly support the ivory sales ban bill pending in New York State._ _I am a piano player. And I realize that ivory piano keys are preferred by some pianists._ _But a preference for ivory keys does not justify the slaughter of 96 elephants every day._ _There are other materials which can be substituted for piano keys._ _But magnificent creatures like these can never be replaced._ _Music must never be used as an excuse to destroy an endangered species._ _Music should be a celebration of life – not an instrument of death._ _Billy Joel_ Listen to the piano man, everybody. 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