var timeline_events = new Array(2);
    timeline_events[0] = "978~~~Sat Jan 01 1949 00:00:00 GMT-0500~~~William Martin Joel born~~~William Martin Joel is born in the Bronx, NY. on May 9. The family moves to the Levittown section of Hicksville on Long Island where he spends his childhood and young adult years.";
    timeline_events[1] = "979~~~Thu Jan 01 1953 00:00:00 GMT-0500~~~Begins studying piano.~~~Begins studying piano.";