RIAA Platinum Award for Billy Joel album Greatest Hits Vol. 3. The album was released on Aug. 19, 1997. The album was certified Platinum by the RIAA on Mar. 31, 1998 for one million copies sold.

The album continues from where Joel's Greatest Hits Volume II left off, with tracks from his 1983 album An Innocent Man kicking things off, including that album's title track and "Keeping the Faith". Other hits on the set include "A Matter of Trust", "We Didn't Start The Fire", "I Go To Extremes" and more.

Item Highlights:

• RIAA Platinum award
• In VG to Excellent condition
• First presentation award from 1998
• Presentation to music industry executive
• All original with manufacturers sticker
  
• Letter of provenance included
• Known as a "RIAA bar hologram" award with serial number, they were made from 1998 to present
• Award measures 21" x 17"
• Beautiful collectors item for any Billy Joel fan

Detailed Item Description: This RIAA Platinum award is a first presentation award that would have been manufactured in 1998 making this award 24 years old. The award is presented to Jerry Blair, a record executive who held roles at CBS, Chrysalis, and Columbia Records.

Blair played a key role in the success of artists including Joel, Aerosmith, Tony Bennett, Mariah Carey, Ricky Martin, George Michael, Will Smith and many others. The award is accompanied by a letter of provenance from Blair's son, who later took possession of his father's awards and memorabilia (see image of letter, son's name is redacted on image, buyer will receive unredacted copy).

This award is all original with Ill Eagle manufacturer's sticker. The award is in VG to Excellent condition with only minor wear on the frame, a few mars on the plexiglass and a couple of discoloration spots on the backing paper (these have no effect on the face or frame of the award).

Notes on the condition of all vintage RIAA awards like this one: Please do not buy this item if you want a brand new piece of memorabilia. These are historical artifacts from the year they were produced. As a result they may show signs of wear. Frankly, if you see a 20 to 50-year-old award purported to be in 100% perfect condition, it might be too good to be true. After all, an antique should have "good' wear. If not, you might want to question the piece.

As to where they came from, they could have been displayed in record label offices, recording studios, artist manager's offices, radio stations, private collector's homes and yes, of course, possibly the artist's or songwriter's home. Typically, we don't know all the places they may have been over the years other than what we've stated in the description.