Billy Joel has ended a legal battle with his former drummer after settling a royalties dispute out of court.
The Piano Man singer worked with Liberty DeVitto in the studio and on tour for three decades until they parted ways in 2005. DeVitto performed on some of the rocker's biggest albums, including The Stranger, 52nd Street and Storm Front.
The drummer filed suit against Joel and his label bosses at Sony Music in May, 2009, accusing them of failing to pay him unspecified royalties from 11 albums recorded between 1975 and 1990, which have collectively sold more than 100 million copies worldwide.
The case at New York State Supreme Court in Manhattan came to a close this week after the two parties reached an agreement behind closed doors. Joel's legal representative Paul LiCalsi says, "The case has been amicably resolved."
LiCalsi declined to go into detail about the settlement.
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