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Billy Vera

Born May 28, 1944 in Riverside, California, Billy was named after his father, Bill McCord, who worked as a staff announcer for NBC in New York, where Billy grew up. His mom, Ann Ryan, was one of the Ray Charles Singers on record and TV with Perry Como. Still in his teens, Billy made his first record. One side, "My Heart Cries," was popular in the Northeast, while the other side, the self-penned "All My Love," saw regional action in Texas and Louisiana. The first song he ever presented to a publisher, "Mean Old World," became a chart hit for Ricky Nelson and, one year later, his "Make Me Belong To You," was a summer hit for Atlantic Records star Barbara Lewis. This entre to Atlantic caused label chief Jerry Wexler to sign Billy. The resulting single, a duet with Dionne Warwick's cousin, Judy Clay, was the hit, "Storybook Children." The two followed up with "Country Girl-City Man" and appeared at Harlem's Apollo Theater to standing ovations. Billy's first solo hit was a cover of Bobby Goldsboro's "With Pen In Hand," arranged by the late Arif Mardin and supervised by Wexler. But the late 60s were changing times and Billy couldn't find a way to fit in musically. The 70s were rough, until Dolly Parton cut Billy's song, "I Really Got The Feeling," taking it to #1 on the country charts. This propelled a move to Los Angeles, where, in 1979, he formed Billy & the Beaters. which soon became the most talked-about band in town. In 1981, the band recorded for Alfa Records, the chart hit, "I Can Take Care Of Myself," written by Billy. The follow-up, "At This Moment," scraped the lower end of the charts, as Alfa's Japanese owners pulled the plug on the label. Five years later, a phone call from the producer of the sitcom Family Ties changed everything. They wanted to use "At This Moment" in an episode. The public responded and the song, now reissued on Rhino, vaulted to #1 nationally. In the interim, Billy had built a side career in acting, appearing in the cult film, "Buckaroo Banzai", "Oliver Stone's The Doors", Blake Edwards' "Blind Date", as well as various TV shows like "Alice", "Wise Guy", "Baywatch" and a recurring role as Duke on "Beverly Hills, 90210". Billy's radio show, "Billy Vera's Rock'n'Roll Party", led to yet another side career as a voiceover artist.

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Interview

Billy Vera: Still In The Game

Read "Billy Vera: Still In The Game" reviewed by Scott Mitchell


It might be safe to say that a lot of people may know a little bit about Billy Vera but only a few people know a lot about Billy Vera. Billy is a singer, writer, producer, actor, Grammy winner, and music historian. He has performed with big bands, Billy And The Beaters, solo, and everything in between. For those of us who were around in the 1960s and who took the time to read the credits on hit records, Vera ...

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TV / Film

Harlem To Hollywood Documentary Focuses On Billy Vera

Harlem To Hollywood Documentary Focuses On Billy Vera

Source: Tamela D'Amico

Filmmakers Alan Swyer and Brad Spurr have begun an Indiegogo.com campaign for their documentary film “Harlem to Hollywood" that focuses on multi-talent Billy Vera; a singer, songwriter, music producer, Grammy winner, voice artist, actor, archivist, and disc jockey. It is a behind the scenes look at what it takes to succeed in the music industry and build a career that spans over five decades. As stated on their Indiegogo campaign, “The film will take us from Vera’s early career in ...

Performance / Tour

2013 Grammy Winner Billy Vera Announces Catalina Jazz Dates For 2014

2013 Grammy Winner Billy Vera Announces Catalina Jazz Dates For 2014

Source: Tamela D'Amico

Platinum selling singer/songwriter and 2013 Grammy winner Billy Vera is gearing up for a string of dates with his Big Band Jazz Orchestra at Catalina Jazz Club in Hollywood along with special guest Tamela D'Amico. Billy is thrilled to continue to share with fans his first ever album recorded with a large jazz orchestra entitled Big Band Jazz- a tribute to the great black songwriters of the 20s, 30s, and 40s. “Play that again! That’s one of the most brilliant ...

1

Recording

Billy Vera Releases Big Band Jazz: Soulful Singer Salutes The Great Black Songwriters Of The 1920's, 30's And 40's

Billy Vera Releases Big Band Jazz:  Soulful Singer Salutes The Great Black Songwriters Of The 1920's, 30's And 40's

Source: Tamela D'Amico

Hollywood, CA: Platinum selling singer/songwriter Billy Vera is gearing up for the release of his new album, Big Band Jazz. This Fall, Billy is thrilled to share with fans his first ever album recorded with a large jazz orchestra. The CD, to be released on Robo Records (distributed by Universal/Fontana), is scheduled for release this January, 2013. The album will be available digitally on Nov 13th, 2012. “Play that again! That’s one of the most brilliant performances I’ve ever heard. ...

Performance / Tour

Billy Vera Debuts His Big Band Sound At Syracuse Jazz Fest

Billy Vera Debuts His Big Band Sound At Syracuse Jazz Fest

Source: Tamela D'Amico

Billy Vera and the Beaters’ frontman Billy Vera has moved into the world of Jazz. He has just finished up recording a new Jazz album at Capitol Records Studios that is a tribute to his favorite black songwriters. Vera and his 18-piece All-Star Syracuse Big Band will be debuting his new tunes this Saturday, June 23rd at the Syracuse Jazz Fest ( a Free Admission music festival) located at Jamesville Beach Park. Admired by his peers, loved by his fans, ...

74

Recording

Billy Vera celebrates Black songwriters with big band jazz album

Billy Vera celebrates Black songwriters with big band jazz album

Source: Tamela D'Amico

"Play that again! That's one of the most brilliant performances I've ever heard. Who the hell is this kid?" said Mr. Sinatra to a lady friend upon seeing a video of Billy Vera singing his #1 smash, “At This Moment." And every time he visited the lady, he made her play it again. Admired by his peers, loved by his fans, respected by the cognoscenti, and honored with a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame, why Billy Vera isn't a ...

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Recording

Hopeless Romantic: The Best of Billy Vera & the Beaters

Hopeless Romantic: The Best of Billy Vera & the Beaters

Source: All About Jazz

Los Angeles, CA - On February 19, Shout! Factory will release Hopeless Romantic: The Best Of Billy Vera & The Beaters, a compilation celebrating Vera's talent as both singer and songwriter. Produced by Billy Vera, this new compilation includes songs from his albums Billy & The Beaters, the album recorded live at the Roxy in Los Angeles and which included his smash hit “At This Moment," and Billy Vera, which was recorded at Muscle Shoals, as well as three previously ...

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