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BILLY VERA GETS BACK TO RADIO

Billy Vera is back on the radio with a hit single in “A Simple Little Song” (Vera Cruz). It’s a fast track single breaking on our AC40 chart with plenty of steam to go “all the way.”.Taken from his current album Timeless, this music gem puts Billy back were he belongs. Billy was born in Riverside, California but actually grew up in Hartsdale, NY. His father was radio and television announcer Bill McCord and his mother, singer Ann Ryan, was a member of the Ray Charles Singers backing Perry Como on his TV show and his hit records. Billy went on to a songwriting career and in the 60s, wrote songs for Barbara Lewis, Fats Domino, The Shirelles, Ricky Nelson among many. In 1967 along with good friend Chip Taylor they penned “Storybook Children” which later became his first Hit with singer Judy Clay. The ground breaking decision to place former gospel singer Judy Clay with Billy in a black-white duet was a commercial and artistic success and the two became huge favorites at Harlem’s Apollo Theater. It was a move to Los Angeles Vera where he teamed up with his old friend, bass player Chuck Fiore and they put together a band to play the local club scene called The Beaters. On a legendary Monday midnight show at the Troubadour, the band was signed to Alfa Records. Now known as Billy & The Beaters they had their first big hit in “I Can Take Care of Myself.” Billy biggest success, a song called “At This Moment”, went to #1 on both the Pop and AC charts and stayed on the charts for 21 weeks. “At This Moment” propelled a movie career and he and the Beaters were featured prominently in the Bruce Willis movie Blind Date, the TV series, Wiseguy and several other roles on shows such as Baywatch, Boy Meets World, and a recurring role as Duke on Beverly Hills 90210 as well as nine appearances on The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson. Billy and the Beaters are still playing the Southern California club scene, he continues his work as a music historian and since 1999 has been one of the top voice-over artists in the industry. Billy has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, right in front of the Capitol Records building in Hollywood. And won a Grammy in 2013 for Best Album Notes for the Ray Charles Box set. “A Simple Little Song” (Vera Cruz) brings Billy Vera back to radio and radio is welcoming him with “open arms.”