Billie Davis(I)
- Soundtrack
Billie Davis's career started like many other of the female singers of
her time. At the young age of 16 she entered a local talent contest at
Southall Community Centre, Pushed on stage by her best friend, Billie
sang a Connie Francis song 'Many Tears Ago'. Along with Cliff Bennett
and the Rebel Rousers as her backing group for the performance, Billie
won the contest. After winning she was advised by Cliff Bennett to go
and see a man named Joe Meek. Billie
worked on various experimental recordings and also worked on her own
vocal. It was while working with Meek that she was spotted by Robert
Stigwood and instantly snapped up. This was the start of her journey
into fame. Her first big
appearance was on the hit comedy record by Mike Sarne 'Will I What'.
Billie bringing the comical cockney accent to the chorus. However, it was
her first hit 'Tell Him' that Billie is particularly remembered for.
That record sent her up the British charts, proceeding Dusty
Springfield's debut by about seven months . With her jet black hair, big
doe eyes and vampy and unique clothes style, Billie was one of the
earliest images of the 60s Brit scene. Certainly a muse for the
tabloids too. The heavy promotion for 'Tell Him' had Billie performing
and touring with mega acts The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, to name
a few.
Billie enjoyed a great build up of success with 'Tell Him' but her career hit a brutal and very tragically early stump at the end of 1963. It was while promoting her follow up single to 'Tell Him', the song 'He's The One'. Billie was involved in a serious car accident along with Jet Harris of The Shadows. Jet and Billie had become a much loved and hounded couple for the tabloids, and were together in a chauffeured car that hit a Midland red bus. Billie in fact pulled Jet from the wreckage and both sustained various injuries. In particular Billie received a serious broken jaw and as a result was unable to do any performing or promotion. This caused serious damage to her career, as the music industry was at such a fast moving pace, Billie was temporarily lost from the limelight. Once recovered Billie was back to work and had success with songs such as 'Angel Of The Morning' and 'Want you to be my Baby'. She enjoyed touring the globe and discovered fans from Communist Europe to South America. In particular she found much success in Spain with 'I Want You To Be My Baby', produced by Michael Aldred, featuring the voices of Madeline Bell, Doris Troy, Kiki Dee, Kay Garner and the Moody Blues, pulled from the studio next door. Billie actually also translated and recorded a version in Spanish. She also recorded the Moody Blues classic Number 'Nights In white Satin' which she performed on Spanish television and had a hit with it there. Loving the country and its people Billie spent a great deal of time in Spain and still has very much a strong fan base there today.
Billie has never really stopped working, just a few breaks bringing up her two children, but has continued to gig and write. Writing her own material led to an album recording called 'Stormy' featuring legendary guitarist Albert Lee. This work took quite a country feel, and revealing Billie as a great songwriter. Touring the country with various sixties shows has resulted in her working with a huge range of long time friends and other Sixties legends of her own time. The likes of The Searchers, Marty Wilde, The Tornados, John Leyton and P.J Proby. Billie recently discovered a great fan base in Australia on a tour with P.J. and Gerry and The Pacemakers. Most recently she has been working hard on a tour with another old friend Jet Harris. Jet Harris presents me and my Shadows has successfully toured the UK and features the talents of Top class band The Rapiers. Billie has also been working with Mike Sarne, again another old friend, in her debut role in Pantomime. Moving with the times Billie has discovered a new younger generation of fans through the Internet. Her recent album release 'The Decca Years' has provoked a new interest in her and echoes the current interest for the era. Through popular website Myspace Billie receives fan mail from fans from the era up to young and current retro bands who are discovering her for the first time. This current interest has also sparked off a new release for Billie from RPM Records. 'Whatcha Gonna Do' features very early and rare recordings from th sixties. It even features some early live recordings. Billie has also been working with the heritage foundation, placing various blue Plaques and raising money for various causes including the Tsunami Benefit, and poverty charities. Billie and The Rapiers recently put on a tribute lunch for the Late Tommy Bruce, another sixties icon. This event raised money for the Macmillan Trust.
Billie enjoyed a great build up of success with 'Tell Him' but her career hit a brutal and very tragically early stump at the end of 1963. It was while promoting her follow up single to 'Tell Him', the song 'He's The One'. Billie was involved in a serious car accident along with Jet Harris of The Shadows. Jet and Billie had become a much loved and hounded couple for the tabloids, and were together in a chauffeured car that hit a Midland red bus. Billie in fact pulled Jet from the wreckage and both sustained various injuries. In particular Billie received a serious broken jaw and as a result was unable to do any performing or promotion. This caused serious damage to her career, as the music industry was at such a fast moving pace, Billie was temporarily lost from the limelight. Once recovered Billie was back to work and had success with songs such as 'Angel Of The Morning' and 'Want you to be my Baby'. She enjoyed touring the globe and discovered fans from Communist Europe to South America. In particular she found much success in Spain with 'I Want You To Be My Baby', produced by Michael Aldred, featuring the voices of Madeline Bell, Doris Troy, Kiki Dee, Kay Garner and the Moody Blues, pulled from the studio next door. Billie actually also translated and recorded a version in Spanish. She also recorded the Moody Blues classic Number 'Nights In white Satin' which she performed on Spanish television and had a hit with it there. Loving the country and its people Billie spent a great deal of time in Spain and still has very much a strong fan base there today.
Billie has never really stopped working, just a few breaks bringing up her two children, but has continued to gig and write. Writing her own material led to an album recording called 'Stormy' featuring legendary guitarist Albert Lee. This work took quite a country feel, and revealing Billie as a great songwriter. Touring the country with various sixties shows has resulted in her working with a huge range of long time friends and other Sixties legends of her own time. The likes of The Searchers, Marty Wilde, The Tornados, John Leyton and P.J Proby. Billie recently discovered a great fan base in Australia on a tour with P.J. and Gerry and The Pacemakers. Most recently she has been working hard on a tour with another old friend Jet Harris. Jet Harris presents me and my Shadows has successfully toured the UK and features the talents of Top class band The Rapiers. Billie has also been working with Mike Sarne, again another old friend, in her debut role in Pantomime. Moving with the times Billie has discovered a new younger generation of fans through the Internet. Her recent album release 'The Decca Years' has provoked a new interest in her and echoes the current interest for the era. Through popular website Myspace Billie receives fan mail from fans from the era up to young and current retro bands who are discovering her for the first time. This current interest has also sparked off a new release for Billie from RPM Records. 'Whatcha Gonna Do' features very early and rare recordings from th sixties. It even features some early live recordings. Billie has also been working with the heritage foundation, placing various blue Plaques and raising money for various causes including the Tsunami Benefit, and poverty charities. Billie and The Rapiers recently put on a tribute lunch for the Late Tommy Bruce, another sixties icon. This event raised money for the Macmillan Trust.
