Biography

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 entré 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. He’s been heard, plugging products like Burger King, Honda, Toyota, Mercury, Mervin’s and dozens of others.

Billy produced the last four albums of his friend, Lou Rawls, taking the great singer back to #1 on the jazz charts, reviving his recording career. Their last collaboration was "Rawls Sings Sinatra", one year prior to Lou’s passing.

Artists who have recorded Billy Vera songs include Bonnie Raitt, Robert Plant, Fats Domino, the Shirelles, Tom Jones, Freda Payne and Little Milton. Etta James recorded and Jerry Wexler produced, "You've Got Me," a tune Billy did in the Willie Nelson starring, "Baja Oklahoma".

Billy has also become a noted music historian and has produced over 200 reissue albums, including the Little Richard and Drifters box sets and the "Ray Charles 50th Anniversary" and the R&B Box: "Thirty Years of Rhythm & Blues" box sets, both nominated for Grammy awards. Billy is now in the middle of a project celebrating Atlantic Records 60th that started with the Atlantic Blues (1949-1970) Box Set. The just released Atlantic Soul (1959-1975) and soon to be released Atlantic Vocal Groups (1951-1963) comprise a collection of some of the greatest music ever recorded.

Awards include a Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame (in front of Capitol Records' Tower) and the George Peabody Award for Excellence in Radio Broadcasting.

Television has been good to Billy. He’s sung the theme songs to the hit series " King Of Queens" and "Empty Nest" and his tunes have been used in many shows. A recent appearance on the NBC show "Hit Me Baby One More Time" resulted in renewed interest in Billy Vera and sell-out crowds at his appearances.

Quick Facts

"At This Moment" #1 for two weeks, January, 1987, exposed on NBC's Family Ties five years after it's initial release.

1st hit record: "Storybook Children" duet with Judy Clay, Atlantic Records, 1967. Billy is one of the few white acts to successfully play Harlem's famed Apollo Theater.

1st solo hit: "With Pen In Hand", Atlantic, 1968.

1st hit as a songwriter: "Mean Old World Ricky Nelson", 1965.

1st #1 as a songwriter: "I Really Got The Feeling", Dolly Parton, 1979.

Biggest selling song: Papa Come Quick (Jody & Chico) on Bonnie Raitt's "Luck of the Draw" - over 5 million to date.

1st acting role: as Pinky Carruthers in "The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai"

Other acting: Oliver Stone's "The Doors", Blake Edwards' "Blind Date" with Bruce Willis & Kim Basinger, CBS's "Wise Guy", plus many more TV series.

1st #1 as a record producer: Lou Rawls's Grammy-nominated "At Last". Produced three albums by Rawls for Blue Note Records and Lou’s last album, "Rawls Sings Sinatra".

Noted music historian has produced over 200 reissue albums, including the Little Richard and Drifters box sets and the "Ray Charles 50th Anniversary" and the R&B Box: "Thirty Years of Rhythm & Blues" box sets, both nominated for Grammy awards. In addition, Billy wrote the essays accompanying the Bear Family record label's Louis Prima and Dean Martin box sets.

Awards include: Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame (in front of Capitol Records' Tower), George Peabody Award for Excellence in Radio Broadcasting.