Born in 1944 in Riverside, California, Billy Vera made his first record while still in his teens. The first song he ever presented to a publisher, “Mean Old World,” became a hit for Ricky Nelson and, one year later, his “Make Me Belong To You,” was a 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 Judy Clay, was the hit, “Storybook Children.” The two followed up with “Country Girl-City Man.” Billy’s first solo hit was a cover of Bobby Goldsboro’s “With Pen In Hand.” The 70s were rough until Dolly Parton cut Billy’s song, “I Really Got The Feeling,” taking it to number one on the country charts. This propelled a move to Los Angeles, where in 1979, he formed Billy & The Beaters. In 1981, the band recorded 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. Five years later, a 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 vaulted to number one nationally. In 2013, Vera released Big Band Jazz, a tribute to the black songwriters of the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s. Billy continues to tour the world with his band.
