Biography

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.

"Cliff Bennet and The Rebel Rousers backed me. I won and after Cliff told me to go See this guy called Joe whose making some pretty amazing sounds. Joe Meek of course"

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.

"I was listening to Rock n Roll I just loved the beat. Chuck Berry Jerry Lee Lewis. I adored Bobby Darin. Then came Phil Spector. The Great Wall of Sound. Oh How I wanted to make records like that. I did tour with The Four seasons and Bob Crew wanted to take me back to America and record me but Stigwood would not let me go"

Her first big appearance was on the Comedy hit record by Mike Sarne 'Will I What'. Billie bringing the comical cockney accent to the chorus. Though is was her first hit 'Tell Him' that Billie is particularly remembered for. That record sent Billie up the British charts, Proceeding Dusty Springfield debut by about seven months . With her Jet Black hair, Big doe eyes and vampy and unique cloths style Billie was was of the earliest images of the 60'S 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. It can be said the Billie certainly has a story or two to tell about those times.

"Tours at that time would last for 6 weeks and we would be playing small Essoldo theatres which are now I'm sad to say, became Bingo halls and today remain empty. Morecambe Winter gardens I recall on the Rolling Stones tour. Last night of the tour Mick and Keith got hold of the key's to the props cupboard and got the wind machines out and almost blew everyone off the stage. During my spot Whilst bopping around on the stage I turned to see Charlie Watts giving Mick a piggyback across the stage they were both chasing me around. I thought in a minute they will trip and we might all end up in the orchestra pit."

Billie and Mike Sarne, promotional photoshoot on Brighton Beach

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.

"A Midland red bus without looking pulled out into the main road and we sailed straight into it. Jet fell forward and hit his head on the ash tray. I was sleeping side way's so fell forward and hit my jaw on the seat. I got myself together pulled Jet out of the car and lay him on the side of the road. Just behind us there had been a load of fans on motor bikes who had been to the show they called the ambulance. I was taken to The Harley Street clinic to find that I had broken my jaw. They operated and I was wired for 6.months living on baby Foods. Along came Sandie, Cilla. all supporting the Billie Davis bob. I couldn't record, couldn't do anything"

But not for long, 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'. Billie enjoyed touring the globe and discovered fans from Communist Europe to South America. Billie in Particular 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, Kike Dee, Kay Garner and the Moody Blues Pulled from the studio next door. Billie actually also translated and recorded a version in Spanish.

"I did Top of the Pops the record was selling 12.000 a day I remember very clearly a friend of mine was looking after Joe Cocker and we were doing the same sales a day. Then Decca had a strike at the factory and they wouldn't press anymore records so it killed it. Bad luck yet again."

Billie also recorded the Moody Blues classic Number 'Nights In white Satin' which she performed on Spanish television and had a hit with there. Loving the country and it's people Billie spent a great deal of time in Spain and still has very much a strong fan base there today.

"The Spanish people really took me into their hearts. I was playing bullrings . I also toured South America Following Matt Munro around the circuit. Matt had a huge hit with Born Free. I worked along with Julio Englasas. I picked up award international artiste of the year, is equivalent of Hello Mag"

Billie has never really stopped working, just a few breaks bringing up her two children, but has continued to gig and write. Billie 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 with various sixties shows has resulted in Billie 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, P.J Proby and Mike Sarne. Taking her across the UK, Europe and Australia.

Billie re-united for a long a successful tour with Jet Harris and The Rapiers. The Me and My Shadows tour was received well by fans. During this time, Billie co-produced a documentary film about Jet, titled 'From There to Here'. This was completed shortly before Jet Harris's death.

Billie has also worked on fundraising projects, in particular, with the heritage foundation, placing various blue Plaques, including John Lennon and Dusty Springfield, and raising money for various causes including the Tsunami Benefit, and poverty charities . Billie has performed at many of charity Gala's with the likes of Denny Laine, Rick Wakemen to name a few.

Moving with the times Billie has discovered a new younger generation of fans through the web. Through this connection, people are discovering a huge amount of music of the era. Her album releases in recent years, such as 'The Decca Years' and RPM Records. 'Whatcha Gonna Do', certainly provoked a new interest in her work and echoes the current interest for the era in general.

Billie continue's to write and record new material. Her recent projects have gone back to early rock n roll sounds, recording and performing with the musicians from the Rockabilly scene. Her latest release, the single Elvis Where are You? featuring Iain Terry of Matchbox, is a tribute to The King (also includes a B-Side, a cover of Mess of the Blues) These tracks have been receiving great radio airplay. She has been touring with the Back In our Rock n Roll days show, featuring the likes of Alan Warner (of the Foundations) and Graham Fenton (Matchbox) Keith Powell (of the Northern Soul scene) and Terry Rice-Milton (Cupids Inspiration)

Billie has also performed at The London venues such as the Palladium and the Borderline, on the bill with the likes of PP Arnold, Dave Berry, Chas Hodges and Cliff Bennett as part of this Rock N Roll revival, with the Tales from the Woods shows. As Billie says...

"Sixties music is not just popular again, it never really went away"

http://www.billied.com/