In the 60's music manager Brian Epstein took The Beatles to global stardom.
But the late-great also did a swell turn with other artists, singers like Cilla Black and Billy J Kramer.
Now celebrating 50 years in 'the business,' Billy is currently on the road playing his first UK dates in close to two decades.
A recently issued studio album, I Won The Fight, sees him on disc again too, for the first time is 30 years!
The man had a string of hits with songs including Do You Want to Know a Secret, I Call Your Name, From a Window and Little Children, with his band, The Dakotas is back in play.
Billy - the 'J' was added following a suggestion by John Lennon - will be live at MK Theatre on Sunday (April 12), as part of the Solid Silver Sixties Show. The bill also features original Searchers voice Mike Pender, The Merseybeats, Chris Farlowe and PP Arnold, with backing from the New Amen Corner.
Billy went On track with Total MK...
The song that first awakened your musical senses
C'mon Everybody by Eddie Cochran - When I first heard the song, it had a raw energy that I had never heard before and I was really taken in
Physical or digital - how do you take your music?
Both - I do prefer vinyl, but it isn't always possible to obtain the material I like, so I have to settle for either CD or digital at times - I believe there is a place for all of it
The first time you thought 'Music - this is the job for me'
The first time I saw The Beatles at Litherland Town Hall and Paul McCartney opened the show with Long Tall Sally. That was the turning point in my interest in becoming a professional rock n roller
Your best on stage memory
There are so many to choose from.
The most recent was at The Fest for Beatles Fans in NYC to celebrate the 50th anniversary of The Beatles on Ed Sullivan, along with the 50th anniversary of my hit records.
My incredible band and I performed a set that included my tribute to John Lennon, of Jealous Guy, and the audience reaction was amazing.
Another amazing night was just a few months ago at Westbury Music Fair on the British Invasion show, which is only about 15 minutes from where I live
And the worst gig you've ever done
Sunday Night at the London Palladium - this was back in the 60's.
I didn't feel I was experienced enough and didn't feel I had earned the right to be on the same stage that many great artists like Frank Sinatra and Judy Garland had played.
I didn't sleep well for a month due to being overwhelmed, and consequently did a very bad show
What made you take up singing
I started out as just a guitar player. One night my guitar was stolen from the gig, and I didn't have the money to replace it. The band suggested I try singing, so it really happened by accident
Which one song by another artist do you wish you had written
I Wanna Hold Your Hand - The day John Lennon came to Abbey Road and gave me Bad to Me, he then played I Wanna Hold Your Hand and I knew it would turn The Beatles into a worldwide phenomena
And one - by yourself - which holds special significance
To Liverpool with Love, on my new CD I Won the Fight. I was sitting at home one day, and realised the 50th anniversary of my first hit records Do You Want to Know a Secret was approaching.
I sat and wrote this song to help bring attention to the fact that Brian Epstein was not in The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The man who brought The Beatles, myself and other British artists to the attention of the world had been ignored by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
It helped get him in, as he has recently been inducted
If you could step into the shoes of another musician, living or dead, who would it be and what would you do?
It would have to be John Lennon. I feel that rock and roll lost its leader when he died, and I would strive to bring back his influences both musically and spiritually
Are there any current musical influences you might look to
I am a big fan of Bruce Springsteen. I love him on record and his live performances are amazing
And any genre of music you simply can't stand
Rap, hip-hop, and any kind of manufactured music - I think the younger generation are being starved of songs with composition, melody and lyrics.
They are being brainwashed into buying things that really have no business being called music. It is time to stop making stupid people famous.
The lack of quality in both studio and live performances are bring propped up by autotune, which can make anyone with very little talent sound good
Finally plug you new album for us
I Won the Fight consists of songs I have written as well as songs I have wanted to record for quite some time.
This CD really means a lot to me, as it was the first time I made a recording on which I had total artistic control.
Flying Music have given me the opportunity to go on tour and showcase a couple of my new songs along with all of my hits from the 60's with my own band.
They are not only great musicians, but great friends. This tour is going to be a great deal of fun for me, and I hope it brings as much enjoyment to the fans.
To book tickets for Sunday's date visit www.atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes or call 0844 871 7652.
