Billy J. Kramer

Billy J. Kramer ( born August 19, 1943 as William Howard Ashton in Bootle, Liverpool) was discovered in 1962 by the Beatles manager Brian Epstein and contracted. Epstein also made sure that Billy lead singer of the Dakotas was the then famous band from Manchester.

In March 1963, the band was offered a contract in Hamburg's Star-Club, was producer George Martin, who had also worked for the Beatles. Almost obvious that the first three singles by John Lennon and Paul McCartney were written: " Do You Want to Know a Secret ," the number -one hit " Bad to Me" and "I'll Keep You Satisfied", all 1963.

Also, the first not written by the two Beatles single in 1964 she brought back to the top position in the charts - " Little Children " came from the pen of John Leslie McFarland and Mort Shuman and was their biggest hit in the U.S.. The subsequent chart success "From a Window " was again a Lennon / McCartney composition. Her last chart hit " Trains and Boats and Planes" was a composition by Burt Bacharach.

In the annual survey 1963, the British music magazine Melody Maker Billy J. Kramer & the Dakotas were chosen by the readers of the best newcomers. By 1965 the band was found in the international charts, then lost her songs in the typical beat music sound obviously attractive. The group was disbanded in 1966; Kramer published under his pseudonym more plates, but without ever re-emerge in the charts.

Members

• Billy J. Kramer, singing
• Michael " Mike" Maxfield ( born February 23, 1944), lead guitar
• Robin McDonald ( born July 18, 1943), rhythm guitar
• Ray Jones ( born October 20, 1939 - † 20 January 2000), Bass
• Tony Mansfield ( born May 28 1943), percussion

Hit- Singles

• Do You Want to Know a Secret (1963, UK- Charts Platz 2 )
• The Cruel Sea (1963, UK number 18, the instrumental piece without Dakotas Billy J. Kramer )
• Bad to Me (1963, UK # 1 )
• I'll Keep You Satisfied (1963, UK # 4 )
• Little Children (1964, UK # 1, U.S. # 7 )
• From a Window (1964, UK # 10, U.S. # 23 )
• Trains and Boats and Planes (1965, UK number 12 )