Billie Davis interview
Billie Davis
Billie Davis, the stunningly
beautiful sixties singer, had hits in the mid-sixties,
notably Tell Him and I Want You To Be My Baby. She was one of the
pioneers of the mod look and was destined for a huge career along
with her contemporaries Dusty, Cilla, Sandie, Lulu and Petula, until a
cruel road accident broke her jaw and stalled her progress.
Billie recovered and rallied and
made a name for herself, particularly in the overseas charts, but
never really regained the momentum in the UK. However, if you delve
into iTunes or Spotify you may be surprised at the breadth of her
back-catalogue.
Touring once again, we caught up with
Billie and these are the answers to our questions she gave to www.retrosellers.com
Digger: Can you tell us about your early musical inspirations and
how you got into music?
Billie: Judy Garland was
an inspiration. I saw her perform in her carpet slippers (magic).
Also Elvis, Carole King. And anything by Phill Spector.
Digger: Your look had a great influence on the sixties look. Where
did your style originate?
Billie: Well, I would sit
at home and just make clothes. Just make up styles. My hair - a
friend was my hairdresser and one day when she was trimming my hair
I said leave the side bits very long. I then curled them round and
put lots of hairspray on them. Eyelashes were put on one by one.
Digger: Why do you think there was such a big explosion of
creativity in the sixties and what do you think is the legacy of the
sixties?
Billie: The Kings Road,
music. Fashion went hand in hand with Rock n Roll. There were a lot
more designers. The legacy has to be the songwriters and the music.
Digger: What are you most proud of in terms of your achievements and
what would you like to have accomplished that you didn't?
Billie: I'm proud that I
am able to touch people with my music. Whilst touring with Frankie
Valli, Bob Crewe wanted to take me back to America to produce my
records, but because I was under contract to Robert Stigwood he
wouldn't release me.
Digger: Can you tell us about working with Joe Meek?
Billie: Joe Meek was the
sweetest man to me. I lived in Surrey with my Nan and she would give
me £1 for my travel to get to Joe and he would give me my fare back.
Digger: What music do you enjoy today and how would you compare the
music scene of the sixties with today's?
Billie: I love soul
stuff. I love James Taylor. Michael Buble and The Stereophonics.
Paloma Faith I think is really special. It's hard to compare but there are so many forms of music today.
Dance drum and bass Hip Hop. Well I could go on. We're all being
sampled now.
Digger: How closely in touch were you with your contemporaries from
the sixties?
Billie: Close in as much
as we worked on the same TV shows often. The Ace cafe was the
meeting place - it opened in 1938. We had a funny saying; we would
say "See you in the charts."
Digger: Were you aware
at the time that it was such an important time musically and
creatively and did you live the rock and roll lifestyle to the full?
Billie: Depends what you
mean by the Rock 'n Roll Lifestyle. I picked a few people up off the
floor
Digger: What do you think of the demise of vinyl and album artwork?
Billie: Vinyl will never
die. Ask John Fisher at Recent and Rare records.
Digger: Are youngsters still telling you that they're discovering
your work today?
Billie: Very much so.
The advice I give is never give up and believe in yourself.
Digger: What makes you laugh, what makes you cry, what makes you sad
and what makes you hopeful?
Billie: I breed Siamese
Cats and they make me laugh all the time. Anything to do with
animals being mistreated makes me sad. When I hear a good musician.
Well, actually it makes me cry if I hear a bad one!
Digger: Please sum-up your life and career so far and what have you
got planned for the future?
Billie: I'm lucky to
have achieved early fame. I'm still touring. I would just like to
put across more of my song writing. "I want you to be my
baby" was a huge hit in Spain and South America. I have just
re-recorded this record with a Spanish Artiste Lola Massey. We will
tour together early spring. Meanwhile my first date live will be
March 7th. Princess Theatre Hunstanton and then April 9th. Millfield
Theatre Edmonton. I'm also recording a new album.
Many thanks to Billie and John
Fisher for their help and kindness. Billie Davis interview
January 2010.
More information can be found at:
Billie
Davis website
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