Do You Want to Know a Secret?: The Autobiography of Billy J. Kramer (Studies in Popular Music) - Hardcover

Billy J. Kramer; Alyn Shipton

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1781793611 ISBN 13: 9781781793619

Publisher: Equinox Publishing Ltd, 2016

Synopsis

In this autobiography Billy J. Kramer (born William Ashton) tells his rags to riches story, from his working class childhood in Liverpool to the racy world of international pop music. Managed by Brian Epstein, produced by George Martin, and friend, confidante and colleague of the Beatles, Kramer gives a definitive insider's account of the birth of the Liverpool sound and also the "British Invasion" of the USA. But there are dark secrets in the Kramer story. Before he reached his twenties, he was in the grip of drugs and alcohol, and there were constant tensions between him and his backing band, the Dakotas. When the screaming stopped, he reinvented himself as a cabaret performer, and some of his best records were made in the years he was out of the limelight. With a young family, drink and pills made his domestic life, and eventually his professional life, a struggle. In this no-holds-barred account, Kramer brings to life the vibrancy of the sixties. He then reveals how he exorcised his demons and forged a new career in the United States. He assembles his current band, shows a growing mastery of songwriting, and returns to national tours of Britain and the USA, keeping the flame of the Mersey sound alive. The lifetime of experience he brings to his new songs infuses every page of this enthralling read.

About this title

Review

Billy J. Kramer and his band The Dakotas have always been an inspiration to me. --Peter Frampton

He was the most handsome man on stage, and well-dressed too. --Ringo Starr

Seeing and hearing Billy J Kramer in the early days of what became known as the Merseybeat scene was an inspiration to all us teenagers in England. At last someone real was taking it over! --Peter Noone

About the Author

Billy J. Kramer is a singer, songwriter and bandleader, whose career with The Dakotas took him into the top ten on the British and American charts, including three UK number one hits. Born in Liverpool he now lives in the United States.Alyn Shipton has co-authored many musicians' biographies, including most recently, that of chart topping jazz bandleader Chris Barber. His life of singer/songwriter Harry Nilsson won the 2014 ASCAP Deems Taylor Award for pop biography.

Edition details

• Publisher: Equinox Publishing Ltd
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 1781793611
• ISBN 13: 9781781793619
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 200