Billy Young (singer)

William D. Young (born May 25, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter of the 1960s. He was discovered, produced and promoted by Otis Redding and had one major success with "The Sloopy".^[1][2][3][4]

Personal life

Young was born in Dangerfield, Texas, before moving to the west coast of the US. His early recordings were possibly for Crest as a member of the Classics, but the first 45 under his own name was for Original Sound in 1963. On this album, Young sings in a high register with a lot of falsetto phrases but when he moved to Macon he fell under the spell of Otis Redding, who had a huge impact on the way he sang. The song "Same Thing All Over" was cut under Redding’s supervision at Fame in Macon, Georgia.

Discography

• "The Sloopy", written Otis Redding^[5]
• "Same Thing All Over", written Otis Redding 1965^[6]
• "Nothing's Too Much (Nothing's Too Good)", written William D. Young 1967^[7]
• "Burning Up"

References

1. Jeanne Herring 2000 0738506001 p113 "Charles Welch, Billy Young, and Pearly Brown all contributed to the flavorful musical history of Macon. These artists received their start as hometown talents and blossomed into major stars. "
2. Geoff Brown Otis Redding: Try a Little Tenderness 2002- 1841953164 p 114 Billy Young, a friend of Phil Walden's from the US Army service, ..."
3. Black Music & Jazz Review - Volume 3 1980 "Otis Redding was the lynchpin in the Memphis Renaissance... supporting Billy Young with "The Sloopy (Jotis 469) and Loretta Williams with "Baby Cakes" (Jotis 471), even writing for newcomers."
4. Jean Louis Lamaison - Soul music 1977 - Page 67 Si le public blanc n'était pas encore prêt pour Otis Redding, les Noirs américains par contre l'étaient depuis longtemps ... Pour Jotis Records il produisit Billy Young qui eut un petit succès avec « Sloopy » et une chanteuse de Mobile, Alabama, ..."
5. Peter Guralnick Sweet soul music: rhythm and blues et rêve sudiste de liberté 2003 2844851304 "Les première et troisième sorties du label en 1965 - "Do the Sloopy" par Billy Young, un artiste de Macon, et "Baby Cakes" par Loretta Williams, une découverte d'Otis Redding - ne firent pas grand-chose ...
6. Billboard - 17 july 1965 - Page 14 BILLY YOUNG— SAME THING ALL OVER (East Time-Walco, BMI) — A soulful blues ballad from the pen of Otis Redding is given a strong reading by Young. Should spiral up the BB chart ..."
7. Billboard 13 may 1967 - Page 8 "Mercury Records executive Charles Fach last week bought masters of four singles and one album — all from top independent record producers. Acquired from producer Otis Redding is "Nothing Too Much" by Billy Young; it was ..."