Billy J. Kramer began as a rhythm guitarist in several beat combos around Liverpool, England. He was born William Ashton but changed his name to Billy Forde when he switched to vocals with The ...

In August 1963, Billy J. Kramer turned 20 with a celebration unlike any other. After he and his group The Dakotas opened for The Beatles during a tour stop at The Gaumont in Bournemouth ...

Stumped? Then meet Billy J Kramer, the proto-Beatle who had a string of hits written by music’s most famous songwriting partnership just as the Fab Four’s own career was taking off.

"I do feel very indebted to both John and Paul," says Billy J. Kramer, one of an army of British pop stars who crossed the pond in the Beatles' wake in the mid-1960s. The Dave Clark Five ...

Billy J. Kramer, a singer born in Bootle, England, destined to become a chart-topping 60s Merseybeat icon and whose stardom was facilitated in no small part by his close association with a fellow ...

Back in the day, Billy J. Kramer was a central figure of the British Invasion. His manager was Brian Epstein, George Martin was his producer, and many of his hits were given to him courtesy of ...

Missteps. Everyone takes one once in a while. Billy J. Kramer did. But not a true misstep that would take him into the abyss of rock ’n’ roll one-hit-wonder shame (after all, he did record ...

That was great coming from him. "My biggest achievement was to stop drinking and become William Ashton again. "Billy J. Kramer is someone I take out of a suitcase every now and again." ...

Billy J. Kramer is a Liverpool musical legend. A friend of the Beatles, he was signed to Parlophone in the wake of their initial success. With the backing of Manchester’s the Dakotas ...

Billy chats to Brian shortly after Mike Maxfield's departure from The Dakotas. From Brian Epstein's impressive stable of stars, Billy J Kramer is probably the least well remembered today: Cilla ...

Billy J. Kramer on the Beatles, His New Album and Why Brian Epstein Should be in the Hall of Fame Billy J. Kramer is a Liverpool musical legend. A friend of the Beatles, he was signed to ...