Billy Valentine | |
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Birth name | William A. Valentine |
Born | Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. | December 16, 1925
Genres |
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Occupation(s) | Musician |
Instrument(s) | Piano |
William A. Valentine (born December 16, 1925), also known as Billy Valentine and Billy Vee, [1] is an American blues, R&B and jazz pianist and singer.
Valentine was born in Birmingham, Alabama on December 16, 1925. [1] [2] In 1948, Valentine replaced Charles Brown in Johnny Moore's Three Blazers, [3] then featuring jazz guitarist Oscar Moore. In 1950 that line-up did a couple of recording sessions for RCA Victor before embarking on a 50-date tour. [4] The "R & B Blue Notes" section of the May 27, 1950 issue of The Billboard, in announcing the tour, stated that Valentine had also recorded for Mercury Records [4] (Mercury 8173 [5]). The note added that the Blazers would be joined by Hal "Cornbread" Singer for part of the tour. [4] The same line-up accompanied Mari Jones, Maxwell Davies (probably) and the former Nat King Cole Trio bassist Johnny Miller for a recording session in Los Angeles in 1952. [6]
In 1956, as Billy Vee, he recorded for King Records. [1]
In 1958, Valentine appeared as pianist on a February 1958 New York recording session with Bubber Johnson, Eric Dixon, Charles Jackson, Skeeter Best, Ruth Berman, Wendell Marshall and Panama Francis, accompanied by a choir. [6]
Jazz saxophonist Big Nick Nicholas mentioned to jazz archivist Phil Schaap a 1949/1950 New York recording session at which Valentine led a group featuring John Coltrane. [7] Other musicians at session were possibly John Collins or Floyd Smith on guitar, possibly Ray Brown on bass and possibly Charles "Specs" Wright on drums. [7]