Billie Davis

Billie Davis, real name Carol Hedges, is a British singer born on December 22, 1945 in Woking, Surrey. She became one of the leading female figures of the British pop scene in the 1960s, though often underestimated compared to her more high-profile contemporaries. She chose her stage name as a tribute to Billie Holiday and Sammy Davis Jr, merging their names to reflect her admiration for African-American artists. Billie Davis began her musical career at a very young age, making a name for herself in 1963 with a cover of the Exciters' "Tell Him", which became a hit in the U.K. (No. 10) and opened the door to her solo career, in a register oscillating between energetic pop, white soul and romantic ballads. Her lively voice and assured stage presence earned her numerous TV appearances, notably on the most popular music shows of the day. She released a string of singles, including "Angel of the Morning" (1967), "I Want You to Be My Baby" (1972) and "Run Joey Run" (1978), but failed to achieve the same level of commercial success as her first hit. Despite a certain retreat from the 1970s, she pursued a discreet career, punctuated by resurgences, and remains a cult figure for Sixties pop fans, appreciated for her sparkling vocal style, modernity of tone and elegance. Her legacy is often rediscovered in specialized compilations of 1960s female pop and in northern soul circles, where some of her more obscure songs continue to circulate and be rediscovered.

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