Billy Swan (born Billy Lance Swan, May 12, 1942, Cape Girardeau, Missouri) is an American songwriter and singer, best known for his 1974 single, "I Can Help".
Career
Swan's role in the music industry was, originally, largely invisible. He learned drums, piano, and guitar and also began writing songs. "Lover Please," a song he wrote at the age of 16, was recorded by a local group he played with called Mirt Mirly & the Rhythm Stoppers. Later, when Swan's friends traveled to Memphis, Tennessee to record with Elvis Presley's bassist Bill Black, Black recorded the tune himself. Swan's first big break was in 1962 when Clyde McPhatter recorded "Lover Please", that quickly became a Top Ten hit. Swan stayed in Memphis to write for Black's combo and also worked as a guard at Graceland for a time.Moving to Nashville allowed Swan to write hit country songs for numerous artists, including Conway Twitty, Waylon Jennings, and Mel Tillis. In 1969, Swan first took on the role of record producer, publishing Tony Joe White's Top Ten hit "Polk Salad Annie". Swan played bass guitar for Kris Kristofferson, served as a sideman for Kinky Friedman and Billy Joe Shaver, and signed a recording contract with Monument Records.Swan's first album included the popular song "I Can Help", a rockabilly number that topped both the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and Country charts in 1974. The track reached 6 in the UK Singles Chart. "I Can Help" was certified gold on December 2, 1974, for sales of one million units by the Recording Industry Association of America.
RIAA.com Swan recorded the song in two takes (without overdubs) with an electric organ that Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge had bought for him as a wedding present. The accompanying album of the same name also topped the Country list.However, other albums with Monument, A&M, and Epic did not have nearly the success of his first. Swan continued to play in Kristofferson's touring band and worked with T-Bone Burnett frequently during the 1980s. In 1986 he walked into a Californian recording studio (Bench Records) as part of a band called Black Tie, and along with Randy Meisner, Jimmy Griffin, David Kemper, David Miner and David Mansfield recorded an album called When the Night Falls.Swan continued to tour with Kristofferson, and has recorded two albums with Meisner. Swan recorded a new album at the original Sun Records studios, Like Elvis Used to Do, in 2000. , Swan was still a back-up and session musician. In 2006 Swan was inducted into the The Southern Legends Entertainment & Performing Arts Hall of Fame. He was already an inductee in the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.Swan was married to his late wife Marlu for 30 years. They had two daughters, recording artists Planet Swan and Sierra Swan.
Discography
Singles
- "I Can Help" (1974) - U.S. Pop #1, U.S. Country #1, UK #6
- "Everything's The Same (Ain't Nothing Changed)" (1975) - U.S. Pop #91, U.S. Country #17
- "I'm Her Fool" (1975) - U.S. Pop #53
- "Don't Be Cruel" (1975) - UK #42
- "Just Want To Taste Your Wine" (1976) - U.S. Country #45
- "Shake, Rattle and Roll" (1976) - U.S. Country #95
- "You're The One" (1976) - U.S. Country #75
- "No Way Around It (It's Love)" (1978) - U.S. Country #97
- "I'm Gonna Get You" (1987) - U.S. Country #63
Albums
- I Can Help (1975) - U.S. Country #1, U.S. Pop #21
- Rock 'N' Roll Moon (1975) - U.S. Country #29
- Billy Swan (1976) - U.S. Country #28
See also
- List of artists who reached number one in the United States
- List of 1970s one-hit wonders in the United States
- List of artists who reached number one on the Australian singles chart
- List of Billboard Hot Country Songs chart achievements
- List of performers on Top of the Pops
- List of soft rock musicians
References
External links
1933 birthsLiving peopleAmerican songwritersAmerican pop singersAmerican country singersPeople from Cape Girardeau County, MissouriRockabilly Hall of Fame inducteesAmerican session musiciansBilly SwanBilly Swan
