Billy Vera

Billy Vera (born William Patrick McCord;[1] May 28, 1944) is an American singer, songwriter, actor, author, and music historian.

The groundbreaking decision to place former gospel singer Judy Clay with Vera in a white-black duet to record the song was a commercial and artistic success.

During that decade he served as conductor for many oldies acts, including the Shirelles and Ronnie Spector as well as fronting the band at the 1972 Reunion concert of Dion & the Belmonts.

Living in Los Angeles and writing songs for Warner Bros. Records, Vera and his old friend, bass player Chuck Fiore, decided to put together a band to play the local club scene.

They recorded the band live,[4] at the Roxy (video was produced by Paul Flattery and directed by Bruce Gowers), calling the album Billy & The Beaters.

The following year, Vera recorded a self-titled solo album, with instrumentation by The Muscle Shoals Sound Rhythm Section and produced by Jerry Wexler.

Vera returned to playing the clubs of Southern California, and resumed calling his backing band "The Beaters", which featured an ever-shifting lineup of players.

Before "At This Moment", Vera had a small career in movies and television including appearances in The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai, Late for Dinner, The Doors and soap opera Days of Our Lives.

[6] During that period, Vera co-produced three Lou Rawls albums with his friend Michael Cuscuna, for Blue Note Records, including At Last, which reached number 1 on the Billboard jazz chart.

In 1990, Vera's tune "Papa Come Quick (Jody & Chico)" was included on Bonnie Raitt's album, Luck of the Draw.

[citation needed] Vera has been the voice for AM/PM Mini Mart commercials since 1999 and is one of the top voice-over artists in Los Angeles.

With his old friend Evie Sands, Billy recorded "Queen of Diamonds/Jack of Hearts", a CD featuring songs by their early mentor Chip Taylor.

It was issued on Varese-Sarabande Records, and Vera has appeared with a big 18-piece band in New York City, Hollywood, and at various jazz festivals.

He won a 2013 Grammy Award for Best Album Notes for the Ray Charles box set Singular Genius: The Complete ABC Singles.