Billy Beck

Billy Beck Billy Beck is a premier American musician/songwriter that has lent his skills to various artists and organizations throughout his distinguished career, and is credited with writing some of the most popular love songs of all time. Hailing from the musical nerve center of Dayton,Ohio, Billy,made a name for himself as a writer, producer, vocalist and keyboardist of funk band"The Ohio Players." The Ohio Players were one of the most popular and infuential funk bands of the `1970's known for their impeccable musicianship,eye-popping movements in American music. He wrote several hit songs for the revered band,including"Skintight"(1974),Honey"(1995), and "Who'd She Coo?(1976). Billy's reputation as a talented producer/songwriter soon led him to the door of Roger Troutman, the leader of a revolutionary band called "Zapp." Considered one of the most underrated bands of the 1980's, Zapp is best known for its bumping grooves and progressive use of electro pop, a precursor to the style of arranger for Zapp is best known for its pop sensations Prince and Cameo. Billy worked as producer, writer, and arranger for Zapp and various members of Roger Troutman organization, including noted goseph singer, Shirley Murdock. Billy penned funk hits such as I Can Make U Dance"(1984) and "Midnight Hour"(1985) performed by Zapp, followed by the ethereal ballad "As We Lay'(1987)for Shirley Murdock, which launched her into a successful gosepel career. In the 1990's Billy teamed up with the successful gospel/funk/soul musician pop Staples (of the Staples Singers) and wroe a hit called "Father,Father', the title track on Staples'1994 Grammy-winning album in the Best Contemporary Blues category. But Billy's most notable success came when he co-penned on of the most inspirational love songs of all time, the chart-topping "Greatest Love of inspirastional love songs of all time, the chart-topping"Greatest Love of All"(1977), popularizded by the incomparable Whitney Houston in the 1980's. Billy Beck is the winner of five Gold albums, four platinum albums, three Gold singles, and two Grammys. He is a dynamic artist who has played-and continues to play-an influential role in the history of American funk,gospel,blues,soul, R&B.and pop music.