Billie Jo Spears facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Billie Jo Spears
Billie Jo Spears onstage, 1975.
Born	Billie Jean Moore (1938-01-14)January 14, 1938 Beaumont, Texas, U.S.
Died	December 14, 2011(2011-12-14) (aged 73)
Occupation	Singer record producer
Years active	1953–2011
Children	3
Musical career
Genres	Country country disco
Instruments	Vocals
Labels	Abbott Capitol United Artists/Liberty Ritz Premier Dot/MCA Broadland Carlton K-tel

Billie Jo Spears (born Billie Jean Moore; January 14, 1938 – December 14, 2011) was an American country singer. She was famous for her hit songs about strong and independent women.

Billie Jo grew up in Texas in a working-class family. She made her first recording when she was just 13 years old. A songwriter named Jack Rhodes discovered her early music. He helped her work with producer Kelso Herston. With Herston's help, she had her first big hit in 1969. It was a top ten song called "Mr. Walker, It's All Over."

After some challenges, she released "Blanket on the Ground" in 1975. This song became a number one hit in America. It was also very popular in many other countries. Billie Jo then had more top songs in America. These included "What I've Got in Mind" and "Misty Blue." She also had great success in the United Kingdom. She continued to tour, especially in the UK. Billie Jo Spears passed away from cancer in 2011 at age 73.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Growing Up in Texas

Billie Jean Moore was born in Beaumont, Texas. She was one of six children in her family. Her dad was a truck driver. Her mom worked as a welder and waitress. People often called Billie Jean "BJ" when she was a kid. This nickname stayed with her as an adult.

She heard a lot of country music while growing up. Her mom even played guitar in a western swing band. The band was called the Light Crust Doughboys.

First Steps in Music

Billie Jo started singing professionally when she was 13. Songwriter Jack Rhodes found her talent. He helped her appear on the Louisiana Hayride TV show. This led to her first recording contract with Abbott Records. In 1953, she released her first song. It was called "Too Old for Toys, Too Young for Boys." She used the name "Billie Jo Moore" for this song.

After high school, she worked other jobs for a few years. She was a carhop and a clerical worker. But Jack Rhodes kept encouraging her to sing. In 1964, she moved to Nashville, Tennessee. This city is famous for country music. There, she changed her professional name to "Billie Jo Spears."

Music Career

1964–1973: Early Hits and Challenges

When Billie Jo moved to Nashville, she looked for a record deal. She made some demo songs with producer Pete Drake. In 1964, she signed with United Artists Records. She released a few songs, but they were not big hits. Her producer, Kelso Herston, then moved to Capitol Records. He believed in her talent. He helped her sign with Capitol in 1968.

Her first song for Capitol was "Harper Valley PTA." But another singer, Jeannie C. Riley, released her version at the same time. Riley's version became the big hit. Billie Jo's next song, "He's Got More Love on His Little Finger," was her first to appear on the American Billboard country chart. Soon after, she released her first album, The Voice of Billie Jo Spears.

Breaking Through with "Mr. Walker"

Billie Jo's next song was "Mr. Walker, It's All Over" in 1969. This song sounded a bit like "Harper Valley PTA." It became a huge success for her. It reached the top five on the Billboard country chart. It also made it onto the main Billboard Hot 100 chart. Her second album, Mr. Walker, It's All Over!, also did well. It reached the top 30 on the country albums chart.

Billie Jo Spears in a magazine ad for her 1972 song.

Capitol released more songs by Billie Jo. These songs often talked about social issues. "Marty Gray" reached number 17 on the Billboard country chart in 1970. Her third album, Miss Sincerity, also made the country albums chart.

Billie Jo started touring in the United Kingdom. She was part of the "Capitol Country Caravan." She would later become very popular overseas. Music critics also started to notice her. They called her a "fine singer" with "emotional styling."

In 1970, Billie Jo began working with producer George Richey. He tried to make her music sound more like pop. Songs like "I Stayed Long Enough" and "It Could 'A Been Me" reached the country top 40. But her next songs were not as successful. Capitol Records then dropped her. After this, she had to have surgery on her vocal cords. This paused her career for a while.

1974–1981: Comeback and International Fame

In 1974, Billie Jo returned to United Artists Records. Producer Larry Butler signed her. Her first song back was "See the Funny Little Clown." It didn't do well. So, Billie Jo looked for her next big hit. Butler showed her a new song called "Blanket on the Ground." Other producers had turned it down.

Billie Jo said it sounded like a "cheating song." But she recorded it anyway. "Blanket on the Ground" became a number one hit on the Billboard country chart. It also became a big hit in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Her album, Blanket on the Ground, reached the top five on the country chart in 1975. It sold very well in the UK. The Academy of Country Music Awards named her Top New Female Vocalist. Billie Jo said she was a "different person" now. She felt she could put on a much better show. Later in 1975, she had two more top 20 hits: "Stay Away from the Apple Tree" and "Silver Wings and Golden Rings."

Billie Jo Spears performing on a music show in 1976.

Billie Jo kept working with Larry Butler. They created a fun, country pop sound. Many of her popular songs were about keeping love alive. Her next song was "What I've Got in Mind" in 1976. It reached the top five on country charts in North America. It also hit the top five on the UK pop chart. Her album of the same name also reached the top five. Another song from the album, "Misty Blue," became a top five country hit.

"Sing Me an Old Fashioned Song" was released in Europe. It was a top 40 hit in the UK. Her success in Britain led her to perform many times at Wembley Stadium. She became a favorite there.

Billie Jo had many more top 10 and top 20 country songs in the late 1970s. "Never Did Like Whiskey" and "I'm Not Easy" both made the top 20 in 1977. These were on her album I'm Not Easy. The album also had a cover of Elvis Presley's "Heartbreak Hotel." But Billie Jo decided not to release it as a single after Elvis died. She didn't want to seem like she was using his passing for fame. Instead, "If You Want Me" became a top 10 hit in 1977.

Through 1978, four of her songs reached the top 20. These were "Too Much Is Not Enough", "Lonely Hearts Club", "I've Got to Go" and "'57 Chevrolet."

In 1979, United Artists released Billie Jo's version of the disco hit "I Will Survive." It was very popular in the United Kingdom. It also reached number 21 on the American country chart. Her album I Will Survive had two more charting songs. In 1980, "Standing Tall" was a top 20 country hit. Her 1981 song "Your Good Girl's Gonna Go Bad" was her last top 20 country hit. After this, Billie Jo left United Artists.

1982–2011: Focus on the United Kingdom

In 1982, Billie Jo signed with Ritz Records in the United Kingdom. Her first song for them was "Apologizing Roses." It was on her album BJ – Billie Jo Spears Today (1983). She also sang a duet with Carey Duncan called "I Can Hear Kentucky Calling Me." In 1984, another UK label, Premier, released her album We Just Came Apart at the Dreams. Her last song to chart in the United States was "Midnight Blue" in 1984.

In 1991, Broadland International released her album Unmistakably. It had ten new songs. She also recorded some songs for a duets album that was never finished. In 1996, she released Outlaw Woman. She also re-recorded many of her popular songs for other albums.

In her later years, Billie Jo continued to perform often. She had a large fan base in the United Kingdom. She performed over 400 concerts there. She also toured with Irish country singer Philomena Begley in 2010 and 2011.

Musical Style

Billie Jo Spears's music was mostly country. Her early songs had a traditional country sound. Some writers said her early music had a "harder edge" than other female singers. Many people felt her later songs moved towards country pop and country disco. But some disagreed, saying she was more "earthy and grounded" than other country singers of her time.

Critics also noted her blues-influenced singing style. Her voice was described as "sultry" and "smoky." People also noticed her strong twang from Texas. One writer said her voice was a mix of Loretta Lynn's twang and Bobbie Gentry's soulful sound.

Legacy and Influence

Billie Jo Spears is remembered for her songs about strong and independent women. A writer for The New York Times said she became famous for "socially conscious songs portraying plucky survivors." Other writers noted that her hit songs were often about women leaving, surviving, or standing up for themselves.

Her music also influenced other artists. Tammy Wynette was influenced by Billie Jo's early recordings. Producer Kelso Herston said Wynette studied Billie Jo's singing style. Lorrie Morgan knew many of Billie Jo's songs about strong women. Morgan even recorded Billie Jo's song "Standing Tall" for her 1995 album. Morgan also sang many of Billie Jo's popular songs in her concerts.

Personal Life and Death

In her later years, Billie Jo Spears lived in Vidor, Texas. This was close to her hometown of Beaumont. She passed away from cancer on December 14, 2011. She was 73 years old.

Discography

Awards and Nominations

Images for kids

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  Billie Jo Spears onstage, 1975.

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  Billie Jo Spears in a magazine advertisement for her 1972 single, "Souvenirs and California Memories".

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  Billie Jo Spears performing on a music show in 1976.

See also

In Spanish: Billie Jo Spears para niños