Billy Bland facts for kids

Billy Bland (born April 5, 1932 – died March 22, 2017) was an American R&B singer and songwriter. R&B is a popular music style that blends jazz, gospel, and blues. Billy Bland was known for his energetic performances and catchy songs.

Life and Career of Billy Bland

Billy Bland was the youngest of 19 children! He started singing professionally in 1947. This was in New York City.

In the 1950s, he sang with a group called The Bees. They recorded songs for Imperial Records. One of their songs, "Toy Bell," caused some talk because of its bold style.

Later, Billy Bland started his own solo music career. In 1960, he was in a recording studio. He heard another singer, Titus Turner, working on a song. The song was called "Let the Little Girl Dance."

Billy showed Titus how he thought the song should be sung. He sang it with a guitarist and other musicians. A record producer named Henry Glover recorded this moment. It was later released as a single song.

"Let the Little Girl Dance" became a huge hit in the United States! It reached number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. This chart lists the most popular songs in the country. It also reached number 11 on the R&B chart.

Billy Bland had two more songs that were minor hits that year. They were "Harmony" and "You Were Born to Be Loved." He continued to record music until 1963. After that, he decided to leave the music business.

In the 1980s, Billy Bland opened a soul food restaurant. It was located in Harlem, a neighborhood in New York City.

Billy Bland passed away on March 22, 2017. He was 84 years old.