Billy Davis Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Billy Davis Jr.
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Davis Jr. in 1977
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| Background information | |
| Born | June 26, 1938 |
| Origin | St. Louis, Missouri, US |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, musician |
| Years active | 1950s–present |
| Labels | |
| Associated acts | The 5th Dimension |
Billy Davis Jr. (born June 26, 1938) is a famous American singer and musician. He is most known for being a member of the popular music group The 5th Dimension. He also had many hit songs with his wife, Marilyn McCoo. Some of their big hits in 1976 and 1977 included "I Hope We Get to Love in Time" and "You Don't Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show)".
Billy and Marilyn got married in 1969. They made history in 1977. They were the first African-American married couple to host their own TV show. It was called The Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr. Show on CBS. That same year, their song "You Don't Have to Be a Star" won a Grammy Award.
Early Life
Billy Davis Jr. was born in St. Louis, Missouri.
Music Career
Billy Davis Jr. joined a music group in 1966. At first, they were called The Versatiles. Soon, they changed their name to The 5th Dimension.
Their first big hit song was "Up, Up and Away" in 1967. This song was written by Jimmy Webb. It won four Grammy Awards in 1968. It was also the main song on their first successful album.
In 1969, The 5th Dimension had another huge hit. They sang a mix of songs called "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In". These songs were from the musical Hair. This medley reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. It also won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year. Later that year, their song "Wedding Bell Blues" also topped the US Hot 100 chart. Billy sang the main male parts on their singles "A Change Is Gonna Come/People Got to Be Free" and "I'll Be Lovin' You Forever".
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In 1975, Billy Davis Jr. and Marilyn McCoo left The 5th Dimension. They decided to perform as a singing duo. They signed a record deal with ABC Records. In 1976, they released their first album together, I Hope We Get to Love in Time. The main song from this album was a moderate hit.
Their next song, "You Don't Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show)", became a massive hit. It reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 in January 1977. Billy and Marilyn received a gold record for the single and the album. They also won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.
They released another album in 1978. It featured the song "My Reason to Be". The couple then signed with CBS Records. They released their last album as a duo for a while. In 2008, they released The Many Faces of Love. This album was a collection of hit songs from the 1960s and 1970s.
Their album Marilyn and Billy included the song "Saving All My Love for You". This song later became a number one hit for Whitney Houston. In the early 1980s, Billy and Marilyn decided to work on their own music careers for a bit.
In 1982, Billy recorded a gospel album called Let Me Have a Dream. He worked with Rev. James Cleveland on this project.
In 2020, Billy and Marilyn released a new album called Blackbird: Lennon-McCartney Icons. This was their first new album in 30 years. Entrepreneur Kathy Ireland released the album. The duo said the album was about civil rights and human rights. They hoped it would encourage people to come together during tough times. In 2021, Questlove called them "the first couple of Pop and Soul." They later appeared in Questlove's movie, Summer of Soul. This film won an Academy Award.
Theater, Television, and Film
Billy and Marilyn appeared on the TV show Captain and Tennille in the 1970s. They were also on "The Love Boat" in 1978.
Billy starred in the musical Blues in the Night. He also played James "Thunder" Early in the musical Dreamgirls. A reviewer said Billy made the character "endearing" and that he was a "pro" with a microphone.
In the 1990s, Billy and Marilyn appeared on the WB's Jamie Foxx Show. They played the wealthy parents of Jamie Foxx's girlfriend, Fancy. Billy has often appeared on TV talk shows and variety shows.
In 2021, Billy and Marilyn were in the documentary Summer of Soul. They talked about their part in the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival. Billy and Marilyn also played Brother William and Sister Harriet in "The Waltons: Homecoming" in 2021. They returned for "A Waltons Thanksgiving" in 2022 on The CW Network.
Images for kids
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Davis Jr. in 1977
