Billy Ray Deiz

About Billy Ray Deiz

BILLY RAY DEIZ…ARTIST BIO

Called the "Prince of Pop" Billy Ray has been singing and performing since his teens. Before the Michael Jackson era Billy was a founding member of the Seven Souls, one of L-A's stellar soul bands of the 60's and 70's and the launching pad for Bob Welch who went on to fame with Fleetwood Mac.

We are delighted to be here and thank you all for your support and for the great ranking we're getting for our songs and all the plays!

You can also sample our discography on our website here: link.
And also check us out on our YouTube channel here: link

So many of you are discovering our new covers of Angel from Montgomery and Bridge Over Troubled Water which are now available on Amazon Prime Music and iTunes as digital singles. A nice review and q and a from Skope Magazine here:
link

Meanwhile my Nashville-produced original, Workin' has caught the favor of many of you and it is for sale on our Freedom's Call EP on iTunes and Amazon. Please add it to your collection!

We're also starting a service for songwriters and performers: WikiTunes....head over to link and sample our page to promote YOU....for free! You supply one free download for your fans and key links and your story and we'll post it for you!

--More background on my 50 year career in the music business:

--In the summer of 1965 the Soul band that Bill Deiz helped form in his basement, The Harlequins, left Portland for Los Angeles. (Their guitar player, Bob Welch, would later find fame with Fleetwood Mac.)

--Shortly after their arrival, Bob arranged for an audition with songwriters Jay Livingston and Ray Evans while the band performed at a Los Angeles nightclub. (Among their many hits were Silver Bells, Que Sera Sera, and Tammy’s in Love).This led to the band recording demos of several new Livingston and Evans songs at Hollywood’s legendary Goldstar Studio. At this session was music publisher Larry Shayne who also shared an office with Henry Mancini in the Sunset and Vine Tower.

-Shayne immediately signed on as the band’s manager, and came up with a new name for the group: The Seven Souls. Shayne guided the band to a record contract with Loma Records, a subsidiary of Warner Brothers, and he signed Gerry Perrenchio as the band’s agent. Perrenchio also represented The Righteous Brothers.
--When Bobby Hatfield of The Righteous Brothers got married later that year his wedding reception was held at the Beverly Hills Hotel. The Seven Souls were chosen to play at this gala event, which included a who’s who of the music industry as guests, including Dick Clark of American Bandstand fame.

--Because of the Vietnam War drummer Ron Edge and Bill, who sang and played bass with the band, were drafted and forced to leave the band just as the group was about to tour Europe. A song that Deiz co-wrote with sax player Henry Moore, “I Still Love You” has become a Northern Soul classic, very popular in the UK… It was re-released recently by Sony on a compilation album.

--As a BMI songwriter, Deiz has written and published dozens of songs. In 2006, his song Rather Have Sooner was chosen as a finalist in the Chris Austin songwriter’s competition. Deiz performed it live at Merlefest, a popular music festival in North Carolina, where it was awarded #3 in the Nation in its category.

--In 2008 his Nashville-produced song Carolina Blue was chosen as a finalist in the UK Songwriting competition where it received one of the highest scores from the judges in the country/folk category.

--In 2013 Blue Pie Records released Anthology of Blues, Vol. 2 which is now for sale worldwide including on iTunes. The label chose “Daddy’s Comin’ Home” by Deiz as the lead single on this compilation album. The Nashville-recorded tune features George Marinelli of the Bonnie Raitt Band on lead guitar with a vocal by Deiz and backing vocals by Britt Savage.

--Deiz currently is writing and recording a musical, the story of Jesus as told by two teens, a brother and a sister, who become disciples during Jesus’ time on earth. The rock musical features several new songs recorded in Nashville which showcase some of the country’s best musicians.

Troubled by the hate filled rhetoric in today’s political scene and speaking truth to power, Deiz recorded Freedom’s Song--Look Out My Window, to warn of the dangers of this country’s drift towards dictatorship. Its message is clear, fueled by the soul-stirring arrangement featuring Hammond B-3 and Fender guitars and a horn part that makes you move. Our Freedom’s Call EP features some of my best tunes and showcases Freedom’s Song.