| Billy Squier | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | William Haislip Squier |
| Born | May 12, 1950 Wellesley, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Genre(s) | Rock, hard rock |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, Songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, guitar, keyboards |
| Years active | 1968-1993 |
| Label(s) | Capitol |
| Associated acts | The Sidewinders, Piper, Magic Terry and the Universe |
| Website | http://www.billysquier.com |
William Haislip 'Billy' Squier (born May 12, 1950, in Wellesley, Massachusetts, USA) is a rock musician. Events 1191 - Richard I of England marries Berengaria of Navarre. Year 1950 ( MCML) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Wellesley is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts ( is a state located in the New England region of the northeastern United States. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other Rock music is a genre of Popular music often though not necessarily employing Electric guitar, Bass guitar, and Drums. Hard rock (also referred to as heavy rock) is a variation of Rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage and Psychedelic rock A musician is a person who plays or writes Music. Musicians can be classified by their roles in creating or performing music An instrumentalist plays a A songwriter is someone who writes the Lyrics to songs the Musical composition (chords or Melody to songs or both A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified for the purpose of making Music. The guitar is a Musical instrument with ancient roots that is used in a wide variety of musical styles A keyboard instrument is any musical instrument played using a Musical keyboard. In the Music industry, a record label can be a Brand and a Trademark associated with the Marketing of music recordings and Music Capitol Records is a major United States -based Record label owned by EMI and located in Hollywood California and New York City as Events 1191 - Richard I of England marries Berengaria of Navarre. Year 1950 ( MCML) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Wellesley is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts ( is a state located in the New England region of the northeastern United States. Rock music is a genre of Popular music often though not necessarily employing Electric guitar, Bass guitar, and Drums. A musician is a person who plays or writes Music. Musicians can be classified by their roles in creating or performing music An instrumentalist plays a Squier had a string of arena rock hits in the 1980s. The 1980s was the decade spanning from January 1 1980 to December 31 1989. He is probably best known for the song "The Stroke" on his 1981 album release Don't Say No. Year 1981 ( MCMLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Don't Say No was the second album by Billy Squier, released in 1981 Other hits include "In The Dark", "Rock Me Tonite", "Lonely Is the Night", "My Kinda Lover", "Everybody Wants You", "All Night Long" and "Emotions in Motion".
Contents |
Biography
Early life
William Squier was born in Wellesley, Massachusetts and was raised there. Wellesley is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. When he was nine years old in 1959, he started taking piano lessons which were being payed for by his grandfather and took lessons for two years. When he was twelve he became interested at playing the guitar and bought a guitar from his friend for 90 dollars. Squier performed with a band in high school and shortly after his graduation in 1968, he got his first gig at the Psychedelic Supermarket where he saw Eric Clapton perform. Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE (born 30 March 1945 is an English Blues-rock Guitarist, singer Songwriter and Composer
Career
Billy Squier originally performed with Magic Terry & The Universe, which also included Klaus Flouride, who went on to play with The Dead Kennedys. Geoffrey Lyall (born in 1949 in Detroit, Michigan) better known as Klaus Flouride, is best known as the Bassist for the San Francisco Dead Kennedys was an American Hardcore punk band from San Francisco, California. He then performed with The Sidewinders, a band that premiered during the early 1970s. A musical ensemble is a group of two or more Musicians who perform instrumental or vocal Music. This article is about the Decade 1970-1979 For the Year 1970 see 1970. He played with members including Mike Reed, Alex Phillips, Henry Stern, and Bryan Chase. Squier left the group to form the band Piper, which released a couple of albums in the mid '70s, Piper and Can't Wait, but broke off soon after. An album or record album is a collection of related audio or Music tracks distributed to the public Bruce Kulick of KISS fame played with him during this period also. Upon reviewing the debut Piper, Circus magazine touted it as the greatest debut album ever produced by an American rock band. Circus was a monthly American Magazine devoted to Rock music. Piper was managed by the same management company as Kiss, and opened for Kiss for some of their most memorable performances during their 1977 tour, including a three-night, sold-out run at New York's Madison Square Garden.
Squier signed with Capitol Records to release his solo debut in 1980. Capitol Records is a major United States -based Record label owned by EMI and located in Hollywood California and New York City as Events January January 1 - The year starts off with a strong Disco backlash which causes the majority of musicians to abandon the use of real instruments Tale of the Tape was a minor hit, partly because Squier played a mixture of pop and rock, which earned him a large crossover audience. Tale of the Tape is a rock album by Billy Squier that was released in 1980 Pop music as a genre features a noticeable rhythmic element catchy melodies and hooks, a mainstream style and conventional structure The song "You Should Be High Love" received a fair amount of play on album rock stations, but no single cracked the pop charts. Years later, the song "The Big Beat" was sampled in rap songs.
Early 80s peak
Squier asked Brian May to produce his album Don't Say No. Brian Harold May, CBE Don't Say No was the second album by Billy Squier, released in 1981 Unfortunately, May had to decline due to scheduling conflicts, but he recommended instead Reinhold Mack who had produced one of Queen's most successful albums ever, The Game. Reinhold Mack (aka Mack) is a German Record producer and Sound engineer, mostly known for his collaborations Queen were an English rock band formed in 1970 in London by guitarist Squier agreed, and Mack went on to produce Don't Say No. Don't Say No was the second album by Billy Squier, released in 1981 The album became a smash, with the lead single "The Stroke" becoming a hit all around the world, hitting the Top 20 in the US and even topping the singles chart in Australia. "In The Dark" and "My Kinda Lover" were successful follow-up singles. Squier was a monster act on Album Rock radio with every track on the album receiving airplay. Don't Say No reached the Top 5 and lasted well over two years on Billboard's album chart, selling nearly 4 million copies in the US. Don't Say No was the second album by Billy Squier, released in 1981 What truly distinguished the album was the amazing longevity of the tracks, many of which still receive recognition on "classic rock" radio stations.
Billy Squier's third album for Capitol, Emotions In Motion, was released in 1982 and became nearly as successful as Don't Say No. Emotions in Motion is a rock album by Billy Squier that was released in 1982 Don't Say No was the second album by Billy Squier, released in 1981 This album also climbed into Billboard's Top 5 and sold nearly 3 million US copies. The lead single was the album's title track but the major hit was "Everybody Wants You" which hit #1 on Billboard's Album Rock Tracks chart and #32 on the Hot 100. Squier was also popular on MTV. MTV ( Music Television) is an American Cable television network based in New York City. That same year, he recorded a song for the movie Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Fast Times at Ridgemont High is a 1982 American coming-of-age teen - Comedy film written by Cameron Crowe (adapted
"Rock Me Tonite" video and fall
Two years passed between Emotions In Motion and Squier's next album Signs Of Life. Emotions in Motion is a rock album by Billy Squier that was released in 1982 Signs Of Life is a rock album by Billy Squier that was released in 1984 It was his third consecutive Platinum album. The album's first single release, "Rock Me Tonite" was Billy's biggest pop hit. It reached #15 on Billboard's Hot 100 - as well as #1 on the Album Rock Tracks chart - in late 1984. See also Events January 21 - " Relax " by Frankie Goes to Hollywood reaches number one in the UK singles chart it However, the video for the track, which largely consisted on Billy dancing around a bedroom in a pink tank top, frequently appears on "worst music video ever" lists.
Billy Squier's career took a major downturn afterward. His next two albums, released in 1986 and 1989, sold in the neighborhood of 300,000 copies each. See also Musical groups established in 1986 Record labels established in 1986 Events January This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1989 Billy also began playing smaller venues like music theatres. The 1990s would find Squier largely off the radar and recording and performing considerably less. The 1990s collectively refers to the years between and including 1990 and 1999
Squier is also known for his collaborations with Freddie Mercury on Squier's 1986 release Enough Is Enough ("Love Is The Hero", "Lady With A Tenor Sax"). Freddie Mercury (born Farrokh Bulsara; 5 September 1946 – 24 November 1991 was a Zanzibar -born British Musician, best known as the lead See also Musical groups established in 1986 Record labels established in 1986 Events January Enough Is Enough is a rock album by Billy Squier that was released in 1986 Mercury also sang background vocals on Squier's hit single "Emotions in Motion".
In 1983, Squier did his first headlining arena U. Major releases Michael Jackson's Thriller, the highest-selling album of all time as well as the best-selling album of 1983 and 1984 was released S. tour with Def Leppard as opening act and Def Leppard upstaged him. Squier confirmed this on the VH1 show Ultimate Albums on the episode which spotlighted the making of Def Leppard's Pyromania album. VH1 (known as VH-1 Video Hits One from 1985 to 1994 and VH1 Music First until 2003) is an American Cable television Pyromania is an impulse to deliberately start fires to relieve tension and typically includes gratification or relief afterward
On that same show, Squier revealed that his career as a chart-topping rocker came to a stunningly rapid and sudden end with the release of the music video for "Rock Me Tonite", derided by his fans who saw him as a guitar hero. The video showed Squier in a bedroom with soft, pastel fabrics and shimmering satin sheets, and featured Squier ripping off his clothing, reminiscent of Jennifer Beals' performance in the film Flashdance. Jennifer Beals (born December 19, 1963) is an American Film actress and former teen model. Flashdance is a musical / Romance film released in April 1983 and was one of the most successful films of the early 1980s
Later years
Nevertheless, Squier continued to record music throughout the '80s and '90s. He released Hear And Now in 1989, which featured the singles "Don't Say You Love Me" (which peaked at #4 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart) and "Tied Up". Year 1989 ( MCMLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar) See Billboard (Turkish magazine Billboard is a weekly American Magazine devoted to the Music industry
In 1991, Billy Squier released Creatures Of Habit, which yielded only one single, "She Goes Down," which also peaked at #4 on the Mainstream Rock chart. Year 1991 ( MCMXCI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar. The title of the track refers to oral sex, and the music video is a very rare item, mainly because it features nude females and sexual metaphors throughout. Oral sex refers to sexual activities involving the use of the Mouth, and may include use of the Tongue, Teeth, and Throat, in order A music video is a Short film or video that accompanies a complete piece of music most commonly a Song with lyrics
Squier released his final album with Capitol Records in 1993, Tell the Truth, which featured different sets of musicians performing the various tracks. Capitol Records is a major United States -based Record label owned by EMI and located in Hollywood California and New York City as Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) Squier called it his finest album since Don't Say No, yet Capitol did little to promote the album, and Squier walked away from the music business to pursue other endeavors. Don't Say No was the second album by Billy Squier, released in 1981
In 1998, Squier released his last studio album to date on an independent label, a solo acoustic blues effort entitled Happy Blue. Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) He embarked on a mini-tour to showcase songs from the album, which included a stripped-down acoustic version of his classic rock mega-hit, "The Stroke. Classic rock was originally conceived as a Radio station programming format which evolved from the Album oriented rock (AOR format in the early-1980s "
Recent activity and influence
Squier played a special acoustic show at BB King's in NYC on November 30, 2005. Highlights of the show were acoustic versions of "Everybody Wants You", "Nobody Knows", "Learn How to Live", "The Stroke", "Christmas is the Time to Say I Love You", and most of the 1998 Happy Blue CD. VH1 Classic and New York hard rock radio icon Eddie Trunk introduced Squier that night as "one of the great singer/songwriters in the history of rock. VH1 Classic is an American Television network started on May 8, 2000. Eddie Trunk is the host of the nationally syndicated radio show "Eddie Trunk Rocks "
Squier now lives in New York's Upper West Side. Sampling of "The Big Beat" continues. The late Jam Master Jay's reference to the song as a classic beat in the early days of hip hop has paid great dividends for Squier. Jason William Mizell ( January 21 1965 &ndash October 30 2002) also known as Jam-Master Jay and Jay Gambulos, was Jay Z's "99 Problems," a massive hit in 2004, is based on that beat, as well as British grime/hip-hop MC Dizzee Rascal's "Fix Up, Look Sharp". Shawn Corey Carter (born December 4 1969 better known as Jay-Z, is an American Rapper and former CEO of Def Jam Recordings and Roc-A-Fella Dylan Mills (born 1985 in Bow, East London) known professionally as Dizzee Rascal, is a British Rapper, Record producer and
Squier's hobbies include such disparate activities as mountain climbing and gardening. He also has written an award-winning screenplay (Sundance Film Festival).
In 2006, Squier joined Rod Argent, Richard Marx, Edgar Winter, and Sheila E touring with Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band. Rod Argent (born Rodney Terence Argent, 14 June 1945, St Albans, Hertfordshire, England) was a founding member of Richard Noel Marx (born September 16, 1963 in Chicago Illinois) is an Adult contemporary and Pop/rock Singer, Songwriter Edgar Holland Winter (born December 28, 1946 in Beaumont Texas) is an American musician who had significant success in the 1970s and 1980s Sheila Escovedo (born December 12 1957, in Oakland California) known by her Stage name Sheila E Ringo Starr, MBE (born Richard Starkey on 7 July 1940 is an English Musician, Singer, Songwriter and Actor
"The Stroke" can be heard in the films Blades of Glory and Billy Madison. Blades of Glory is a 2007 American Comedy film directed by Josh Gordon and Will Speck, and starring Will Ferrell and Billy Madison is a 1995 Comedy film starring Adam Sandler in the title role about a slacker who must go back to school in order to take
RZA referenced Billy on Masta Killa's "Iron God Chamber. Robert F Diggs (born July 5, 1969) better known as RZA (pronounced) is an American Music producer, Rapper, and occasional Elgin Turner (born August 18, 1969) better known as Masta Killa, is an American rapper and member of the Wu-Tang Clan " On the 2006 song, RZA said: "I got a 'big'ger 'beat' than Billy Squier" at about 1:22. Robert F Diggs (born July 5, 1969) better known as RZA (pronounced) is an American Music producer, Rapper, and occasional The song appeared on Masta Killa's Made In Brooklyn. Elgin Turner (born August 18, 1969) better known as Masta Killa, is an American rapper and member of the Wu-Tang Clan Made in Brooklyn is the second album from Wu-Tang Clan member Masta Killa, released on August 8 2006 through Nature Sounds Records
Hard rock band Buckcherry cover "The Stroke" frequently in live concerts, while Damone have recorded a version of "Everybody Wants You" for the CW Network. Hard rock (also referred to as heavy rock) is a variation of Rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage and Psychedelic rock Buckcherry is a Grammy -nominated Los Angeles California Hard rock band formed in 1995. Damone is an American Glam metal / Hard rock band with distinct elements from Power pop in their sound The CW Television Network ( The CW) is a Television network in the United States launched at the beginning of the 2006-2007 television season.
Squier's "The Big Beat" was sampled by Kanye West on the track "Addiction" in his 2005 album, Late Registration. Kanye Omari West (ˈkɑnjɛj born June 8 1977 is a ten-time Grammy Award -winning American Rapper, Record producer and Singer. Late Registration is the critically acclaimed second studio album by Chicago hip hop artist Kanye West.
The drum track from "The Stroke" can be heard throughout the song "Opticon" by Orgy.
"Lonely Is the Night" is one of the tracks on the Activision game Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s. Orgy is a electronic/synth/rock band from Los Angeles, California. Activision Inc is an American Video game developer and publisher. Guitar Hero Encore Rocks the 80s (titled Guitar Hero Rocks the 80s in Europe is a Music video game and the third installment in the popular
Discography
- Tale of the Tape (1980) #169 US
- Don't Say No (1981) #5 US
- Emotions in Motion (1982) #5 US
- Signs of Life (1984) #11 US
- Enough Is Enough (1986) #61 US
- Hear & Now (1989) #64 US
- Creatures of Habit (1991) #117 US
- Tell the Truth (1993)
- A Rock and Roll Christmas (Various Artists Compilation) (1994)
- 16 Strokes: The Best Of Billy Squier (1995)
- King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents Billy Squier (1996)
- Reach For The Sky: The Anthology (1996)
- Happy Blue (1998)
- Absolute Hits (2005)
Singles
| Year | Song | US Hot 100 | US MSR | UK singles | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | "The Stroke" | 17 | 3 | 52 | Don't Say No |
| 1981 | "In The Dark" | 35 | 7 | - | Don't Say No |
| 1981 | "Lonely Is The Night" | - | 28 | - | Don't Say No |
| 1982 | "My Kinda Lover" | 45 | 31 | - | Don't Say No |
| 1982 | "Everybody Wants You" | 32 | 1 | - | Emotions In Motion |
| 1982 | "Emotions In Motion" | 68 | 20 | - | Emotions In Motion |
| 1982 | "Learn How To Live" | - | 15 | - | Emotions In Motion |
| 1982 | "Keep Me Satisfied" | - | 46 | - | Emotions In Motion |
| 1983 | "She's A Runner" | 75 | 44 | - | Emotions In Motion |
| 1984 | "Rock Me Tonite" | 15 | 1 | - | Signs Of Life |
| 1984 | "All Night Long" | 75 | 10 | - | Signs Of Life |
| 1984 | "Eye On You" | 71 | 29 | - | Signs Of Life |
| 1986 | "Love Is The Hero" | 80 | 17 | - | Enough Is Enough |
| 1986 | "Shot O' Love" | - | 30 | - | Enough Is Enough |
| 1989 | "Don't Say You Love Me" | 58 | 4 | - | Hear And Now |
| 1989 | "Tied Up" | - | 20 | - | Hear And Now |
| 1989 | "Don't Let Me Go" | - | 38 | - | Hear And Now |
| 1991 | "She Goes Down" | - | 4 | - | Creatures Of Habit |
| 1991 | "Facts Of Life" | - | 37 | - | Creatures Of Habit |
| 1993 | "Angry" | - | 15 | - | Tell The Truth |
External links
Tale of the Tape is a rock album by Billy Squier that was released in 1980 Events January January 1 - The year starts off with a strong Disco backlash which causes the majority of musicians to abandon the use of real instruments Don't Say No was the second album by Billy Squier, released in 1981 See also Musical groups established in 1981 Record labels established in 1981 List of 'years in music' Emotions in Motion is a rock album by Billy Squier that was released in 1982 See also 1982 in music (UK Musical groups established in 1982 Record labels established in 1982 Signs Of Life is a rock album by Billy Squier that was released in 1984 See also Events January 21 - " Relax " by Frankie Goes to Hollywood reaches number one in the UK singles chart it Enough Is Enough is a rock album by Billy Squier that was released in 1986 See also Musical groups established in 1986 Record labels established in 1986 Events January This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1989 See also 1991 in music (UK Musical groups established in 1991 Record labels This is a summary of significant events in music in 1993. Events January A Rock and Roll Christmas is a rock album collected by Billy Squier that was released in 1994 This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1994. See also 1995 in music (UK Musical groups established in 1995 Record This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1996. This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1998 Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks (originally called Mainstream Rock Tracks) is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on Mainstream rock The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official UK Charts Company (OCC on behalf of the British record industry See also Musical groups established in 1981 Record labels established in 1981 List of 'years in music' See also Musical groups established in 1981 Record labels established in 1981 List of 'years in music' See also Musical groups established in 1981 Record labels established in 1981 List of 'years in music' See also 1982 in music (UK Musical groups established in 1982 Record labels established in 1982 See also 1982 in music (UK Musical groups established in 1982 Record labels established in 1982 See also 1982 in music (UK Musical groups established in 1982 Record labels established in 1982 See also 1982 in music (UK Musical groups established in 1982 Record labels established in 1982 See also 1982 in music (UK Musical groups established in 1982 Record labels established in 1982 Major releases Michael Jackson's Thriller, the highest-selling album of all time as well as the best-selling album of 1983 and 1984 was released See also Events January 21 - " Relax " by Frankie Goes to Hollywood reaches number one in the UK singles chart it See also Events January 21 - " Relax " by Frankie Goes to Hollywood reaches number one in the UK singles chart it See also Events January 21 - " Relax " by Frankie Goes to Hollywood reaches number one in the UK singles chart it See also Musical groups established in 1986 Record labels established in 1986 Events January See also Musical groups established in 1986 Record labels established in 1986 Events January This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1989 This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1989 This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1989 See also 1991 in music (UK Musical groups established in 1991 Record labels See also 1991 in music (UK Musical groups established in 1991 Record labels This is a summary of significant events in music in 1993. Events JanuaryDapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic