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Billie Myers

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Billie Myers
Born (1971-06-14) 14 June 1971 (age 53)
Coventry, West Midlands, England
GenresRock, pop, pop rock
OccupationSinger-songwriter
InstrumentVocals
Years active1997–present
LabelsUniversal, Fruitloop
Websitewww.billiemyers.com

Billie Myers (born 14 June 1971 in Coventry, West Midlands, England)[1] is an English rock singer-songwriter. She is known principally for her 1998 transatlantic, Desmond Child penned hit, "Kiss the Rain".

Biography

Myers was born in Britain to a British mother, and Jamaican father. Before commencing her career in music, Myers was a nurse and insurance agent. She was discovered in a club by the record producer Peter Harris. Soon after their first meeting, Myers began writing material for her debut album, Growing, Pains (1997). The album was produced by Desmond Child. The first single from the album, "Kiss the Rain", became a Top 20 hit.

Myers was signed to a recording contract with Universal Records in 1997. Singles from Growing, Pains have appeared on television commercials and in the TV series, Dawson's Creek. Growing, Pains achieved gold record status in 1997, and Myers' follow-up album, Vertigo, was issued in 2000.

Her vocal style is a combination of pop, jazz and world music.

She has spoken about her bisexuality and the difficulties "not being gay enough" has caused her in the past.[2]

On 11 October 2009, Myers sang "America the Beautiful" before a crowd of LGBT people and their allies at the National Equality March in Washington, D.C. In introducing the song, she criticised president Barack Obama for failing to mention marriage equality and the battle to ban same-sex marriage in Maine during his speech the previous night at a Human Rights Campaign dinner.

Myers has also spoken out numerous times publicly about living with depression. As well as being an ambassador for the Jed Foundation,[3] Billie gave her support to the Mindfull initiative that aims to support young people dealing with mental health issues.[4]

Growing, Pains (1997)

Myers's debut album, Growing, Pains, was released in the United States on 18 November 1997. It achieved gold status, thanks in large part to the success of its first single.[5] Myers wrote or co-wrote all songs featured on the record, and although she had not written songs prior to creating Growing, Pains, she had regularly written in journals and diaries for years beforehand, which facilitated the songwriting process.[6]

Her first single, "Kiss the Rain" entered the UK Singles Chart and eventually reached number 4.[7] In the United States, "Kiss the Rain" reached number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent 31 weeks on the chart.[8] The American television series Dawson's Creek (episode #2-02, titled "Crossroads") featured "Kiss the Rain", and it was also used in promotions for Archer Daniels Midland, which were most often seen on both Sunday morning talk shows and ADM's underwriting spot for The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer.

The dance remix of "Kiss the Rain" was the first number 1 for both Myers and the remix team, Thunderpuss.

A remix, featuring clips from the Kevin Smith film Chasing Amy, was produced by Pablo, then a DJ at WABB-FM in Mobile, Alabama.

The follow-up single, "Tell Me", reached number 25 on the Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks chart.[9] Myers admitted that once "Kiss the Rain" had retreated from charting position, she felt disappointed because "Tell Me" did not match the success of her first single.[10]

After the release of Growing, Pains and before her second album, Myers scored the title track for the Freddie Prinze, Jr. film Down to You.[11]

Vertigo (2000)

In June 2000, Myers released her second record, Vertigo, which featured the single "Am I Here Yet? (Return to Sender)". The dance remix of "Am I Here Yet?" by DJ Junior Vasquez reached number 1 on the dance charts. "Should I Call You Jesus?" was the album's second single and invited controversy because of Myers's frank, honest questions about religion. Myers was satisfied with her second record because she was more assertive in the production process and more direct lyrically.[citation needed] Billboard called Vertigo's collection of songs "a fearless set that intertwines deft pop hooks, wickedly honest lyrics, and vibrant rhythms". Background Vocals were sung by Elisa Fiorillo and Wendy Wright.

"Just Sex" (2005)

In November 2005, Myers released a single, "Just Sex", with Artemis Records' Star Struck compilation album. One year later, Myers was named the closing act for Los Angeles Gay Pride 2006 and a featured act for New York City Pride 2006. She also appeared at the Chicago North Halsted Market Days 25th Anniversary Festival. The remix of "Just Sex" reached number 8 on the Billboard Dance Chart.

Tea and Sympathy (2013)

Following a soft release to fans in 2009, Billie Myers officially released her third album Tea and Sympathy in March 2013. Myers discussed the album at length in an electronic press kit video which featured on the official Billie Myers website.[12]

Discography

Studio albums

Singles

Year Single Peak positions Album
UK Singles Chart[13] US Billboard Hot 100 US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play US Billboard Adult Contemporary US Billboard Adult Top 40 US Billboard Top 40 Adult Recurrents US Billboard Top 40 Mainstream
1997 "Kiss the Rain" 4 15 – 28 6 1 7 Growing, Pains
1998 "Tell Me" 28 – – – 25 – 34
1999 "You Send Me Flying" – – – – – – –
"It All Comes Down to You" – – – – – – – Down to You soundtrack
2000 "Am I Here Yet? (Return to Sender)" – – – – – – – Vertigo
"Should I Call You Jesus?" – – – – – – –
2005 "Just Sex" – – 8 – – – – non-album song
2010 "Wonderful" – – 11 – – – – Tea & Sympathy

Videos

Kiss The Rain (2) / 1997

Tell Me / 1998

You Send Me Flying / 1999

It All Comes Down To You / 1999

Am I Here Yet (Return To Sender) / 2000

I Hope Your Happy Now / 2009

Wonderful / 2010

References

  1. ^ Mrazik, Tina. "Billie Myers biography". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
  2. ^ Ross von Metzke (8 September 2009). "Tea & Sympathy with Billie Myers". Advocate.com. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  3. ^ "Billie Myers". Epiphany Channel. 21 November 2013. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  4. ^ "Billie Myers speaks to So So Gay". Sosogay.co.uk. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  5. ^ "Billie Myers". Amazon.com. 14 June 1971. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  6. ^ Newman, K. (3 July 1998). Tell Me. ABC News. Retrieved 16 June 2009, from LexisNexis database.
  7. ^ Top 20 UK Singles Chart. (6 April 1998) The Mirror, p. 17. Retrieved 15 June 2009, from LexisNexis database.
  8. ^ Desmond's Top 30 Billboard Hot 100 Hits. (27 November 1999). Billboard. Retrieved 15 June 2009, from LexisNexis database.
  9. ^ Charts; Adult Top 40. (8 August 1998). Billboard. Retrieved 15 June 2009, from LexisNexis database.
  10. ^ Taylor, C. (17 June 2000). A More Confident Billie Myers Returns with Second Universal Album, 'Vertigo.' Billboard. Retrieved 15 June 2009, from LexisNexis database.
  11. ^ "Billie Myers". Myspace.com. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  12. ^ "Billie Myers Talks About New Album "Tea and Sympathy"". Billiemyers.com. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  13. ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 385. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
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