From:   "Dik de Heer" 
Date:  Sat Apr 5, 2003  1:00 am
Subject:  Born To Be With You : Billy Bland
 
BILLY BLAND (By Shaun Mather)

Born 5 April 1932, Wilmington, North Carolina

Best known for his number 7 pop hit in 1960, Let the Little Girl Dance,
Billy Bland actually cut over a dozen singles for the New York label,
Old Town. Despite a wide range of styles, none of these ever achieved 
the success he'd tantalisingly tasted just once.

He made his first records for the Imperial label in New Orleans in the
mid-'50s, as a member of the Bees, including Toy Bell, an early version
of Dave Bartholomew's My Ding-a-Ling. He left the Bees in 1955, and 
signed for Old Town. After three unsuccessful singles he was in the 
studio (with Mickey Baker on guitar) showing Titus Turner how to do
Let The little Girl Dance. Unknown to Bland though, Henry Glover
recorded his demonstration version and the rest was history.

Follow-up attempts were made in styles ranging from Jackie Wilson to
Bo Diddley and doo-wop to New Orleans r&b, but none were successful. 
He finished with Old Town in 1963 and was last heard of running a soul
food restaurant in Harlem. Perhaps the Doch or Bill can pop over and 
check this out!

Recommended listening:
Let the Little Girl Dance - Ace 370

Old Town discography:
Old Town 1016 - Chicken In The Basket / The Fat Man - 1956
Old Town 1022 - Chicken Hop / Oh You For Me - 1956
Old Town 1035 - If I Could Be Your Man / I Had A Dream - 1957
Tip Top 708 - Chicken In The Basket / Chicken Hop - 1958
Old Town 1076 - Let The Little Girl Dance / Sweet Thing - 1960
Old Town 1082 - You Were Born To Be Loved / Pardon Me - 1960
Old Town 1088 - Make Believe Lover / Harmonys - 1960
Old Town 1093 - Everything That Shines Ain't Gold / Keep Talkin' That Sweet
Talk - 1960
Old Town 1098 - I Cross My Heart / Steady Kind - 1961
Old Town 1105 - My Heart's On Fire* / Can't Stop Her From Dancing - 1961
*Written By Billy Bland.
Old Town 1109 - Do The Bug With Me / Uncle Bud - 1961
Old Town 1114 - All I Want To Do Is Cry / Busy Little Boy - 1962
Old Town 1124 - Mama Stole The Chicken / I Spent My Life Loving You - 1962
Old Town 1128 - Darling Won't You Think Of Me / How Many Hearts - 1962
Old Town 1143 - Doing The Mule / Farmer In The Dell - 1963
Old Town 1151 - A Little Touch Of Your Love / Little Boy Blue - 1963