Billie Hughes
Encyclopedia
Billie Hughes was an Emmy-nominated, American
recording artist, songwriter
, musician
, and record producer
. He is best known for his songs with Philip Bailey
with Phil Collins
, The Jacksons, The Sisters Of Mercy
, Bette Midler
, Earth, Wind & Fire
, and Lazarus
, as well as songs from his solo albums. Billie Hughes had a successful artist career in Japan, awarded with #1 International Single of the Year, NHK Grand Prix Awards.
. In association with Peter Yarrow
of Peter, Paul & Mary, Lazarus
moved to Woodstock, N.Y., signing with the newly formed Bearsville Records
(Warner Bros.
) label, under the direction of Albert Grossman
. Two albums were recorded and released on Bearsville, produced by Peter Yarrow and Phil Ramone
. In the next four years, Lazarus
performed extensively throughout the United States and Canada. In 1976 Lazarus won the Clio Award for "Lifesavers" Best Commercial of the Year which ran nine years nationwide.
In 1974, The Lettermen covered the Billie Hughes song "Eastward", from the first Lazarus album. It was released as a single, reaching #16 on the Billboard US Adult Contemporary chart, and included on The Lettermen's Now And Forever album.
. His "Dreammaster" LP was produced by Henry Lewy in Los Angeles. During the next four years, Billie Hughes toured the United States, Canada and Japan performing as an artist and travelled to Japan, Canada and Italy to record and produce various projects including his own hit single "Martin Eden
" (CBS motion picture theme song) which charted Top 5 all over Europe.
based on the Jack London novel, directed by Giacomo Battiato.
Billie Hughes recorded "Martin Eden"and it was released as a single in Europe where it topped the Billboard charts in several territories, such as Sweden where it reached #2.
which set in motion a career of recording, producing, and songwriting for film, television, and records including works produced by such name producers as Phil Collins
, Arif Mardin
, Michael Omartian
, George Duke
and Reggie Lucas
and included such artists as Philip Bailey
, The Jacksons, Bette Midler
, The Sisters Of Mercy
, Randy Crawford
, Al Jarreau
, Melissa Manchester
, and the #1 charting Japanese duo Wink, among others.
In 1991, Billie Hughes' "Welcome To The Edge" appeared as a theme song in the hit Japanese TV drama "Mou Daremo Aisenai". Pony Canyon Records in Japan released Billie Hughes' CD "Welcome To The Edge," remaining in the Top 10 of the Billboard Japan chart for four months. "Welcome To The Edge" also received an Emmy nomination for Best Original Song in the television show "Santa Barbara". Billie Hughes received a second Emmy nomination for Best Original Song in the television show "Another World".
March 1992, Billie Hughes performed "Welcome To The Edge" at the NHK nationally televised Japanese Grand Prix Awards and received the award for "#1 International Single of the Year" (single sales reaching over 520,000 copies on the Pony Canyon label). MC Hammer performed "U Can't Touch This" at this show.
In September 2004, the first pop concert in history was staged on the Great Wall of China
outside of Beijing
with Alicia Keys
headlining. Billie Hughes and Roxanne Seeman
's song "Walking On The Chinese Wall" by Philip Bailey
produced by Phil Collins
was the finale of the event.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
recording artist, songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, and record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
. He is best known for his songs with Philip Bailey
Philip Bailey
Philip Irvin Bailey is an American R&B, soul, gospel and funk singer, songwriter, percussionist and actor, best known as one of the longtime members of Earth, Wind & Fire. Together with Verdine White, B. David Whitworth, and Ralph Johnson he forms the heart of the current EWF line-up on...
with Phil Collins
Phil Collins
Philip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist....
, The Jacksons, The Sisters Of Mercy
The Sisters of Mercy
The Sisters of Mercy are an English rock band that formed in 1980. After achieving early underground fame in UK, the band had their commercial breakthrough in mid-1980s and sustained it until the early 1990s, when they stopped releasing new recorded output in protest against their record company...
, Bette Midler
Bette Midler
Bette Midler is an American singer, actress, and comedian, also known by her informal stage name, The Divine Miss M. She became famous as a cabaret and concert headliner, and went on to star in successful and acclaimed films such as The Rose, Ruthless People, Beaches, and For The Boys...
, Earth, Wind & Fire
Earth, Wind & Fire
Earth, Wind & Fire is an American soul and R&B band formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1969 by Verdine and Maurice White. Also known as EWF, the band has won six Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards. They have been inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of...
, and Lazarus
Lazarus (band)
Lazarus was a 1970s American soft-rock band. The members of Lazarus were Billie Hughes, Gary Dye, and Carl Kessee. Billie Hughes was the leader of the band, as the lead singer and songwriter....
, as well as songs from his solo albums. Billie Hughes had a successful artist career in Japan, awarded with #1 International Single of the Year, NHK Grand Prix Awards.
Early Life and Career with Lazarus
Billie Hughes began his recording career as leader of the group LazarusLazarus (band)
Lazarus was a 1970s American soft-rock band. The members of Lazarus were Billie Hughes, Gary Dye, and Carl Kessee. Billie Hughes was the leader of the band, as the lead singer and songwriter....
. In association with Peter Yarrow
Peter Yarrow
Peter Yarrow is an American singer who found fame with the 1960s folk music trio Peter, Paul and Mary. Yarrow co-wrote one of the group's most famous songs, "Puff, the Magic Dragon"...
of Peter, Paul & Mary, Lazarus
Lazarus (band)
Lazarus was a 1970s American soft-rock band. The members of Lazarus were Billie Hughes, Gary Dye, and Carl Kessee. Billie Hughes was the leader of the band, as the lead singer and songwriter....
moved to Woodstock, N.Y., signing with the newly formed Bearsville Records
Bearsville Records
Bearsville Records was founded in 1970 by Albert Grossman. Artists included Todd Rundgren, Elizabeth Barraclough, Foghat, Halfnelson/Sparks, Bobby Charles, Randy VanWarmer, Paul Butterfield's Better Days, Lazarus, Jesse Winchester, and NRBQ. The label closed in 1984, two years before Grossman's...
(Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
) label, under the direction of Albert Grossman
Albert Grossman
Albert Bernard Grossman was an American entrepreneur and manager in the American folk music scene and rock and roll. He was most famous as the manager of Bob Dylan between 1962 and 1970.-Biography:...
. Two albums were recorded and released on Bearsville, produced by Peter Yarrow and Phil Ramone
Phil Ramone
Phil Ramone is a South-African violinist, composer, recording engineer, and record producer.-Biography:As a young child in South Africa, Ramone was a musical prodigy, beginning to play the violin at age three and performing for Queen Elizabeth II at age ten...
. In the next four years, Lazarus
Lazarus (band)
Lazarus was a 1970s American soft-rock band. The members of Lazarus were Billie Hughes, Gary Dye, and Carl Kessee. Billie Hughes was the leader of the band, as the lead singer and songwriter....
performed extensively throughout the United States and Canada. In 1976 Lazarus won the Clio Award for "Lifesavers" Best Commercial of the Year which ran nine years nationwide.
In 1974, The Lettermen covered the Billie Hughes song "Eastward", from the first Lazarus album. It was released as a single, reaching #16 on the Billboard US Adult Contemporary chart, and included on The Lettermen's Now And Forever album.
Solo career
Billie Hughes began his solo career in 1978 upon signing with Epic RecordsEpic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
. His "Dreammaster" LP was produced by Henry Lewy in Los Angeles. During the next four years, Billie Hughes toured the United States, Canada and Japan performing as an artist and travelled to Japan, Canada and Italy to record and produce various projects including his own hit single "Martin Eden
Martin Eden (song)
"Martin Eden" is a song written by American singer-songwriter Bill Hughes with Italian composers Ruggero Cini and Dario Farina. It was written from the composers theme from the 1979 TV mini-series Martin Eden based on the Jack London novel Martin Eden, directed by Giacomo Battiato.The song was...
" (CBS motion picture theme song) which charted Top 5 all over Europe.
Martin Eden
Bill Hughes wrote the song "Martin Eden" with Italian composers Ruggero Cini and Dario Farina. It was written from the composer's theme from the 1979 TV mini-series Martin EdenMartin Eden
Martin Eden is a novel by American author Jack London, about a proletarian young autodidact struggling to become a writer. It was first serialized in the Pacific Monthly magazine from September 1908 to September 1909, and subsequently published in book form by Macmillan in September 1909.This book...
based on the Jack London novel, directed by Giacomo Battiato.
Billie Hughes recorded "Martin Eden"and it was released as a single in Europe where it topped the Billboard charts in several territories, such as Sweden where it reached #2.
Working with Roxanne Seeman
In 1983 Hughes formed a partnership with lyricist Roxanne SeemanRoxanne Seeman
Roxanne Seeman is an American songwriter born in New York City. She is best known for her songs with Billie Hughes, Philip Bailey with Phil Collins, The Jacksons, The Sisters of Mercy, Bette Midler, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Jacky Cheung....
which set in motion a career of recording, producing, and songwriting for film, television, and records including works produced by such name producers as Phil Collins
Phil Collins
Philip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist....
, Arif Mardin
Arif Mardin
Arif Mardin was a Turkish-American music producer, who worked with hundreds of artists across many different styles of music, including jazz, rock, soul, disco, and country...
, Michael Omartian
Michael Omartian
Michael Omartian is an Armenian-American singer-songwriter, keyboardist, and music producer. He has been a participant in over 350,000,000 albums and CD’s sold worldwide, as a producer, arranger, artist or musician, during a career that has spanned over 38 years...
, George Duke
George Duke
George Duke is a multi-faceted American musician, known as a keyboard pioneer, composer, singer and producer in both jazz and popular mainstream musical genres. He has worked with numerous acclaimed artists as arranger, music director, writer and co-writer, record producer and professor of music...
and Reggie Lucas
Reggie Lucas
Reginald "Reggie" Lucas is an American musician, songwriter and record producer. Lucas is most famous for his production work with percussionist Mtume and for producing the majority of Madonna's 1983 self-titled debut album.-Biography:...
and included such artists as Philip Bailey
Philip Bailey
Philip Irvin Bailey is an American R&B, soul, gospel and funk singer, songwriter, percussionist and actor, best known as one of the longtime members of Earth, Wind & Fire. Together with Verdine White, B. David Whitworth, and Ralph Johnson he forms the heart of the current EWF line-up on...
, The Jacksons, Bette Midler
Bette Midler
Bette Midler is an American singer, actress, and comedian, also known by her informal stage name, The Divine Miss M. She became famous as a cabaret and concert headliner, and went on to star in successful and acclaimed films such as The Rose, Ruthless People, Beaches, and For The Boys...
, The Sisters Of Mercy
The Sisters of Mercy
The Sisters of Mercy are an English rock band that formed in 1980. After achieving early underground fame in UK, the band had their commercial breakthrough in mid-1980s and sustained it until the early 1990s, when they stopped releasing new recorded output in protest against their record company...
, Randy Crawford
Randy Crawford
Randy Crawford is an American jazz and R&B singer. She has been more successful in Europe than in the United States, where she has not entered the Billboard Hot 100 as a solo artist...
, Al Jarreau
Al Jarreau
Alwin "Al" Lopez Jarreau is a seven-time Grammy Award winning jazz singer.- Background :Jarreau was born in Milwaukee, the fifth of six children. His web site refers to Reservoir, Inc., the name of the street where he lived. His father was a Seventh-Day Adventist Church minister and singer, and...
, Melissa Manchester
Melissa Manchester
Melissa Manchester is an American singer-songwriter and actress. Beginning in the 1970s, she has recorded generally in the adult contemporary genre. She has also appeared as an actress on television, in films, and on stage....
, and the #1 charting Japanese duo Wink, among others.
In 1991, Billie Hughes' "Welcome To The Edge" appeared as a theme song in the hit Japanese TV drama "Mou Daremo Aisenai". Pony Canyon Records in Japan released Billie Hughes' CD "Welcome To The Edge," remaining in the Top 10 of the Billboard Japan chart for four months. "Welcome To The Edge" also received an Emmy nomination for Best Original Song in the television show "Santa Barbara". Billie Hughes received a second Emmy nomination for Best Original Song in the television show "Another World".
March 1992, Billie Hughes performed "Welcome To The Edge" at the NHK nationally televised Japanese Grand Prix Awards and received the award for "#1 International Single of the Year" (single sales reaching over 520,000 copies on the Pony Canyon label). MC Hammer performed "U Can't Touch This" at this show.
In September 2004, the first pop concert in history was staged on the Great Wall of China
Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China is a series of stone and earthen fortifications in northern China, built originally to protect the northern borders of the Chinese Empire against intrusions by various nomadic groups...
outside of Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
with Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys
Alicia Augello Cook , better known by her stage name Alicia Keys, is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and occasional actress. She was raised by a single mother in the Hell's Kitchen area of Manhattan in New York City. At age seven, Keys began playing the piano...
headlining. Billie Hughes and Roxanne Seeman
Roxanne Seeman
Roxanne Seeman is an American songwriter born in New York City. She is best known for her songs with Billie Hughes, Philip Bailey with Phil Collins, The Jacksons, The Sisters of Mercy, Bette Midler, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Jacky Cheung....
's song "Walking On The Chinese Wall" by Philip Bailey
Philip Bailey
Philip Irvin Bailey is an American R&B, soul, gospel and funk singer, songwriter, percussionist and actor, best known as one of the longtime members of Earth, Wind & Fire. Together with Verdine White, B. David Whitworth, and Ralph Johnson he forms the heart of the current EWF line-up on...
produced by Phil Collins
Phil Collins
Philip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist....
was the finale of the event.