Billy Swan (born Billy Lance Swan, May 12, 1942, Cape Girardeau, Missouri) is an American songwriter and singer, best known for his 1974 single, "I Can Help".
Swan's role in the music industry was, originally, largely invisible. He learned drums, piano, and guitar and also began writing songs. "Lover Please," a song he wrote at the age of 16, was recorded by a local group he played with called Mirt Mirly & the Rhythm Stoppers. Later, when Swan's ...
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Billy Swan (born Billy Lance Swan, May 12, 1942, Cape Girardeau, Missouri) is an American songwriter and singer, best known for his 1974 single, "I Can Help".
Swan's role in the music industry was, originally, largely invisible. He learned drums, piano, and guitar and also began writing songs. "Lover Please," a song he wrote at the age of 16, was recorded by a local group he played with called Mirt Mirly & the Rhythm Stoppers. Later, when Swan's friends traveled to Memphis, Tennessee to record with Elvis Presley's bassist Bill Black, Black recorded the tune himself. Swan's first big break was in 1962 when Clyde McPhatter recorded "Lover Please", that quickly became a Top Ten hit. Swan stayed in Memphis to write for Black's combo and also worked as a guard at Graceland for a time.
Moving to Nashville allowed Swan to write hit country songs for numerous artists, including Conway Twitty, Waylon Jennings, and Mel Tillis. In 1969, Swan first took on the role of record producer, publishing...
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