Billy J. Kramer (born William Howard Ashton, on August 19, 1943, in Bootle,… Read Full Bio ↴Billy J. Kramer (born William Howard Ashton, on August 19, 1943, in Bootle, Liverpool, England) was a British Invasion / Merseybeat singer who had a number of hits in the early 1960s as Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas (aka Billy J. Kramer with The Dakotas). Kramer is known today primarily as the singer of various Lennon-McCartney compositions that The Beatles did not use.

Early career
The performing name Kramer was chosen at random from a telephone directory. It was John Lennon's suggestion that the "J" be added to the name to further distinguish him by adding a 'tougher edge'. Billy soon came to the attention of Brian Epstein, ever on the look-out for new talent to add to his expanding roster of local artists. Kramer turned professional but his then backing band, The Coasters, were less keen, so Epstein sought out the services of a Manchester based band, The Dakotas, a well-respected combo then backing Pete MacLaine.

Even then, The Dakotas would not join Kramer without a recording deal of their own. Once in place, the deal was set and both acts signed to Parlophone under George Martin. Collectively, they were named Billy J. Kramer with The Dakotas to keep their own identities within the act. Once the Beatles broke through, the way was paved for a tide of "Merseybeat" and Kramer was offered the chance to cover a song first released by the Beatles on their own debut album, Please Please Me. The track had been allegedly turned down by Shane Fenton (later Alvin Stardust) who was looking for a career reviving hit.

Success
With record producer George Martin, the song "Do You Want to Know a Secret?" was a number two UK Singles Chart hit in 1963, and was backed by another tune otherwise unreleased by The Beatles, "I'll Be on My Way". After this impressive breakthrough another Lennon/McCartney pairing "Bad to Me" c/w "I Call Your Name" reached number one. "I'll Keep You Satisfied" ended the year with a respectable number four placing.

Billy was given a series of songs specially written for him by John Lennon and Paul McCartney which launched him into stardom and a proper place in the history of Rock and Roll. I'll Keep You Satisfied, From A Window, I Call Your Name and Bad to Me all became international million sellers for Billy, and won him appearances on the TV shows Shindig!, Hullabaloo and The Ed Sullivan Show.

The Dakotas , meanwhile, enjoyed Top 20 success in 1963 on their own with Mike Maxfield's composition "The Cruel Sea", an instrumental retitled "The Cruel Surf" in the U.S., which was subsequently covered by The Ventures. This was followed by a George Martin creation, "Magic Carpet", evoking a dreamy atmosphere with a subtle echo laden piano, playing the melody alongside Maxfield's guitar. But it missed out altogether and it was a year before their next release. All four tracks appeared on a highly-collectable EP later that year.

The three big hits penned by Lennon and McCartney meant that Kramer was always seemingly in the Beatles' shadow, unless he did tried something different. Despite being advised against it, he insisted on recording the Stateside chart hit "Little Children" - the lyrics were allegedly about getting his girlfriend's brothers and sisters out of the way so they could make love. It became his second chart topper and biggest hit. It was Kramer's only major hit outside of the UK. In the U.S., this was followed up with "Bad to Me" which reached number nine. Despite this success Kramer went backwards with his second and last UK single of 1964; another Lennon/McCartney cast-off "From A Window", which only just became a Top Ten hit.

After the peak
The year 1965 saw the end for the Merseybeat boom, and the next Kramer single was "It's Gotta Last Forever", which harked back to a ballad approach. In a year where mod-related music from the likes of The Who prevailed, the single missed completely. Kramer's cover of "Trains and Boats and Planes" saw off Anita Harris' cover version only to find itself in direct competition with its composer, Burt Bacharach's effort, which won the day. Kramer's effort still reached a respectable number 12, but was the group's swansong, as all future cuts missed the chart.

The Dakotas ranks were then strengthened by the inclusion of Mick Green, the ex-guitarist with the London band the Pirates who backed Johnny Kidd. This line-up cut a few tracks which were at odds with the balladeer's usual fare. These included a take on "When You Walk in the Room" and "Sneakin' Around". The Dakotas final outing whilst with Kramer was the blues driven "Oyeh!" - but this also flopped.

The final showing
After releasing "We're Doing Fine", it too missed the charts leaving singer and group to part company. Kramer had a brief solo career which took him eventually to live in America.

The Dakotas re-formed in the late 1980s and recruited vocalist Eddie Mooney and session musician Toni Baker. They still tour and record. Other latter-day members are drummer Pete Hilton and guitarist Alan Clare.

In 2005, Kramer recorded the song "Cow Planet" for Sandra Boynton's children's album, Dog Train. A long-time fan of Kramer's, Boynton had sought him out for her project: in 1964, at age 11, she had bought Little Children as the first album she ever owned.

I'LL BE TRUE TO YOU
Billy J. Kramer Lyrics

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Chorus: I'm outside please come and get me, you bet I'll be there soon
I guess you're glad you met me, I am, I care for you
Will you ever forget me? I won't my heart is true
And you should know if time will let me, I'll be there for you
,
The colors of the morning light seem brighter than before
As they frame your silhouette beyond the open door
The clouds are crazy carnivals the wind whispers your name and

I know that I will never feel the same
On every street that I walk down I only see your face
In the people passing by and then it's gone without a trace
I feel like I am floating in a half-remembered place I left behind many years ago

I'm outside please come and get me, you bet I'll be there soon
I guess that means you're glad you met me, yes like the sun is glad it met the moon
Will you ever forget me? I won't my heart is true
and you should know if time will let me, I'll be there for you

When you stumble, I will catch you when you're lost, I will search
I will dry your tears, I'll never leave you in the lurch
The thunder crashes in my ears but all I see is you in blinding light
My mind is rearranged
A soaring bird sings to me calling out your name
Deep inside my heart I know I will never be the same
Every picture that I see looks like you in the frame
I am forever changed

I'm outside please come and get me, you bet I'll be there soon
I guess you're glad you met me, I am I care for you

Will you ever forget me, I won't my heart is true
And you should know if you will let me, I'll be there for you

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Billy J. Kramer's song "I'll Be True to You" depict a deep and unwavering commitment to someone special. The chorus expresses a sense of urgency and devotion, with the singer declaring their willingness to be there for the person they care for, no matter the circumstances. The repetition of the phrase "I'll be there for you" underscores the singer's loyalty and determination to support and cherish their loved one.

The verses paint a vivid picture of love and longing, comparing the brightness of the morning light to the overwhelming presence of the beloved. The imagery of clouds as "crazy carnivals" and the wind whispering the beloved's name evoke a sense of enchantment and fascination. The singer's realization that they will never feel the same again highlights the transformative power of love and how it can change one's perspective on the world.

The lyrics also touch on the theme of protection and reassurance, with the singer promising to catch the beloved when they stumble and never leave them in times of need. The imagery of thunder crashing and a blinding light symbolizes the intensity of emotions experienced when thinking of the beloved, suggesting a sense of overwhelming passion and devotion. The singer's internal transformation and the feeling of being forever changed showcase the profound impact that love has had on their life.

Overall, "I'll Be True to You" conveys a message of steadfast love, dedication, and the willingness to be there for someone no matter what. The lyrics capture the emotions of longing, adoration, and the enduring commitment that the singer has towards their beloved, promising to always be by their side and never forget the deep connection they share.

I'LL BE TRUE TO YOUBilly J. Kramer Lyrics

I'LL BE TRUE TO YOU
Billy J. Kramer Lyrics