Artist info:
Also known as
Verified yes
GenreRock, Rock & Roll, Country, Pop
Rank8,350 (new)
Albums25
Songs129
AboutWilliam Lance Swan (born May 12, 1942) is an American country singer-songwriter, best known for his 1974 single, "I Can Help".
Profile:
Born : May 12, 1942 in Cape Girardeau, MO, United States.
American songwriter and singer.
Sites: Wikipedia, repertoire.bmi.com
In Groups: Black Tie, The Texas Jewboys
Variations: Billy Swan, B. Swan, B. Swann, B.Swan, B.Swann, Bil Swan, Bill Lance Swan, Bill Swan, Billie Swan, Billy, Billy Lance Swan, Billy Shawn, Billy Swann, R. Swan, Swan, Swann
Swan was born in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. As a child, he learned drums, piano and guitar, and began writing songs. His first big break was in 1962 when Clyde McPhatter recorded "Lover Please", a song written by Swan when he was in a local band called Mirt Mirly & the Rhythm Steppers who had first recorded the song on Bill Black's Louis label. McPhatter's version quickly became a No. 7 pop hit.
Swan moved to Memphis to work with Black, but this was cut short with Black's illness and subsequent death in 1965. It is rumored that Swan worked as a security guard at Graceland. He was friends with one of the security guards but never worked at Graceland. He then moved to Nashville, which enabled him 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, producing Tony Joe White's Top Ten hit "Polk Salad Annie". Swan also played bass guitar for Kris Kristofferson and then signed a solo recording deal with Monument Records.
In 1979, Swan traveled to Havana, Cuba, to participate in the historic Havana Jam festival that took place between March 2–4, alongside Stephen Stills, the CBS Jazz All-Stars, the Trio of Doom, Fania All-Stars, Weather Report, Bonnie Bramlett, Mike Finnegan, Kris Kristofferson, Rita Coolidge, and Billy Joel, plus an array of Cuban artists such as Irakere, Pacho Alonso, Tata Güines, and Orquesta Aragón. His performance is captured on Ernesto Juan Castellanos's documentary Havana Jam '79.
Swan continued to tour as a member of Kristofferson's band and recorded with Randy Meisner of The Eagles. In 1986 he walked into a California studio (Bench Records) as part of a band called Black Tie and along with Meisner, Jimmy Griffin († 2005) (Bread), David Kemper (drummer), David Miner, and David Mansfield recorded an album called When the Night Falls. He recorded another solo album, Like Elvis Used to Do in 2000, and another Black Tie-style album with Meisner and Charlie Rich, Jr. billed as "Meisner, Swan & Rich". As of 2005, Swan remained a backing singer and session musician.
Personal life
Swan was married to his late wife Marlu for 30 years. Marlu died on February 12, 2003, from cancer. They had two daughters, recording artists Planet Swan and Sierra Swan.
Profile:
Born : May 12, 1942 in Cape Girardeau, MO, United States.
American songwriter and singer.
Sites: Wikipedia, repertoire.bmi.com
In Groups: Black Tie, The Texas Jewboys
Variations: Billy Swan, B. Swan, B. Swann, B.Swan, B.Swann, Bil Swan, Bill Lance Swan, Bill Swan, Billie Swan, Billy, Billy Lance Swan, Billy Shawn, Billy Swann, R. Swan, Swan, Swann
Swan was born in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. As a child, he learned drums, piano and guitar, and began writing songs. His first big break was in 1962 when Clyde McPhatter recorded "Lover Please", a song written by Swan when he was in a local band called Mirt Mirly & the Rhythm Steppers who had first recorded the song on Bill Black's Louis label. McPhatter's version quickly became a No. 7 pop hit.
Swan moved to Memphis to work with Black, but this was cut short with Black's illness and subsequent death in 1965. It is rumored that Swan worked as a security guard at Graceland. He was friends with one of the security guards but never worked at Graceland. He then moved to Nashville, which enabled him 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, producing Tony Joe White's Top Ten hit "Polk Salad Annie". Swan also played bass guitar for Kris Kristofferson and then signed a solo recording deal with Monument Records.
In 1979, Swan traveled to Havana, Cuba, to participate in the historic Havana Jam festival that took place between March 2–4, alongside Stephen Stills, the CBS Jazz All-Stars, the Trio of Doom, Fania All-Stars, Weather Report, Bonnie Bramlett, Mike Finnegan, Kris Kristofferson, Rita Coolidge, and Billy Joel, plus an array of Cuban artists such as Irakere, Pacho Alonso, Tata Güines, and Orquesta Aragón. His performance is captured on Ernesto Juan Castellanos's documentary Havana Jam '79.
Swan continued to tour as a member of Kristofferson's band and recorded with Randy Meisner of The Eagles. In 1986 he walked into a California studio (Bench Records) as part of a band called Black Tie and along with Meisner, Jimmy Griffin († 2005) (Bread), David Kemper (drummer), David Miner, and David Mansfield recorded an album called When the Night Falls. He recorded another solo album, Like Elvis Used to Do in 2000, and another Black Tie-style album with Meisner and Charlie Rich, Jr. billed as "Meisner, Swan & Rich". As of 2005, Swan remained a backing singer and session musician.
Personal life
Swan was married to his late wife Marlu for 30 years. Marlu died on February 12, 2003, from cancer. They had two daughters, recording artists Planet Swan and Sierra Swan.
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