Billy Bland
Billy Bland, born William Bland on 5 April 1932 in Wilmington, North Carolina,
was an American singer known for his contributions to soul music. He kicked off
his singing career in the late 1940s as a member of The Four Bees, a New
York-based vocal quartet. In 1954, the group released two singles on Imperial
Records: "Toy Bell / Snatchin’ Back" and "I Want to Be Loved / Get Away Baby".
Billy Bland left The Four Bees in 1955 to pursue a solo career, signing with Old
Town Records. His initial releases, including "Chicken in the Basket / The Fat
Man", did not achieve significant suc...
