Billy Valentine

This article is about the blues and jazz musician. For Billy Valentine who was a member of the 1970s and 80s soul due, see The Valentine Brothers.

William A. Valentine (born December 16, 1925), also known as Billy Valentine and Billy Vee,^[1] is an American blues, R&B and jazz pianist and singer.

Billy Valentine
Birth name	William A. Valentine
Born	(1925-12-16) December 16, 1925 (age 99) Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.
Genres	Blues R&B jazz
Occupation	Musician
Instrument	Piano

Valentine was born in Birmingham, Alabama on December 16, 1925.^[1][2] In 1948, Valentine replaced Charles Brown in Johnny Moore's Three Blazers,^[3] then featuring jazz guitarist Oscar Moore. In 1950 that line-up did a couple of recording sessions for RCA Victor before embarking on a 50-date tour.^[4] The "R & B Blue Notes" section of the May 27, 1950 issue of The Billboard, in announcing the tour, stated that Valentine had also recorded for Mercury Records^[4] (Mercury 8173^[5]). The note added that the Blazers would be joined by Hal "Cornbread" Singer for part of the tour.^[4] The same line-up accompanied Mari Jones, Maxwell Davies (probably) and the former Nat King Cole Trio bassist Johnny Miller for a recording session in Los Angeles in 1952.^[6]

In 1956, as Billy Vee, he recorded for King Records.^[1]

In 1958, Valentine appeared as pianist on a February 1958 New York recording session with Bubber Johnson, Eric Dixon, Charles Jackson, Skeeter Best, Ruth Berman, Wendell Marshall and Panama Francis, accompanied by a choir.^[6]

Coltrane

Jazz saxophonist Big Nick Nicholas mentioned to jazz archivist Phil Schaap a 1949/1950 New York recording session at which Valentine led a group featuring John Coltrane.^[7] Other musicians at session were possibly John Collins or Floyd Smith on guitar, possibly Ray Brown on bass and possibly Charles "Specs" Wright on drums.^[7]