| Billy Valentine | |
| Birth Name: | William A. Valentine |
| Birth Date: | 16 December 1925 |
| Birth Place: | Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. |
| Occupation: | Musician |
| Instrument: | Piano |
| Associated Acts: | Johnny Moore's Three Blazers |
William A. Valentine (born December 16, 1925), also known as Billy Valentine and Billy Vee, is an American blues, R&B and jazz pianist and singer.
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. 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 (Mercury 8173[4]). The note added that the Blazers would be joined by Hal "Cornbread" Singer for part of the tour.[5] 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.
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]
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]