Billy Myles
"The Joker"
Billy Myles aka
William Myles Nobles
Aug 29, 1924
- Oct 9, 2005
Selbon Music Publishing, Founder
Songwriter, Musician & Singer
billymyles@selbon.com
Billy Myles specialized in love ballads (sometimes in the
doo-wop
style) and 'Uptown Blues' songs, occasionally co-writing with vocalists such
as
Jackie Wilson
and
Brook Benton. Artists who recorded his songs include Wilson, Benton,
Little Willie John,
Freddie King
and
Gladys Knight.
He has over 1100 works registered with the
collecting society
BMI.
Billy Myles recorded singles for labels
Ember,
Dot and
King, a few made history. "The
Joker (That's What They Call Me)" charted in the U.S. and Canada
(US Pop #25, R&B #13) in 1957. He was working as a staff songwriter for Al
Silver's New York City-based Herald/Ember labels, Silver thought the song
wasn't suitable for doo-wop act
The Mello-Kings and issued Myles' own
recording. The success of the single led to Myles appearing on the
Ed Sullivan Show in 1958 (alongside
Buddy Holly), and the 1959 UK film Swing
Beat with label mates
The Mello-Kings and
The Five Satins.
Blues guitar maestro
Freddie King recorded Myles "Have You
Ever Loved A Woman" in 1960, and King aficionado
Eric Clapton
covered the track on
Derek and the Dominoes' album
Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs
(1970). This album is highly regarded in Clapton's catalogue and
classic rock in general, with Myles'
song, like the title song "Layla",
having a biographical resonance with Clapton's unrequited love for
Patti Harrison.
Billy Myles lived in
Greenville, North Carolina and managed
his
music publishing company Selbonn Music,
Inc. ('Nobles' spelled backwards) and other interests until his death in October 2005. The music
publishing is now managed by his son, Steven Myles Nobles I.
A Few of the Singles
The Book:
"Bo Nobles and Son"
The Music Business
..... a bio written by
Steven M. Nobles
I
Email: smnobles@selbon.com
 
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