* En anglais uniquement
R&B singer, songwriter, guitarist, and producer
Billy Griffin was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. As a member of the group the Last Dynasty, he was offered a recording contract with the RCA label -- the prize for winning a televised talent competition. The deal didn't materialize. Instead,
Griffin auditioned as the replacement for personal idol
Smokey Robinson in
the Miracles. He got the job, and fronted, wrote, and produced for the group from 1972 through 1978. This period was highlighted by the multi-platinum concept album
City of Angels, which featured the number one Billboard Hot 100 hit title track -- one of many
Miracles songs
Griffin co-composed. As a solo artist in the '80s,
Griffin recorded for
Columbia, where he released the albums
Be with Me (1982), featuring "Hold Me Tighter in the Rain,"
Respect (1983), and Systematic (1985). During the latter half of the decade and the early portion of the '90s,
Griffin recorded singles for Atlantic and Motorcity while assisting the likes of
Limahl,
Rodney Franklin, and
Mary Wells. Beside creative partner
Ian Levine, he co-produced and co-wrote material for
the Pasadenas and
Take That. In 2006,
Griffin reappeared as a solo artist with
Like Water, released on the U.K.'s Expansion label. ~ Andy Kellman