African-American singing tenor and songwriter who joined the L.A.-based harmony group "The Sabers" in 1955. He went by the names Billy Jones and Billy Fortune as well. The quartet itself also went by several different names: The Sabers (original name), The Chavelles, The Gents, The Valiants, The Untouchables, The Electras, The Freedoms, The Alley Cats and Africa. Others in the group included at one time or another original members Herbie (last name unknown), Sheridan "Rip" Spencer, Rip's cousin Brice Coefield, and Walter Carter, and others (Chester Pipkin). Billy sang lead on such songs "This Is the Night" (#43 on the R&B chart; #69 on the Pop chart) and the flip tune "Good Golly Miss Molly".
Little Richard had recorded the song earlier but the Valiants' version was actually released first in November of 1957.
