Billy Beck to perform at Choices
By GUY D’ASTOLFO
Youngstown’s Billy Beck is back with a new solo CD.
The Dana School of Music grad who played keyboards in The Ohio Players funk supergroup back in the ’70s will release “Memoirs of a Player” this month. The independently-produced album will have 13 new songs co-written by Beck, who lives in Warren, and Jody Daniels of Niles.
Beck, with the help of Youngstown’s Total Package Band, will give a sneak preview of a couple of the new songs tonight at Choices Nightclub, in the Metroplex Hotel in Liberty.
Fans of The Ohio Players should take note of the show. “It’s going to be fun,” said Beck. “We’re going to do all the familiar Ohio Players songs, like ‘Skin Tight,’ ‘Fire’ and ‘Roller Coaster,’ and then debut two new songs.”
Beck and the YTP Band have been practicing in anticipation of Saturday’s show, which has been dubbed The Old School Summer Jam. The evening will include a male and female swimwear contest (call 330-980-8929 to register).
Beck and Greg Johnson, keyboardist for YTP, go back a long way. “I met Greg in the ’80s, and produced a couple of cuts for him back then,” said Beck.
Beck began his music career in 1967, playing Youngstown nightclubs as a 14-year-old. He spent years in Chicago during the Ohio Players’ heyday, then moved back to the Valley in the ’90s. Beck continued to tour with The Ohio Players until about a year and a half ago.
About Saturday’s show, Beck said “I’m coming full circle, back to playing Youngstown.”
The Ohio Players were featured on TV recently on “Unsung,” a program on the TV One cable network.