Aired on Treasure Island Oldies – Nov 30, 2025
Throughout the 60s, music entrepreneur and band manager Brian Epstein was ever on the look-out for new talent to add to his expanding roster of local artists that included the Beatles and Gerry & The Pacemakers.
Epstein soon came across William Howard Ashton and signed him up, suggesting the stage name Billy Kramer. A “J” was added later to give his name more flair and distinction. He then married Kramer with a backing band out of Manchester known as the Dakotas.
The band’s association with the Beatles played a significant role in shaping their early success. Through Epstein’s management, Kramer gained access to songs written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney that the Beatles had not recorded themselves.
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The debut of Billy J. Kramer With The Dakotas on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1964 was remarkably unique. Their single featured “Little Children” as the A-side. However, the B-side proved to be formidable in its own right as both songs broke into the Top 10 simultaneously, a rare feat for any artist.
“Little Children,” a track that showcased Kramer’s tender yet confident delivery, soared to #7, while the B-side, written by John Lennon with input from Paul McCartney, reached #9. The success of both sides of the same single on the U.S. charts was not only unusual but symbolic of the period’s thirst for British pop music following the Beatles’ invasion.
The B-side epitomized the Lennon–McCartney magic – simple, heartfelt, and instantly catchy. It became one of the earliest examples of a Beatles-written composition topping the charts when performed by another artist. This dual-chart success cemented Billy J. Kramer With The Dakotas’ place in pop history. Their clean image, polished harmonies, and ties to the Beatles made them a significant part of 60s pop culture, with their Billboard debut remaining one of the most memorable introductions by a British act to American audiences. And for my money, that’s not “Bad To Me,” and it’s this week’s Tom Locke moment in time.
YouTube listing of the song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CMX0mCFYJ4
This “Moments In Time” story is yet another example of a “golden oldie” or forgotten favorite that earned its place in the evolution of Rock & Roll.
