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William E. Page II, better known as Billy Page, was an American musician, songwriter, and producer. He is best known for writing "The 'In' Crowd", which was a 1965 hit for both Dobie Gray[1] and the Ramsey Lewis Trio. The song was also a 1974 hit for Bryan Ferry.[2]

Other songs he wrote include "A House Built on Sand", a 1968 hit for Leslie Uggams; "Sugar Lump", a 1974 hit for Leon Haywood; and "Midnight and You" (co-written with his brother Gene Page), a 1974 hit for Solomon Burke. [2]

Page also produced his brother Gene's musical score for the 1972 film Blacula.[3]

References

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Billy Page

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Billy Page is an American songwriter and producer known for writing the 1964 soul/pop standard "The 'In' Crowd," which became a major hit for Dobie Gray in 1965 and the Ramsey Lewis Trio. The song, arranged by his brother Gene Page for Dobie Gray's recording, captured the go-go dance craze of the era and has been widely covered and featured in films and television. Page was active in the 1960s music industry, contributing as a songwriter and occasional recording artist while collaborating with performers in soul and pop genres. His other notable compositions include "Lonely Sixteen," originally recorded by Janie Black, and "Johnny Raven," first released by Kiki Dee. His work, particularly "The 'In' Crowd," has endured through placements in motion pictures such as Natural Born Killers, Casino, and Love & Mercy.

Early life

Birth and family background

Billy Page, born William Eugene Page (also listed as William E. Page II), was born on September 24, 1942, in Los Angeles, California, USA. He was the brother of Gene Page, a prominent arranger and producer.

Music career

Songwriting and early work

Billy Page established himself as a songwriter and producer during the 1960s, building a career primarily through compositions in popular music genres. He often collaborated with his brother Gene Page, a noted arranger and producer, on songwriting and production efforts. One of his early achievements was penning "The 'In' Crowd", first recorded by Dobie Gray in November 1964. In 1965, Page ventured briefly into performing with the release of a single on the Palomar label, featuring "It's Pop" as the A-side and "The American Girl" as the B-side; his brother Gene Page handled the arrangement and conduction duties. This remains his only documented release as a performing artist. Page's extensive songwriting output is reflected in over 700 credits on Discogs, the vast majority of which are in the writer role.

Production roles

Billy Page's production roles were primarily collaborative, centered on supporting the work of his brother, Gene Page. He produced Gene Page's musical score for the 1972 blaxploitation film Blacula, handling production duties on the associated soundtrack album released by RCA Records. Specific tracks on the album, such as "Blacula (The Stalkwalk)," credit Billy Page directly as producer, alongside Gene Page's composition, arrangement, and orchestral conducting. Beyond this notable contribution, Billy Page's production credits remained limited and largely tied to family collaborations. He served as producer on several of Gene Page's albums, including tracks/singles such as "Into My Thing" (1976), Love Starts After Dark (1980), and Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1978). These efforts highlight his supportive role in his brother's projects rather than an independent production career separate from his primary songwriting activities.

Notable compositions

"The 'In' Crowd"

"The 'In' Crowd" is a song written by Billy Page in 1964 and arranged by his brother Gene Page. ) It was originally recorded by Dobie Gray and released as a single in November 1964 on the Charger label, with production by Fred Darian at Gold Star Recording Studios in Hollywood, California. ) The track appeared on Dobie Gray's album Dobie Gray Sings for "In" Crowders That Go "Go-Go". ) Dobie Gray's version peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 11 on the Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles chart. ) An instrumental version by the Ramsey Lewis Trio, recorded live in May 1965 at Bohemian Caverns in Washington, D.C., and released in June 1965 on the Argo label, became a major crossover hit, reaching number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 2 on the Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles chart. ) This version was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2009. ) The song has been covered by numerous artists, including The Mamas & the Papas, who included it as the final track on their 1966 debut album If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears, and Bryan Ferry, whose 1974 recording from the album Another Time, Another Place reached number 13 on the UK Singles Chart. ) As a tongue-in-cheek ode to hipster self-congratulation and the mid-1960s go-go scene, "The 'In' Crowd" captured the era's social restlessness and fascination with belonging to the fashionable "in" group. The song's enduring appeal has led to its frequent placement in film and television soundtracks. )

Other songs

Billy Page composed or co-composed several additional songs during his career, though his output remained relatively limited beyond his best-known work. Among these is "A House Built on Sand," recorded by Leslie Uggams in 1968. He also wrote "Sugar Lump," which Leon Haywood recorded in 1974. "Midnight and You," co-written with his brother Gene Page, appeared as a recording by Solomon Burke in 1974. Further collaborations with Gene Page included "Main Chance," performed by 21st Century Limited on the Blacula soundtrack. "The Girl's Got It" received co-credit in certain soundtrack usages.

Contributions to film and television

Soundtrack placements and legacy

Billy Page's most enduring contribution to popular culture stems from the repeated licensing of his composition "The 'In' Crowd" in film and television soundtracks, ensuring its presence in media decades after its creation. The song has appeared in notable 1990s films, including Oliver Stone's crime satire Natural Born Killers (1994), Martin Scorsese's Casino (1995), and Woody Allen's Mighty Aphrodite (1995). Its use continued into later decades with placements in Love & Mercy (2014), Irrational Man (2015), and the biographical crime drama Legend (2015). The track has also featured in television series and specials, such as Mad Men (2012), Halston (2019), Gossip Girl (2021), Julia (2023), and the horror film Thanksgiving (2023). Further placements include documentaries and independent films like The Capote Tapes (2019), SoulBoy (2010), and Beautiful Darling (2010). These recurring appearances across crime dramas, period pieces, biopics, and prestige television illustrate the song's lasting cultural relevance and contribute to Billy Page's ongoing legacy in entertainment.

Production for film

Billy Page's direct involvement in film music production was primarily through his work on the 1972 blaxploitation film Blacula, where he produced his brother Gene Page's musical score for the picture. He is credited as producer on the majority of tracks on the official soundtrack album, including most instrumental cues and vocal selections. As part of this project, he also co-wrote songs featured in the film, such as "Main Chance." No other confirmed direct film production credits are documented for Billy Page.

Personal life and legacy

Later years and impact

Little is known about Billy Page's professional or personal activities after the 1970s, as public records and industry sources provide no detailed accounts of his later career or life developments. No confirmed death date or obituary has been documented in major music databases or public sources. His impact endures primarily through the enduring recognition of "The 'In' Crowd" as a signature 1960s classic, with its ongoing licensing and placements in modern media sustaining his legacy as a songwriter.

Family connections

Billy Page maintained significant professional ties with his brother, Gene Page, a respected conductor, composer, arranger, and record producer known for his orchestral work and contributions to soul, funk, and film music. Gene Page died on August 24, 1998. The brothers' family partnership proved central to several key credits in Billy Page's career. Gene Page arranged Billy Page's composition "The 'In' Crowd."

Cultural influence

Billy Page's composition "The 'In' Crowd" endures as an emblematic track of the 1960s, symbolizing the era's fascination with social exclusivity, coolness, and belonging within youth culture. Its cultural resonance stems largely from the transformative 1965 instrumental version by the Ramsey Lewis Trio, which blended jazz improvisation with pop and soul elements to create a major crossover hit that introduced broader audiences to jazz through accessible grooves and live energy. The Ramsey Lewis Trio's recording achieved significant commercial and critical success, peaking at number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earning a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Jazz Performance in 1966. It was later inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2009, affirming its lasting contribution to music history. The song has been covered across genres including jazz, pop, and rock, demonstrating its versatility and continued relevance in reinterpreting 1960s sounds. Its persistent use in films and television productions set in the 1960s further reflects its role in evoking the period's atmosphere and storytelling.

Areas of limited information

Detailed biographical information on Billy Page remains limited beyond his birth date of September 24, 1942, in Los Angeles, California, his full name of William E. Page II, and his family connection as the brother of arranger Gene Page. No confirmed sources provide information on his education, early musical influences, or personal interviews. No reliable death date or obituary appears in primary music databases, news archives, or industry sources, leaving questions about his later years unanswered. Post-1970s career developments receive minimal coverage, with available records focusing predominantly on his songwriting and production credits. Credits and basic profile details primarily derive from databases such as IMDb and Discogs, which offer no extensive personal narrative.

References

  1. https://www.songfacts.com/facts/dobie-gray/the-in-crowd
  2. https://secondhandsongs.com/artist/3841
  3. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4993987/
  4. https://www.discogs.com/artist/322694-Billy-Page
  5. https://www.discogs.com/master/857530-Billy-Page-Its-Pop-The-American-Girl
  6. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068284/soundtrack/
  7. https://music.apple.com/us/artist/gene-page/2769660
  8. https://www.discogs.com/master/401629-Gene-Page-Into-My-Thing
  9. https://www.discogs.com/master/281042-Gene-Page-Love-Starts-After-Dark
  10. https://www.discogs.com/master/25940-Gene-Page-Close-Encounters-Of-The-Third-Kind
  11. https://www.npr.org/2015/05/13/406373678/the-in-crowd-an-audience-fueled-jazz-pop-crossover-hit
  12. https://www.discogs.com/release/33027417-Leslie-Uggams-A-House-Built-On-Sand
  13. https://www.45cat.com/record/452469
  14. https://www.discogs.com/master/721551-Leon-Haywood-Sugar-Lump
  15. https://music.apple.com/us/song/sugar-lump/1443800376
  16. https://music.apple.com/gb/song/midnight-and-you/1443726733
  17. https://music.apple.com/ca/song/main-chance/410014493
  18. https://ringostrack.com/en/artist/billy-page/18084
  19. https://www.discogs.com/release/742484-Gene-Page-Blacula-Music-From-The-Original-Soundtrack
  20. https://www.discogs.com/artist/72440-Gene-Page
  21. https://musicbrainz.org/artist/e6a6a253-7060-4dc7-94d7-5c316c068ca2
  22. https://jointzoftheday.substack.com/p/gene-page-born-september-13-1939-blacula-theme
  23. https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/the-ramsey-lewis-trio-the-in-crowd-feature/
  24. https://www.ramseylewis.com/awards
  25. https://secondhandsongs.com/artist/3841/all
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