Anecdotes

His hit song, "At This Moment" was first used on the sitcom Sacrée famille (1982) in a scene when Alex P. Keaton (Michael J. Fox) shares his first dance and kiss with his future girlfriend, and later real life wife, Ellen Reed ( Tracy Pollan). The song was then picked up by DJs across the country and the rest is music history.

Son of former NBC staff announcer Bill McCord.

He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 1770 Vine Street in Hollywood, California on February 16, 1988.

Still tours the Los Angeles club scene with his band, Billy Vera and The Beaters.

Dated Angie Dickinson in the 1980s.

Born on the same date as Rudy Giuliani, Gladys Knight, Jean-Pierre Léaud and the late Sondra Locke.

In 2016 he published his first book "Vintage Neon: Los Angeles, 1979" featuring photographs from Vera's nocturnal hunts for old neon signs.

Won a 2013 Grammy Award for Best Album Notes for the Ray Charles box set Singular Genius: The Complete ABC Singles.

In 2020 he published his first novel "A Dollop of Toothpaste".

Has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at the corner of Vine Street and Yucca Street, right in front of the Capitol Records Building in Hollywood.

Has been the voice for AM/PM Mini Mart commercials since 1999 and is one of the top voice-over artists in Los Angeles.

His mother, singer Ann Ryan, was a member of The Ray Charles Singers backing Perry Como on his TV show and his hit records.

Graduated from Archbishop Stepinac High School in White Plains, New York.

For BMG Books he wrote "Rip It Up: The Specialty Records Story", released in November 2019.

In 2017 published a memoir entitled "Harlem to Hollywood".

Began his recording career in 1962 as a member of the Resolutions.

Graduated from Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Elmsford, New York.