Davis was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on April 26, 1951. He started his career as one of two lead singers in a local band named The Illusions. After completing his Bachelor of Fine Arts from Ohio University, he moved to New York City to perform on Broadway. He showcased his talent in various shows such as “”Bubblin Brown Sugar,”” “”Eubie,”” “”Got Tu Go Disco,”” and “”Stop the World,”” which featured the legendary Sammy Davis Jr. In the 1980s, he relocated to Toronto and began appearing in local productions. He recorded music that incorporated R&B, Jazz, and Gospel elements. His first LP, “”Love is a Contact Sport,”” featured tracks like “”Deeper,”” “”Right Beside You,”” and “”Find My Way Back.”” This album won him the 1986 Juno Award for Best R&B/Soul Recording and Most Promising Male Vocalist.

Billy achieved great success with his hits “”Spellbound”” and “”Can’t Live With You, Can’t Live Without You”” – a duet with Celine Dion that earned the 1989 Juno Award for Best R&B/Soul Recording. He was a member of the Nylons from 1991 to 1993 but, continued his career as a solo artist after that. In more recent years, he won the Juno Award for Best Dance Recording for his collaboration with deadmau5 on “”All U Ever Want.””

Davis is a proud member of the LGBTQ community, always being open about his identity as a gay black man and his HIV-positive status. He remains passionate about raising awareness about HIV/AIDS and fighting for racial equality.

Awards

• 1989 Juno Award for R&B/ Soul Recording of the Year
• 1989 Juno Award for Most Promising Male Vocalist of the Year
• 1990 Juno Award for R&B/ Soul Recording of the Year
• 2008 Juno for Dance Recording of the Year