It was a tough way to start the day today, as we received the following notice from Dome Records founder Peter Robinson, notifying us of the passing of Drizabone Soul Family’s Billy Freeman:
We are sad to announce the sudden death, after a short period of illness, of talented UK producer/musician/songwriter Billy Freeman, at the age of 61.
Then known as Billy April, he formed the original Drizabone duo with partner Vince Garcia and they released their debut album “Conspiracy” via 4th & Broadway/Island Records in 1994, later reviving the name when he formed the Drizabone Soul Family with female and male featured vocalists in 2010. Their Dome album “All The Way” was very well received and enjoyed heavy national airplay on BBC Radio 2 and Smooth Radio. It includes a new recording of the Drizabone Top 20 hit “Real Love.”
The original duo also had success with several remixes for other artists, most notably their 1992 reworking of the Shanice hit “I Love Your Smile”, which reached #2 in the UK and topped the chart in the Netherlands. In 2022 Billy returned with a Drizabone Remix of “Smile,” the most popular track by Dome’s US soul artist Dennis Taylor.
Drizabone Soul Family have continued to play live dates in the UK, most recently at London’s 229 venue in June.
Dome founder Peter Robinson says: “Billy was a very talented musician and songwriter, a great friend of the label over the past 15 years, someone who truly loved classic soul music. He will be greatly missed. Our condolences to his wife Pat and daughter Rachel.”
We at SoulTracks also mourn Billy’s passing, even as we crank up more than three decades of jams that he brought to the world. Rest in peace.
