Billy Gayles

Billy Gayles (October 19, 1931 – April 8, 1993) was an American rhythm & blues drummer and vocalist. Gayles was a member of Ike Turner's Kings of Rhythm in the 1950s with whom he recorded for Flair Records and Federal Records as the lead vocalist. Gayles also backed various musicians, including Earl Hooker, Robert Nighthawk, Otis Rush, Albert King, and Richard Arnold "Groove" Holmes.

Life and career Willie James Gayles was born in Sikeston, Missouri on October 19, 1931. He became interested in blues and jazz music after he moved to Cairo, Illinois as a teenager. Gayles learned to play the drums and toured with blues musicians Earl Hooker and Robert Nighthawk. Gayles briefly left Turner's band to pursue a solo career. He returned to the band as a drummer. In 1958, Gayles traveled to Chicago with Turner to record for Cobra Records. Gayles and Turner sang on the Cobra release "Walking Down The Aisle," the B-side to "Box Top." They also backed Otis Rush in a Cobra session that produced the singles "Double Trouble" and "All Your Love (I Miss Loving)."

Gayles performed off-and-on with Turner until 1963. Mayor Vincent Schoemehl officially appointed them as ambassadors for the City of St. Louis.

In the early 1990s, Gayles played in a band called Billy and the Preachers.

After being hospitalized for three months at St. Louis Regional Medical Center, Gayles died from inoperable cancer at the age of 61 on April 8, 1993. In 2015 the Killer Blues Headstone Project placed a headstone for him at Fiedens cemetery in St. Louis.

Discography Singles Billy Gale and His Orchestra 1954: "Night Howler" / "My Heart In Your Hands" (Flair 1031)

Billy Gayles with Ike Turner's Rhythm Rockers 1956: "I'm Tore Up" / "If I Never Had Known You" (Federal 12265)

Billy Gayles 1956: "Take Your Fine Frame Home" / "Let's Call It A Day" (Federal 12272) 1963: "I'm Hurting" / "Dreaming Of You" (Shock 200)

Billy Gayles with Ike Turner's Kings of Rhythm 1956: "Do Right Baby" / "No Coming Back" (Federal 12282) 1956: "Just One More Time" / "Sad As A Man Can Be" (Federal 12287)

Willie King with The Ike Turner Band 1956: "Peg Leg Woman" / "Mistreating Me" (Vita V-123)

Seaphus Scott, The Five Masquerades And Billy Gale Orch. 1958: "Nature's Beauty" / "Summer Sunrise" (Joyce 303)

Ike Turner's Kings of Rhythm 1959: "Walking Down The Aisle" (Cobra 5033)

Albums Featured appearances 1985: Ike Turner & His Kings Of Rhythm – Ike Turner & His Kings Of Rhythm Vol. 2 (Ace Records) 1986: St. Louis Kings Of Rhythm – St. Louis Kings Of Rhythm (Timeless Records) 1989: R&B Confidential No.1: The Flair Label (Ace Records) 1993: Ike Turner – Rocks The Blues (P-Vine Records) 2008: Ike Turner – Classic Early Sides 1952–1957 (JSP Records)

As a sideman 1982: Larry Davis – Funny Stuff (Rooster Blues Records) 1989: Otis Rush – The Cobra Sessions 1956–1958 (P-Vine Records) 1993: The Cobra Records Story (Capricorn Records)