Billy Daniels

I was listening to the song That Old Black Magic.

And at the end of the song, Ella throws in a line, that old black magic that Billy Daniels got me in.

And I've heard her sing that line on that album dozens of times before and wondered, who's Billy Daniels? But on this particular day, for some reason, I felt inspired to go out to the living room and ask my dad who Billy Daniels was.

And he explained that in the 40s, Billy Daniels had sung Old Black Magic in a way that made it his song.

And he was referred to as Mr.

Black Magic, I guess, back in the 40s.

And it was a big deal at the time.

And I'd ask my dad, had you met him? You know, did you ever know Billy Daniels? And he said that Billy Daniels was probably dead now.

It wasn't quite the job that it was back in the old days, but it was a bigger level than I ever played.

And he recommended me, and I went in and played for Billy Daniels, the guy that did that old Black Magic, that old-

Oh, right

... with the white-haired guy.

Smiley was a New Orleans R&B singer and guitarist who recorded the original 1955 classic I Hear You Knocking, which a bunch of rock artists ended up recording and covering.

Billy Daniels passed away in 1988 at the age of 73 from cancer.

He was a big band singer and entertainer who had his signature song called That Old Black Magic.

Ed Blackwell passed away in 1992 at the age of 62 from kidney failure.