Billy Mann (real name: William Hort Mann born "Erlichman") was originally a singer/songwriter, now record producer/songwriter and entrepreneur who started his career living in a car and playing in dive bars. The New York Times online About.com named Mann #8 on the Top 10 Best Record Producers of 2006.
Record producer, songwriter, artist, manager, entrepreneur. In the history of the pop music, the quintuple threat is rare if not close to extinct. The last person to gain such notoriety was legend Peter Asher who graced the cover of Rolling Stone with James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt—artists he managed and produced simultaneously in the 1970s. Billy Mann, 37, a self-made force in the music world like Asher (who became a mentor and collaborator), began his career as an artist signed to A&M Records with modest success but left no stone unturned in converting that opportunity into access to write and produce for the biggest recording artists in the world. His credibility having been an artist-- who before his first deal spent a year living hand-to-mouth in his car --helped cement the faith of artists and record executives around the world who turn to Mann time and again for help with hits and creative vision.
In the past ten years, Billy Mann has literally racked up dozens of Top 40 hits around the world, selling over 60 million albums and quietly building a pedigree that transcends the trends. Billy's undeniable hit-making pen and ear prompted The New York Times Company's About.com to name him one of the Top 10 Producers of 2006, alongside Timbaland, Jermaine Dupri and Rick Rubin. Mann is also an elected Governor representing songwriters for the New York Chapter of NARAS. He enters 2007 as a creative contributor on three top 10 albums around the world, Pink, Joss Stone and Take That.
The diversity of the artists with whom Mann works speaks for itself: Pink, Teddy Geiger, Jessica Simpson, Ashlee Simpson, Sting, Josh Groban, Ricky Martin, Backstreet Boys, Anastacia, Celine Dion, Kelly Rowland, Delta Goodrem, Hall & Oates, Art Garfunkel, Michael Bolton, Carole King, Nick Lachey, Jessica Andrews, Martina McBride, Deana Carter, Tarkan, Paul Van Dyk, Fat Joe, Esmee Denters, Joss Stone, Take That and many others. Billy has a rare ability to create and cross over from pop to rock, R&B to country, while still retaining his credibility and quality music. Billy's raw talent, top-notch execution, and boundless creativity, has made him one of the most in demand songwriter/ producers in the business. Matt Lauer of the Today show has described Billy as the producer/writer who helps artists find their voice.
In 2001, Mann founded Stealth Entertainment. Born out of his experience working alongside traditional managers and executives, Mann brought his unique tenacity and focus to the business side of music. In five years, Stealth Entertainment has gone from a one-man operation to a boutique entertainment hub for pop artists Teddy Geiger (www.teddygeigermusic.com), youtube phenom Esmee Denters (www.esmeeworld.com), The Sunstreak (www.myspace.com/thesunstreak), and half a dozen songwriter/producers. Additionally, Mann created the Cred. Records imprint (with releases on Jive, Columbia, SBMG Special Projects, Target and independently) and Topline Music Publishing with copyrights recorded by the Backstreet Boys, Click 5, Teddy Geiger, Kelly Rowland and others in only it's first year of operation. On behalf of it's clients, Stealth has successfully built partnerships with Levi's, Macy's, Seventeen Magazine, Target, Disney and others.
Unlike most of his contemporaries, Billy Mann balances his professional indefatigability with his passion for his wife and two toddler boys. They live happily in New York and Connecticut where Mann's recording studio remains a safe and creative refuge for the most successful artists in the world and his telephone continues to ring around the clock.
Billy Mann's talent as a multi-genre writer/producer is underscored by the diversity of the artists with whom he works, a list which includes:
Matt Lauer of the Today show has described Billy Mann as the producer/writer who helps artists find their voice.
Mann is also a highly regarded artist whose second album Earthbound was voted the #1 album of the year in 1998 by NPR/PRI's national radio show, The World Café. In addition to his writing and production work, Mann owns a successful management and development company (Stealth Entertainment), several publishing companies and a record label (Cred. Records). He is published as a music columnist devoted to exposing new indie artists (Seventeen Magazine), and has several interests in new media companies. Happily married with two children, Mann resides in the New York area.
Sting
P!nk
Tarkan
Esmée Denters
Jessica Simpson
Teddy Geiger
Faces on Film
Backstreet Boys
Joss Stone
Samantha Jade
Ryan Cabrera
Take That
Delta Goodrem
Alesha
Imarobot
Cheyenne Kimball
Josh Groban
Anastacia
Celine Dion
Ricky Martin
Kelly Rowland
Martina McBride
Hall & Oates
Art Garfunkel
Deana Carter
Carole King
Boyzone
Jessica Andrews
Fat Joe
Josh Wink
Tami Rodriguez
Nikki Flores
John Paul White