<P> Living in Los Angeles and writing songs for Warner Bros. Records, Vera and his old friend, bass player Chuck Fiore decided to put together a band to play the local club scene . Modeling their band on Ray Charles's 1950s band, The Beaters were born . They featured a horn section, as well as a pedal steel guitar, along with drums, piano, Fiore's bass, and Vera on guitar and vocals . As a result of the buzz the band generated from their now - legendary Monday midnight shows at the Troubadour, they were offered a recording contract by Alfa Records, a major Japanese record company that had recently opened an American office in Los Angeles . They recorded the band live, at the Roxy and in 1981 yielded the minor hits "I Can Take Care of Myself," which reached number 39 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S., and "At This Moment", which (initially) charted at number 79 . Both songs were credited as Billy & The Beaters . </P> <P> The band's record deal evaporated when Alfa Records closed its U.S. offices in July 1982, but Vera and the Beaters continued to play the clubs of Southern California . In 1985, a producer from the television show Family Ties was in the audience and heard the band play "At This Moment". The song was featured in 1985 as a backdrop for romantic interludes between characters Alex (Michael J. Fox) and Ellen (Tracy Pollan). Viewers responded by clamoring for the song, and in 1986, Rhino Records released By Request: The Best of Billy Vera & the Beaters, which featured the song . The single became a number one hit on its re-release, reaching the top in January 1987, and remained on the charts for 15 weeks . </P> <P> Before "At This Moment," Vera had a small career in movies and television including appearances in The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai, Late for Dinner, The Doors and soap opera Days of Our Lives . "At This Moment" propelled his movie career as he and the Beaters were featured prominently in the Bruce Willis movie Blind Date . He appeared in one episode of a TV series, Wiseguy and had several other roles on shows such as Baywatch, Boy Meets World, and a recurring role as Duke on Beverly Hills, 90210 as well as nine appearances on The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson . These roles would lead him into singing theme songs for TV shows, such as Empty Nest and The King of Queens, as well as voice acting on Cartoon Network cartoons . He served as band leader on Rick Dees' short - lived late - night talk show Into the Night on ABC in 1990 . </P> <P> During that period, Vera co-produced three Lou Rawls albums with his friend Michael Cuscuna, for Blue Note Records, including At Last, which reached number 1 on the Billboard jazz chart . Vera also produced Rawls's final album, Rawls Sings Sinatra, which remained on the jazz chart for over six months . Rawls recorded seven of Vera's songs, including "If I Were A Magician" (1989), "Room With A View" and "You Can't Go Home". In 1990, Vera's tune "Papa Come Quick (Jody & Chico)" was included on Bonnie Raitt's album, Luck Of The Draw . Vera also recorded as a duo with Nona Hendryx on the 1992 album You Have To Cry Some Time . </P>

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