| Billy J Kramer   Biography. Billy J. Kramer - vocals (born William Howard Ashton, August 19th 1943, Bootle) Mike Maxfield - lead guitar (born February 23rd 1944, Manchester) Robin Macdonald - rhythm guitar (born July 18th 1943, Nairn) Ray Jones - bass guitar (born October 20th 1939, Oldham died January 20th 2000) Tony Mansfield - drums (born May 28th 1943, Salford) Kramer was the lead singer for a Liverpool group called The Coasters when Brian Epstein spotted them playing at The Cavern. The Coasters did not want to turn professional so Epstein teamed Kramer up with accomplished Manchester band The Dakotas. Given access to several Lennon/McCartney songs (four of the first five singles were written by the duo), most of which were unused by The Beatles themselves, Kramer & The Dakotas embarked on a brief but spectacular career as hit-makers. Ray Jones left the group in July '64 and Macdonald switched to bass allowing the dynamic Mick Green (ex Johnny Kidd & The Pirates) to come in as lead guitarist. Following the failure of their last few singles, Kramer left The Dakotas in 1967 for an ultimately unsuccessful solo career. He later moved to the United States.  | 
