Editing Billy J. Kramer (section)

==Latterly==
[[File:BillyAR.jpg|thumb|250x250px|Kramer in 2023, recording at Abbey Road Studios]]
After releasing "We're Doing Fine", which also missed the charts, the singer and group parted company. Kramer, then lived in [[Rugby, Warwickshire]], after marrying a local woman Ann Ginn there in 1968.<ref>{{cite web |title=LOOKING BACK - March 12, 2020 edition By John Phillpott |url=https://www.rugbyadvertiser.co.uk/heritage-and-retro/retro/looking-back-march-12-2020-edition-2449637 |work=Rugby Advertiser |access-date=9 December 2021}}</ref> He had a solo career over the next ten to fifteen years or so, working in cabaret and television with his new band, again from the [[Manchester]] area, consisting of Pete Heaton (bass), John Miller (drums) and Tim Randles (guitar); this later saw changes with Bob Price now on bass and Roger Bell on guitar. In the late 1970s, Kramer teamed up with Bedford musicians Mike Austin (bass), Max Milligan (guitar) and John Dillon (percussion), the one constant member throughout the changes in musicians at this time was his sound engineer Stewart Oakes, performing cabaret in the UK and Europe, whilst also recording "San Diego" and "Ships that Pass in the Night" – after which Kramer eventually went to live in the United States.

The Dakotas re-formed in the late 1980s and recruited vocalist Eddie Mooney and session musician Toni Baker. They still tour and record. Other latter-day members are drummer Pete Hilton and guitarist Alan Clare.

In 1983, Kramer released a solo single on the [[Rak Records|RAK]] label, "You Can't Live on Memories" / "Stood Up", which failed to chart. The following year, 1984, he released "Shootin' the Breeze" / "Doris Day Movie" on 'Mean Records'. Again, this failed to chart.

In 2005, Kramer recorded the song "Cow Planet" for ''Dog Train'', the children's album by [[Sandra Boynton]]. A long-term fan of Kramer, Boynton had sought him out for her project: in 1964, at the age of 11, ''Little Children'' became the first album she ever bought.

In late 2012, Kramer went back into the studio for the first time in years to record a new CD, ''I Won the Fight'', which was released in 2013. The CD features some new songs written by Kramer, as well as some covers.

In 2013, Kramer provided the introduction to the graphic novel ''[[The Fifth Beatle (graphic novel)|The Fifth Beatle]]'' by [[Vivek Tiwary]]. The book was released in November and spent several weeks on the ''[[The New York Times|New York Times]]'' best-seller list, reaching No. 1 in its third week of release.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hardcover Graphic Books|url=https://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/hardcover-graphic-books/list.html|work=[[The New York Times]] |date=17 December 2013 |access-date=17 December 2013}}</ref> He also released a new album, entitled ''I Won the Fight''.

In 2015, Kramer was part of the British Invasion 50th Anniversary tour, performing in the US and the UK.<ref>{{cite news |title=British Invasion 50th Anniversary Concert in Tarrytown, NY: A Review|url=http://paullevinson.blogspot.com/2015/03/british-invasion-50th-anniversary.html|work=Infinite Regress |date=1 March 2015 |access-date=3 March 2015}}</ref> The following year saw the publication of his autobiography ''Do You Want to Know A Secret'', co-written with [[Alyn Shipton]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.meetthebeatlesforreal.com/2016/07/do-you-want-to-know-secret-book-review.html|title=Do You Want to Know a Secret: Book Review|website=Meetthebeatlesforreal.com|access-date=8 October 2019}}</ref>
In February 2024 Billy J released a single “Are you with me” which charted on The Heritage Chart