Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Today’s artist Billy Vera released what he felt was a huge hit, At The Moment. But it failed in 1981… Years went by and Billy’s prospects dwindled… he thought his career was over. But then in the mid-80s, he caught a lucky break. A popular TV show, Family Ties, played At This Moment on an episode and millions of viewers were blown away, what was this song? People were calling the TV station, they were writing letters… they wanted to buy the album, but the record was out of print… Billy Vera worked with an indie label to get it re-released and At This Moment became a #1 hit in 1987 in what might be the greatest song comeback of all time. Billy tells us the story of scoring a smash hit at 43! Next on Professor of Rock.
#classicrock #shorts #80smusic #onehitwonder
I’m excited to bring you another episode from our series Revelations- where featured artists reveal rare stories about their biggest songs, along with fascinating insight about their careers.
On this installment of Revelations, we are going to relive an absolute billboard chart miracle. As a song that stiffed on the charts at #79 in 1981 made an unlikely comeback in 1985 and 1986 when they first used the song in several episodes of Family Ties and then went all the way to #1 in 1987 Billy Vera and the Beaters had a long trip to #1 with their heart-wrenching love song At This Moment. If this song isn’t Bottled Lightening I don’t know what is… Except technically they weren’t a one-hit wonder. Billy Vera started out in the industry very young. His parents were both in show biz with his father a celebrated radio and Television announcer and his mother was a member of the Ray Charles singers backing Perry Como.
Billy began in 1962 as a member of a band called The Resolutions. He also wrote for everyone from Ricky Nelson and Fats Domino to the Shirelles and Dolly Parton In fact, the song he wrote for Dolly called I really got the feeling went to #1.
He formed the Beaters with friend Chuck Fiore and they released the album Billy and the Beaters in 1981 with their first single I Can Take Care of Myself just made the top 40 at #39. They were excited for the prospects of their next song, At This Moment but it broke down after entering the top 100 failing to go further. Up next Billy Vera himself will tell us the unbelievable story of how his song literally came back from the dead to become one of the biggest hits of 1987.
This episode is sponsored by Zenni Eyewear the brand of glasses I jam daily. if you need a pair of glasses or sunglasses Zenni is the only choice. You create your look, you put in your prescription, and you pay less than a vinyl record. You’ll be amazed. Check it out today. Billy Vera with the story.
I think every '80s kid has a memory of this #1 hit.
Today’s artist Billy Vera released what he felt was a huge hit, At The Moment. But it failed in 1981… Years went by and Billy’s prospects dwindled… he thought his career was over. But then in the mid-80s, he caught a lucky break. A popular TV show, Family Ties, played At This Moment on an episode and millions of viewers were blown away, what was this song? People were calling the TV station, they were writing letters… they wanted to buy the album, but the record was out of print… Billy Vera worked with an indie label to get it re-released and At This Moment became a #1 hit in 1987 in what might be the greatest song comeback of all time. Billy tells us the story of scoring a smash hit at 43! Next on Professor of Rock.
#classicrock #shorts #80smusic #onehitwonder
I’m excited to bring you another episode from our series Revelations- where featured artists reveal rare stories about their biggest songs, along with fascinating insight about their careers.
On this installment of Revelations, we are going to relive an absolute billboard chart miracle. As a song that stiffed on the charts at #79 in 1981 made an unlikely comeback in 1985 and 1986 when they first used the song in several episodes of Family Ties and then went all the way to #1 in 1987 Billy Vera and the Beaters had a long trip to #1 with their heart-wrenching love song At This Moment. If this song isn’t Bottled Lightening I don’t know what is… Except technically they weren’t a one-hit wonder. Billy Vera started out in the industry very young. His parents were both in show biz with his father a celebrated radio and Television announcer and his mother was a member of the Ray Charles singers backing Perry Como.
Billy began in 1962 as a member of a band called The Resolutions. He also wrote for everyone from Ricky Nelson and Fats Domino to the Shirelles and Dolly Parton In fact, the song he wrote for Dolly called I really got the feeling went to #1.
He formed the Beaters with friend Chuck Fiore and they released the album Billy and the Beaters in 1981 with their first single I Can Take Care of Myself just made the top 40 at #39. They were excited for the prospects of their next song, At This Moment but it broke down after entering the top 100 failing to go further. Up next Billy Vera himself will tell us the unbelievable story of how his song literally came back from the dead to become one of the biggest hits of 1987.
This episode is sponsored by Zenni Eyewear the brand of glasses I jam daily. if you need a pair of glasses or sunglasses Zenni is the only choice. You create your look, you put in your prescription, and you pay less than a vinyl record. You’ll be amazed. Check it out today. Billy Vera with the story.
I think every '80s kid has a memory of this #1 hit.
