“Billy Swan” is an American country singer-songwriter who learned drums, piano and guitar and began writing songs as a child. He is best known for his 1974 single, I Can Help. The story goes that Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge had bought Billy Swan a small “RMI” organ as a wedding present. Billy was fiddling around with it when the chorus of I Can Help “appeared.” Twenty minutes later he had written the lyrics.
In the USA I Can Help topped the “US Billboard Hot 100” as well as reaching number 1 on the Country chart. The song was a hit throughout most of Europe and also reached number 1 in Australia and New Zealand.
I Can Help is generally recognized as being Billy Swan’s only major hit single release. However, he continued to have success as a songwriter for other artists and as a session musician.