William “Billy Falcon” Falcone was one of several Long Island songwriter-musicians alongside Billy Joel and Harry Chapin who built up a big enough following to attract a record label and sign a deal in the 1970s. Despite a prediction in Billboard that “Sail Away”, a single from his first album, would make the Hot 100, none of his first three albums or their singles charted.

In 1983, Falcon released an EP with his wife Myla featuring a new wave danceable rock sound including a song mixed by Madonna producer John “Jellybean” Benitez. Four years later, Myla died after a two-year battle with breast cancer, leaving Billy and their four year old daughter Rose behind. The songs on his 1988 album Haunted Guitar were dedicated to “my precious Myla and my sweet angel baby Rose”.

In 1989, Falcon got a call from a friend who knew someone working for Jon Bon Jovi claiming Jon remembered Falcon performing in New Jersey years earlier and was still a big fan. Falcon sent six new songs to Jon, who asked for more, then signed Falcon to his new label Jambco. The two wrote “Sometimes It’s A Bitch” for Stevie Nicks for her 1991 greatest hits album Timespaces.

Meanwhile, Jon recruited guitarist Aldo Nova, bassist Randy Jackson (later on American Idol), drummer Kenny Aronoff (John Mellencamp) and producer Danny Kortchmar (Bon Jovi) to help Falcon record his fifth album Pretty Blue World on Jambco/Mercury Records. Its lead single “Power Windows” reached the top 40 in late 1991 and the success changed Falcon’s life overnight, as his daughter Rose later recalled:

We lived in Long Island with my grandparents. I slept in the hallway. My dad didn’t have a car. He would take me to school on his bicycle. (After “Power Windows” became a hit) I rode to school in a limousine. It was so crazy.

At the suggestion of her management, Falcon toured with Nicks that summer. Don Henley used the same management company, heard Falcon’s music, and chose him as the opening act for his fall tour in support of End Of The Innocence. Falcon then opened for Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora on his solo tour that November. In 1992, Falcon performed at Farm Aid V alongside John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Lynyrd Skynyrd and others.

When his next album for Mercury Letters From A Paper Ship (1994) did not chart and had no charting singles, Falcon seemed to disappear from the music scene. He actually did record another album but felt his label “was in no position to dedicate the kind of resources I would have needed in order for that record to ever see the light of day, and have the slightest chance”. So he worked to get the rights to the recordings back, then shelved it indefinitely.

Falcon began releasing music again on his own personal label in 2003, beginning with Songs About Girls. The following year, he put out his shelved album from the 90s under the title Released. He has also been active as a member of the band Sowing Circle.

However, he has become most known for his songwriting partnership with Jon Bon Jovi, having been credited as co-writer on more than 40 songs released on Bon Jovi albums including “Because We Can”, a top 40 hit in seven countries. In 2018, Jon thanked Falcon during his band’s Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction speech:

Billy Falcon, also my dear friend and collaborator, thank you for being the quintessential singer-songwriter.