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Kramer was a British Rail fitter until Beatles manager Brian Epstein signed him in 1963. Epstein put him with the Manchester group The Dakotas and got them to record some songs written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. They immediately scored a #2 UK hit with "Do You Want To Know a Secret," the first ever cover of a Lennon and McCartney song to chart. The follow up "Bad To Me," which was written specifically by John Lennon for the group, became their first UK chart topper. After another Len...

Kramer was a British Rail fitter until Beatles manager Brian Epstein signed him in 1963. Epstein put him with the Manchester group The Dakotas and got them to record some songs written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. They immediately scored a #2 UK hit with "Do You Want To Know a Secret," the first ever cover of a Lennon and McCartney song to chart. The follow up "Bad To Me," which was written specifically by John Lennon for the group, became their first UK chart topper. After another Lennon and McCartney Top Five single, "I'll Keep You Satisfied," they recorded this, which became their second UK #1 hit and their first American hit. Kramer's real name is William Ashton. John Lennon suggested adding the "J" so he would stand out from other singers with the same last name.