Billy Barton, born John Grimes on November 21, 1929, in Kentucky, was a prominent country singer-songwriter known for his contributions to the genre in the mid-20th century. He began his recording career in 1952 with Abbott Records, collaborating with the then-unknown Johnny Horton. Barton married singer Wanda Wayne in 1954, with whom he recorded several duets. He later signed with King Records in 1955 and ventured into rockabilly with releases on the Fire label in 1958.

Barton is perhaps best remembered for his songwriting, particularly the hit "A Dear John Letter," which became a No. 1 hit in 1953 for Ferlin Husky and Jean Shepard, and helped launch their careers. He also wrote its sequel, "Forgive Me John," and the Jim Reeves and Ginny Wright duet "I Love You," which reached No. 3 on the country charts in 1954. Webb Pierce's top-10 hit "You'll Come Back" in 1958 was another of Barton's compositions. His songs were covered by notable artists such as Bobby Bare, Skeeter Davis, Red Sovine, Pat Boone, Loretta Lynn, and Ernest Tubb, among others.

Throughout his career, Barton registered over 200 songs with BMI and was a performer on The Louisiana Hayride. He passed away on October 8, 2011, in Florida, leaving behind a legacy of influential country music.