![]() ![]() Country fans would tell you they bought Top 100 singles by Billy Joe including “I’ll Pin a Note on Your Pillow,” “Tell It Like It Is,” and “Till I Can’t Take It Anymore.” Thanks to these more recent C&W songs, as well as the old classic about the boy from down in the boondocks, Royal was welcome as part of touring shows featuring other older stars including Ronnie McDowell and B.J. It's been said that his song “Burned Like a Rocket” could've returned him to the Top Ten.except that radio stations began pulling it after the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. Though his national fame peaked 50 years ago, Billy scored a few lesser hits (including "Cherry Hill Park" in 1969) and made several C&W albums over the years. ![]() He died in his sleep a few nights ago, at his home in Morehead City, North Carolina.Ī down-home, nice and neighborly guy, Billy had a friendly nature, as you can see from this picture: Billy was born in Georgia, spending his early years in Marietta. Royal's last concert was at the Gwinnett County Fair in Georgia, back on September 24th. Yeah, the song was a hit back in 1965 but Billy Joe Royal (Ap– October 6, 2015) was still working, almost to the end. It was written by Joe South, who also gave the world "Games People Play" and "I Never Promised You a Rose Garden." The song charted higher in Great Britain (#3) than it did in the states (#9). Riley, a kind of "country crossover" that everyone could love. "Down in the Boondocks" was, like "Patches" by Bobby Goldsboro or "Harper Valley PTA" from Jeannie C. Billy autographed the back panel for me, and one thing I have to say about getting autographs of CD panels they preserve very nicely when put back in the plastic case. “I’ll Pin a Note on Your Pillow” was another hit in country for Royal.Ī third resurgence occurred for Royal in the 2000’s when his songs were regularly featured on oldies radio stations, and he toured regularly in North American, Europe, and Japan.īilly Joe Royal is survived by his ex-wife Michelle Royal and daughter Savannah.Yes, that's the "Greatest Hits" CD collection. His 1987 album The Royal Treatment was eventually certified gold. But Billy Joe persevered, and put together a successful country career throughout the late 80’s. His song “Burned Like a Rocket” was on its way to becoming a big hit in country when the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster struck in January of 1986, and radio programmers pulled the single. Royal when out of the way at the time to say he didn’t particularly consider himself country, but he was embraced by the genre nonetheless. It was still songs that hearkened back to the golden age of rock and pop, with a cover of “Tell It Like It Is” being his greatest success, peaking at #2 on the country charts. Then in the 80’s, Billy Joe Royal made a comeback in the country realm, though his sound didn’t seem to change. He stayed there with songs such as “Hush,” which went on to be recorded by Deep Purple, and “I knew You When.” Royal became known as one of the premier singers in the blue-eyed soul scene, but his career began to fade in the 70’s as the popular styles began to change. But it was the sentiment of the poor kid trying to court a woman of high society in 1965’s “Down in the Boondocks” written by Joe South that put Billy Joe on the popular music map. It started when the singer began playing the Bamboo Ranch in Savannah, GA where he met Roy Orbison, who encouraged him to pursue singing as a career. ![]() According to reports, he passed away quietly in his sleep.īilly Joe Royal began his music career in the pop and rock worlds with some massive singles that have since become standards of the American songbook. The Valdosta, Georgia native and world renown singer was 73-years-old. The “boy from down in the boondocks,” Billy Joe Royal, died on Tuesday, October 6th at his home in Marietta, North Carolina. One of the most revered and recognizable voices in American pop and country music has passed away. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |