Billy Joe Royal
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| Billy Joe Royal | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 3, 1942 Valdosta, Georgia, United States |
| Origin | Marietta, Georgia, United States |
| Genres | Rock and roll, country |
| Occupations | Singer |
| Instruments | Vocals, acoustic guitar, piano |
| Years active | 1950s–present |
| Labels | Sussex Columbia Atlantic Tower |
| Website | Official website |
Billy Joe Royal (born April 3, 1942, Valdosta, Georgia, United States) is an American singer.
Contents |
[edit] Biography
Born in Valdosta and raised in Marietta in 1942, Royal became a local star at Savannah, Georgia's Bamboo Ranch in the 1950s and 1960s. He is best known for the 1965 US Top 10 pop hit "Down in the Boondocks," which, along with the singles "I Knew You When" (Top 20, 1965) and "Hush" (1967), were written and produced by Joe South. His 1969 single, "Cherry Hill Park," peaked at #15 on the Billboard Hot 100.[1] In the 1970s his recording of "Heart's Desire" gained popularity for Northern soul enthusiasts and was regularly played in Northern soul nightclubs.[2]
During the 1980s, Royal scored a comeback with several Top 10 country hits, including "Tell It Like It Is," "Burned Like a Rocket," and "I'll Pin a Note on Your Pillow."
When his rejuvenated career as a country music hitmaker quieted down, he followed up with bookings throughout the 1990s in large country music bars and became a successful act on that circuit.
As of April 2011 he has had roles in independent films such as Glass Bullets for Broken Hearts co starring country singer Cody McCarver.[3]
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
| Year | Album | Chart Positions | RIAA | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country | US | CAN Country | |||
| 1965 | Billy Joe Royal | — | — | — | — |
| Down in the Boondocks | — | 96 | — | — | |
| 1969 | Cherry Hill Park | — | 100 | — | — |
| 1980 | Billy Joe Royal | — | — | — | — |
| 1987 | Looking Ahead | 21 | — | — | — |
| 1987 | The Royal Treatment | 5 | — | — | Gold |
| 1989 | Tell It Like It Is | 15 | — | 31 | — |
| 1990 | Out of the Shadows | 24 | — | — | — |
| 1991 | Greatest Hits | 32 | — | — | — |
[edit] Singles
| Year | Single | Chart Positions | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country | US | CAN Country | CAN | |||
| 1965 | "Down in the Boondocks" | — | 9 | — | 1 | Down in the Boondocks |
| "I Knew You When" | — | 14 | — | 1 | ||
| 1966 | "It's a Good Time" | — | 104 | — | — | Single only |
| "I've Got to Be Somebody" | — | 38 | — | 15 | Down in the Boondocks | |
| "Heart's Desire" | — | 88 | — | 56 | Singles only | |
| "Campfire Girls" | — | 91 | — | 68 | ||
| 1967 | "Yo-Yo" | — | 117 | — | 42 | |
| "These Are Not My People" | — | 113 | — | — | ||
| "The Greatest Love" | — | 117 | — | — | ||
| "Hush" | — | 52 | — | — | ||
| 1968 | "Storybook Children" | — | 117 | — | — | |
| 1969 | "Cherry Hill Park" | — | 15 | — | 8 | Cherry Hill Park |
| 1970 | "Every Night" | — | 113 | — | — | Singles only |
| 1971 | "Tulsa" | — | 86 | — | 81 | |
| "Poor Little Pearl" | — | 111 | — | 91 | ||
| 1978 | "Under the Boardwalk"A | — | 82 | — | 74 | |
| 1985 | "Burned Like a Rocket" | 10 | — | — | — | Looking Ahead |
| 1986 | "Boardwalk Angel" | 41 | — | 37 | — | |
| "I Miss You Already" | 14 | — | — | — | ||
| 1987 | "Old Bridges Burn Slow" | 11 | — | — | — | |
| "Members Only" (w/ Donna Fargo) | 23 | — | — | — | The Royal Treatment | |
| "I'll Pin a Note on Your Pillow" | 5 | — | 17 | — | ||
| 1988 | "Out of Sight and on My Mind" | 10 | — | 7 | — | |
| "It Keeps Right On Hurtin'" | 17 | — | * | — | ||
| 1989 | "Tell It Like It Is" | 2 | — | 2 | — | Tell It Like It Is |
| "Love Has No Right" | 4 | — | 3 | — | ||
| "Till I Can't Take It Anymore" | 2 | — | 3 | — | ||
| 1990 | "Searchin' for Some Kind of Clue" | 17 | — | 33 | — | Out of the Shadows |
| "A Ring Where a Ring Used to Be" | 33 | — | 43 | — | ||
| 1991 | "If the Jukebox Took Teardrops" | 29 | — | 24 | — | |
| 1992 | "I'm Okay (And Gettin' Better)" | 51 | — | 68 | — | Singles only |
| 2009 | "Hard Rock to Roll" | — | — | — | — | |
- A"Under the Boardwalk" also peaked at #37 on the Canadian Adult Contemporary Tracks chart.
[edit] References
- ^ "1". http://billyjoeroyal.com/. http://billyjoeroyal.com/. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
- ^ Nowell, David (1999). Too Darn Soulful - The Story of Northern Soul. London: Robson Books. pp. 118. ISBN 1 86105 270 7.
- ^ Forbes, Films. [forbesfilms.com "1"]. A Cold Day In Hell. forbesfilms.com. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
