Billy Joe Royal
 |
This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. (March 2011) |
| 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 |
Biography [edit]
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 No. 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 successful 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."
Billy Joe Royal's career experienced a major second wind during the 2000s due to regular airplay on Oldies radio stations. His music was further exposed to younger generations through a movement known as by The Beat Army, an online music forum based on Facebook, which is operated by author and music producer, Paul Collins. Royal continues to tour regularly, performing concerts at casinos, music festivals and clubs in Canada, the United States, Japan and throughout Europe. Royal's setlists include a mixture of songs representing multiple genres from the 1960s-present.
Bill Joe Royal plays Robert Ally in the Indie Western film "Glass Bullets for Broken Hearts" co starring country singer Cody McCarver.[3]
Discography [edit]
Albums [edit]
| Year | Album | Chart Positions | RIAA | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country | US | CAN Country | |||
| 1965 | Billy Joe Royal | — | — | — | — |
| Down in the Boondocks | — | 96 | — | — | |
| 1967 | Billy Joe Royal featuring Hush | — | — | — | — |
| 1969 | Cherry Hill Park | — | 100 | — | — |
| 1980 | Billy Joe Royal | — | — | — | — |
| 1982 | Folio | — | — | — | — |
| 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 | — | — | — |
Singles [edit]
| 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 | "I've Got to Be Somebody" | — | 38 | — | 15 | |
| "It's a Good Time" | — | 104 | — | — | Single only | |
| "Heart's Desire" | — | 88 | — | 56 | Billy Joe Royal featuring Hush | |
| "Campfire Girls" | — | 91 | — | 68 | Single only | |
| 1967 | "Yo-Yo" | — | 117 | — | 42 | Billy Joe Royal featuring Hush |
| "These Are Not My People" | — | 113 | — | — | ||
| "The Greatest Love" | — | 117 | — | — | ||
| "Hush" | — | 52 | — | — | ||
| 1968 | "Storybook Children" | — | 117 | — | — | Single only |
| 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 No. 37 on the Canadian Adult Contemporary Tracks chart.
References [edit]
- ^ "1". http://billyjoeroyal.com/. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
- ^ Nowell, David (1999). Too Darn Soulful - The Story of Northern Soul. London: Robson Books. p. 118. ISBN 1-86105-270-7.
- ^ Forbes, Films. "1". A Cold Day In Hell. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
External links [edit]
- Billy Joe Royal official MySpace site
- Billy Joe Royal bookings & concert tour dates information
- Billy Joe Royal biography at Allmusic website
- Fansite biography
- The Beat Army Official Website
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
