South, as it happened, had hoped to pitch the song to Gene Pitney (who was already a popular star) and requested that Royal record a demo of the tune. It was South, in fact, who wrote "Down in the Boondocks," the recording that made Royal a star. There he made a number of cover recordings and made contact again with South. When these early demos failed to attract attention, he moved to Cincinnati in an ongoing quest for a recording contract. Working five-hour stints on stage and maintaining six-day workweeks, Royal likewise established professional associations with leading R&B artists-the Isley Brothers and Sam Cooke among others.īeginning in 1962 Royal taped an assortment of low-budget demos and singles, and sent them to Motown and other major labels. During this period Royal shared living quarters for a time with songwriter Joe South, and the two developed a personal friendship. Royal also formed his own band, Billy Joe and the Corvettes, during high school, and by age 16 he was performing locally on a regular basis.Īfter graduation Royal moved to Savannah, where for two years he made regular appearances at the city's popular soul and rhythm-and-blues clubs. The program featured prominent guest artists and brought Royal into professional contact with classic country music artists such as Ray Stevens, Jerry Reed, and various members of the Grand Ole Opry radio barn dance cast. At age 14 Royal joined a musical revue called Georgia Jubilee. He then learned to play the steel guitar. He delivered newspapers as a schoolboy, but by age 11 he was in pursuit of a show-business career, beginning with regular singing appearances on his uncle's radio show. The family moved to Marietta when Royal was seven years of age, and to Atlanta three years later. He was the son of a self-employed truck driver. Royal was born on Ap(or 1945, according to some sources) in Valdosta, Georgia. Clear and direct in his vocal delivery, Royal performed on guitar, piano, and drums, and also made his mark as a published composer. He earned stardom in his own right in the 1960s after the release of a top ten hit single, "Down in the Boondocks." Despite periods of low visibility, Royal's popularity endured through the next three decades and into the new millennium. Rising from the unpretentious background of a Georgia schoolboy, Billy Joe Royal was rubbing elbows with the most popular country and rhythm-and-blues performers of the 1950s by the time he had graduated from high school. Addresses: Booking-The Bobby Roberts Company, Inc., P.O. Nash Country Weekly sends condolences to Billy Joe’s family and friends.Born on April 3, 1942, in Valdosta, GA. His last charted single was 1992’s “I’m Okay (And Gettin’ Better).” Over the years, Billy Joe stayed busy on tour, often appearing in package shows with such acts as B.J. His soulful, Georgia-bred vocals fit perfectly within the country realm and vaulted Billy Joe onto the charts with hits including “Burned Like a Rocket” and “Old Bridges Burn Slow.” His biggest country hit came in 1989 with his cover of “Tell It Like It Is,” which landed at the No. 2 spot on the country charts. Subsequent pop hits included “I Knew You When,” “Hush”-also covered by rock band Deep Purple-and “Cherry Hill Park.” Billy Joe Royal’s 1989 album, Tell It Like It Isĭuring the 1980s, Billy Joe made a successful transition to country music. According to reports, Billy Joe was set to resume his tour with Ronnie McDowell in November.īilly Joe, born and raised in Georgia, achieved instant fame in the rock world with his debut single, “Down in the Boondocks,” which peaked at No. 9 in 1965. Billy Joe Royal, who went from early pop stardom to a successful country career, died suddenly in his sleep at age 73 at his home in North Carolina on Tuesday (Oct. 6).
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