Thankfully, ‘I Miss You Already’ and ‘Old Bridges Burn Slow’ succeeded, proving it wasn’t a one-hit wonder sort of thing.”Īlthough both pop and country purists criticized Royal’s seeming switch in genres, Billy Joe maintained he didn’t really change styles at all, and a listen to his 1960s’ hits and subsequent successes of the 1980s, attest to the fact that he was still a champion of blue-eyed soul, not unlike T. “Especially after my follow-up single – ‘Boardwalk Angel’ – bombed!. “I almost had a nervous breakdown over that,” recalled Royal. Though the song had nothing to do with the problem at hand, strangely enough, DJs quit programming Royal’s record just because of its title. That, too, should’ve been a bigger record, but just when peaking, NASA’s space shuttle Challenger exploded on Jan. It was in a production-partnership with producer-songwriter Nelson Larkin that Royal found further song successes via Atlantic Records’ country imprint, notably thanks to Gary Burr’s poignant “Burned Like a Rocket” (#10, 1985). Thank goodness I stuck by what I believed in.”
In ’73, he revisited The Drifters’ “This Magic Moment” for MGM, but when that didn’t take off, he drifted chartless among various indie labels, though he enjoyed a modest success on “Under the Boardwalk,” in 1978, on the Private Stock label.ĭuring that decade, he said he worked regularly doing engagements in Las Vegas and Lake Tahoe, as well as making TV appearances: “It’s hell to be 25 years old, and you’re a has-been. Nonetheless, Billy Joe lived the life of every young singer’s dream, guesting on all the top radio and TV programs of the era, being featured on Dick Clark’s Cavalcade of Stars tour as a teen idol, and chalked up additional South successes such as “Yo-Yo,” “Hush” and “Don’t You Be Ashamed (To Call My Name).” He had the distinction of cutting the first recording on “I Never Promised You a Rose Garden” in 1967, prior to its writer South’s version and that of its ultimate hit-maker, Lynn Anderson, in 1970. But Billy didn’t really like the song. in Cherry Hill Park.” Otherwise, it might’ve ranked right up there with “Down In the Boondocks.”
Incidentally, the latter 1969 single was deemed too controversial by some DJs to play, since Mary its main character “was such a thrill after dark. Released in 1965, “Down In the Boondocks” peaked at #9, followed by a trio of Billboard Top 40 chartings: “I Knew You When” (#14) “I’ve Got To Be Somebody” (#38) and “Cherry Hill Park” (#15). Lowery got South’s demo to Columbia Records, which gladly welcomed both song and its singer to the label, launching Royal’s first real shot at stardom. “Because my voice was similar, I was chosen to cut it for a demo,” said Billy Joe, who earlier had cut two obscure singles on Fairlane, a regional label in 1961: “Never In a Hundred Years” and “Dark Glasses.” According to Royal, friend South wanted to get his “Down In the Boondocks” to Gene Pitney (known for the hits “Town Without Pity” and “Liberty Valance”) and didn’t know how, but boss-man Lowery had other ideas. It was in Atlanta that he met music publisher Bill Lowery, working with such promising artists as Ray Stevens, Jerry Reed, Freddy Weller and Joe South.
By age 11, he was singing on his uncle’s radio show after learning to play steel guitar, he performed at 14 on The Georgia Jubilee and in high school performed with his own group, The Corvettes. residence.īorn in Valdosta, Royal grew up in Marietta, just north of Atlanta, learning to play piano and drums. Reportedly, the 73-year-old artist died in his sleep at his home in Morehead City, N.C.Ī former resident of Nashville, his passing merited only five paragraphs on page 9 in The Tennessean newspaper, which even cited his home-town of Marietta (Ga.) as his N.C.
6, lived his life to its full potential, attaining success in both pop and country music circles. NASHVILLE - Singer Billy Joe Royal, who died Oct. “Billy Joe Royal was well known for his blue-eyed soul sound in pop and country.”