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 No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100. In the 1970s his recording of "Heart's Desire" gained popularity for Northern soul enthusiasts and was regularly played in Northern soul nightclubs.
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.
Read more about this topic: Billy Joe Royal
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—Richard Holmes (b. 1945)
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