Photo: Columbia Records · Public domain · credits
Tier 3 · vertical & regional
Billy Joe Royal
Person · male · United States · Valdosta · born 1942 · died 2015 · recording since 1965
American singer (1942-2015)
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Also known as Billie Joe Royal · 比利·乔·羅伊爾
Timeline
14 events▣ Album 11◦ Birth 1★ Debut release 1† Death 1
1940s
1960s
· Debut release
Debut release: Down in the Boondocks
First documented Album in the MusicBrainz discography.
source: musicbrainz
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
Biography
English biography460 words · 2 sectionssource: wikipedia-en · licence CC BY-SA 4.0 · revision 1378679376
Biography
Billy Joe Royal (April 3, 1942 – October 6, 2015) was an American country soul singer. His most successful record was "Down in the Boondocks
Down in the BoondocksSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Pollyanna2Leaning on You3Heartaches and Teardrops4Funny How Time Slips Away5My Fondest Memories6Down in the Boondocks7I Knew You When2:328Those Railroad Tracks in Between9Steal Away10Oh What a Night11King of Fools12I've Got to Be Somebody3:01" in 1965.
Life and career
Born in Valdosta, Georgia, to Clarence and Mary Royal, and raised in Marietta, Georgia, Royal performed at the Georgia Jubilee in Atlanta during his teens. He formed his own rock and roll band, and became a local star at the Bamboo Ranch in Savannah in the late 1950s and early 1960s, where his singing style was influenced by African-American performers, including Sam Cooke.
Royal was a friend of performer and songwriter Joe South, and recorded what was intended as a demo of South's song "Down in the BoondocksDown in the BoondocksSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Pollyanna2Leaning on You3Heartaches and Teardrops4Funny How Time Slips Away5My Fondest Memories6Down in the Boondocks7I Knew You When2:328Those Railroad Tracks in Between9Steal Away10Oh What a Night11King of Fools12I've Got to Be Somebody3:01". The recording was heard at Columbia Records, who offered Royal a singing contract in 1965 and released his version of the song, produced by South. "Down in the Boondocks" remained his best-known song, reaching number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100, and number 38 in the UK.
He followed up his initial success with the singles "I Knew You When" (Top 20, 1965) and "Hush" (1967), also written and produced by Joe South. Another South composition, "Yo-Yo", just missed the top 40 in Canada and charted poorly in the U.S. when Royal released it in 1967, but a later remake by The Osmonds was a much greater success. His 1969 single, "Cherry Hill Park
Cherry Hill ParkSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1You Can't Manufacture Love2Mama' Song3Helping Hand4Ain't It The Truth5Down Home Lovin'6Cherryhill Park7Burning A Hole8If I Had It To Do Again9Pick Up The Pieces10You Can Make Me Feel Good11Children", peaked at No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100. In the 1970s his recording of "Heart's Desire" gained popularity among Northern soul enthusiasts and was regularly played in Northern soul nightclubs.
By the late 1970s, Royal had become a regular performer in Las Vegas, and also appeared as an actor in movies and on television. His last hit on the US pop charts was in 1978, when his version of "Under the Boardwalk" became a minor hit. However, he reinvented himself in the 1980s as a mainstream country star, and had his first hit on the country music chart in 1985 with "Burned Like a Rocket", released on the Atlantic label. His other country hits included "I'll Pin a Note on Your Pillow" (1987), "Tell It Like It Is
Tell It Like It IsSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Tell It Like It Is3:002Kiss and Say Goodbye3:183Slip Away3:134He Don't Know2:525Cross My Heart and Hope to Try3:266Love Has No Right3:037The Truth Is I Lied3:068Till I Can't Take It Anymore3:589I Was Losing You3:3410What's the Matter Baby3:2811Love Is a Fulltime Job3:27", and "Till I Can't Take It Anymore" (both 1989). His successes on the country charts continued until the early 1990s.
Royal continued to tour regularly, performing concerts at casinos, music festivals, and clubs in North America, Japan, and throughout Europe. His set lists included a mixture of songs representing multiple genres from the 1960s onwards. He also played Robert Ally in the indie Western film, Billy the Kid (2013), co-starring country singer Cody McCarver.
Royal died in his sleep on October 6, 2015, at his home in Morehead City, North Carolina. He is buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Morehead City, North Carolina.
Discography & profile
Normalised profile
Percentiles are computed over every artist in the database, so a tier-3 artist can still sit in the 95th percentile on a single axis.
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 17 | 76.4th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 26 | 89.3th |
| Studio albums | 12 | 92.8th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 14 | 90.5th |
| Recording span (years) | 50 | 90.9th |
| Genres | 1 | 56th |
Percentiles are computed at render time; missing values mean the artist has no data on that axis.
Discography (26 release groups · 12 studio albums)
Albums · 12
1965 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 12 tracks · 5:33
1Pollyanna2Leaning on You3Heartaches and Teardrops4Funny How Time Slips Away5My Fondest Memories6Down in the Boondocks7I Knew You When2:328Those Railroad Tracks in Between9Steal Away10Oh What a Night11King of Fools12I've Got to Be Somebody3:011969 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 11 tracks
1You Can't Manufacture Love2Mama' Song3Helping Hand4Ain't It The Truth5Down Home Lovin'6Cherryhill Park7Burning A Hole8If I Had It To Do Again9Pick Up The Pieces10You Can Make Me Feel Good11Children1987 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 11 tracks · 42:23
1I'll Pin A Note On Your Pillow4:122Give-em My Number3:453He'll Have To Go4:474Look What You've Done To My Heart4:015Let It Rain3:546Members Only3:587It's Who's In Your Heart3:078Out Of Sight And On my Mind3:509It Keeps Right On Hurtin'2:5910She Don't Cry Like She Used To4:0611A Place For The Heartache3:441989 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 11 tracks · 36:25
1Tell It Like It Is3:002Kiss and Say Goodbye3:183Slip Away3:134He Don't Know2:525Cross My Heart and Hope to Try3:266Love Has No Right3:037The Truth Is I Lied3:068Till I Can't Take It Anymore3:589I Was Losing You3:3410What's the Matter Baby3:2811Love Is a Fulltime Job3:271990 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 11 tracks · 36:42
1Searchin' for Some Kind of Clue3:272Before the Night Is Over2:533Old Friends Don't Make Good Lovers3:084There's a Method to My Sadness3:085Free Me4:176From Lover to Lover3:367How Could You Leave Me3:038We Had Love3:119A Ring Where a Ring Used to Be3:2610How Hard Can It Be3:0011If the Jukebox Took Teardrops3:331998 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 10 tracks · 29:54
1Down In The Boondocks2:412Save The Last Dance For Me2:383Please Come To Boston4:004Driftaway3:575Cherry Hill Park2:546I Knew You When2:377Rose Garden2:308Raindrops2:539Hush2:2510Hey, Won't You Play3:191998 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 12 tracks · 40:07
1Down in the Boondocks2:392Stay Close to Home3:543Tell It Like It Is3:074Till I Can't Take It Anymore4:045She's Making a Comeback3:366I Knew You When2:397I'll Pin a Note on Your Pillow4:148Hush2:599One Too Many3:2610Love Has No Right3:2211Baby Have Mercy on You3:0712It Keeps Right on A-Hurtin'3:00Down in the Boondocks and Other Huge Hits
2005 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 10 tracks · 28:18
1Down in the Boondocks2:332I Fought the Law2:213Cherry Hill Park2:584Last Kiss2:485I Knew You When2:466The Twist2:377I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry2:46896 Tears3:019Making Believe3:0310Amen3:25American Royal: Best Of Billy Joe Royal
2010 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 25 tracks · 1:15:04
1I Knew You When2:322Cherry Hill Park2:493Tulsa3:264Stand By Me3:075On Broadway2:536Down In The Boondocks2:387You've Really Got A Hold On Me3:098Spanish Harlem3:059Please Come To Boston3:5610Nobody But You2:3411Lavender Blue2:2612How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You3:0113Hush2:2314To Love Somebody4:2615If I Could3:1316This Magic Moment2:5017Save The Last Dance For Me2:3718Drift Away3:5519Hey Won't You Play3:1820I Gotta Be Somebody3:0721Rose Garden2:2922Up On The Roof2:3123My Girl2:5324Let Your Love Flow2:3625So Into You3:102015 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 10 tracks · 30:37
1Cracklin’ Rosie3:012Crying3:333Do You Love as Good as You Look2:574Good Ol’ Boys2:165I Love a Rainy Night2:476Love on the Rocks3:397Oh No2:508The Old Songs4:339Wake up Little Susie2:1610Yesterday’s Songs2:452019 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 22 tracks · 55:50
1Baby, I’m Thinking Of You2:262Never In A Hundred Years2:213We Tried2:234Wait For Me Baby2:045Nobody Loves You But Me3:066Get Behind Me Devil2:277Movies In My Mind2:258Down In The Boondocks2:349Watching From The Bandstand2:2710Perhaps2:0511If It Wasn´T For A Woman2:1912Don´T Wait Up For Me Mama2:2413Mountain Woman4:0514It´S A Good Time2:3115We Haven´T A Moment To Lose2:1316Should I Come Back3:0117Dark Glasses2:3718Really You2:3619Hush2:2820You Make Me Feel Like A Man2:0021Mama Didn´T Raise No Fools2:5122I´M Specialized2:27— · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 12 tracks · 40:16
1Burned Like A Rocket3:412Run Around Town3:153Old Bridges Burn Slow3:274Good Thing2:385The HardTimes3:126I'm Not A Rock (I'm A Rolling Stone)3:057Boardwalk Angel3:358Sad Cliches3:159You'd Better Go4:0510I Miss You Already3:1411We've Both Got A Lot To Learn3:0812Another Endless Night3:41
Single · 8
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | I Knew You When / Steal AwaySearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracks · 4:47AI Knew You When2:32 BSteal Away2:15 | 1965 | ||
| 1967 | The Greatest LoveSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracks · 4:52AThe Greatest Love2:23 BThese Are Not My People2:29 | 1967 | ||
| 1967 | Hush / Watching From the BandstandSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracks · 5:00AHush2:28 BWatching From the Bandstand2:32 | 15 August 1967 | ||
| 1969 | Cherry Hill ParkSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracks · 5:20ACherry Hill Park2:44 BHelping Hand2:36 | 1969 | ||
| 1970 | TulsaSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracks · 6:071Tulsa3:36 2Pick Up The Pieces2:31 | 1970 | ||
| 1985 | Burned Like A Rocket / Lonely Loving YouSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracks · 6:06ABurned Like a Rocket2:21 BLonely Loving You3:45 | 1985 | ||
| 1987 | I'll Pin A Note On Your Pillow / A Place for a HeartacheSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracks · 7:53AI'll Pin a Note on Your Pillow4:10 BA Place for the Heartache3:43 | 1987 | ||
| 1987 | Out Of Sight And On My Mind / She Don't Cry Like She Used ToSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracks · 7:54AOut of Sight and on My Mind3:49 BShe Don't Cry Like She Used To4:05 | 1987 |
Album · 6
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 20 Greatest HitsSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 20 tracks · 1:00:241Down in the Boondocks2:43 2Cherryhill Park2:54 3I Knew You When2:37 4Up on the Roof2:34 5On Broadway2:52 6Save the Last Dance for Me2:35 7Drift Away3:59 8Hush2:28 9If I Could3:17 10To Love Somebody4:25 11Stand by Me3:06 12Rose Garden2:30 13Tulsa3:34 14Campfire Girls2:18 15I've Got to Be Somebody3:08 16Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head2:53 17Please Come to Boston4:23 18Lavender Blue2:31 19Nobody but You2:40 20Spanish Harlem2:57 | Compilation | 1988 | |
| 1989 | Greatest HitsSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 10 tracks · 27:281Down in the Boondocks2:36 2I Knew You When2:34 3King of Fools3:02 4I've Got to Be Somebody3:03 5Heartaches and Teardrops2:26 6Cherry Hill Park3:03 7Steal Away2:17 8Hush2:30 9Save the Last Dance for Me2:57 10Yo-Yo3:00 | Compilation | 1989 | |
| 1990 | Greatest HitsSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 11 tracks1Cherry Hill Park 2Down in the Boondocks 3I Knew You When 4Bring It on Home 5I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry 6Your Cheatin' Heart 7Luckenbach, Texas 8Solitary Man 9Amanda 10Middle Age Crazy 11Makin' Believe | Compilation | 1990 | |
| 1991 | Greatest HitsSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 10 tracks · 35:031Burned Like a Rocket3:40 2I Miss You Already3:14 3Love Has No Right3:05 4Old Bridges Burn Slowly3:28 5Boardwalk Angel3:34 6I'll Pin a Note on Your Pillow4:13 7Till I Can't Take It Anymore4:00 8Tell It Like It Is3:01 9Out of Sight and on My Mind3:51 10It Keeps Right on Hurtin'2:57 | Compilation | 12 February 1991 | |
| 1993 | Down in the Boondocks: 20 Great SongsSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 20 tracks · 59:561Down in the Boondocks2:41 2I Knew You When2:34 3I've Got to Be Somebody3:07 4Campfire Girls2:16 5Hush2:26 6Cherryhill Park2:52 7Tulsa3:31 8On Broadway2:51 9Up on the Roof2:33 10Drift Away3:58 11Stand by Me3:04 12Please Come to Boston4:23 13Lavender Blue2:30 14Rose Garden2:30 15Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head2:53 16If I Could3:15 17To Love Somebody4:23 18Nobody but You2:39 19Spanish Harlem2:58 20Save the Last Dance for Me2:32 | Compilation | 1993 | |
| 2008 | 28 Golden ClassicsSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 28 tracks · 1:23:491Please Come to Boston4:01 2Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song3:22 3How Sweet It Is3:06 4So Into You3:10 5Let Your Love Flow2:39 6Another Saturday Night2:31 7This Magic Moment2:50 8Save the Last Dance for Me2:37 9You Got a Hold On Me3:09 10My Girl2:58 11Down In the Boondocks2:42 12Cherry Hill Park2:54 13I Knew You When2:37 14Up On the Roof2:31 15On Broadway2:53 16Stand By Me3:07 17Hush2:27 18If I Could3:15 19To Love Somebody4:26 20Rose Garden2:29 21Tulsa3:32 22Campfire Girls2:18 23I Gotta Be Somebody3:07 24Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head2:53 25Lavender Blue2:31 26Drift Away3:57 27Nobody But You2:42 28Spanish Harlem3:05 | Compilation | 1 June 2008 |
Stats & PK
Percentile within all 23,672 published artists.Put Billy Joe Royal head-to-head →
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 17 | 76.4th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 26 | 89.3th |
| Studio albums | 12 | 92.8th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 14 | 90.5th |
| Recording span (years) | 50 | 90.9th |
| Genres | 1 | 56th |
Awards & honours
Where this record comes from
portrait—Wikimedia Commons · Public domain · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Billy_Joe_Royal.pngaliases/urls—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/4bf357d0-942c-4a0f-a504-2e20d65e953adiscography—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/4bf357d0-942c-4a0f-a504-2e20d65e953acore—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q863142genre—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q863142seed-list—wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Joe_Royalbiography—wikipedia-en · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Joe_Royal
Why this artist is in the database
- List of country music performers
Tier rule: curated genre/region list
Image: Columbia Records · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Wikidata: Q863142 · MusicBrainz: 4bf357d0-942c-4a0f-a504-2e20d65e953a
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