The country music world has lost another iconic voice as Billy Joe Royal passed away at his home in Marietta, North Carolina on Tuesday night at the age of 73. According to several reports, he died in his sleep.

Billy Joe had quite the dual career, having first found success in the 1960s as a pop artist and then again in the 80s as a country singer.

He was signed to Columbia Records in the 60s where he released hits like "Down in the Boondocks", "I Knew You When", and "Cherry Hill Park", which was his last Top-40 hit according to Billboard.

After that success and bouncing through multiple smaller labels, he found a home at Atlantic Records in Nashville.

He enjoyed success with several Top-10 country hits including "Burned Like a Rocket", "Tell It Like It Is" and "I'll Pin a Note on Your Pillow".

The singer's most recent project was an album released in 2009 titled, "My First Gospel Album".

The Valdosta, Georgia native was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 1988.


 

On a personal note, I will always have fond memories of Billy Joe Royal. I remember being turned on to his music by one of my sister in-laws. She had a cassette tape of his 1987 album "The Royal Treatment" which featured "I'll Pin a Note on Your Pillow" and "Out of Sight and On My Mind" among others.

I remember wearing that cassette out until it started stretching and warbling during playback.

Fast forward a few years and while I was a young buck in the radio business, I got a chance to visit with him after a show he did with the station at the now defunct Lafayette club Back-To-Back.

I just remember how nice of a guy he was to me, this early-20s no-name , know-nothing disc jockey who could do very little for his career. But instead, he knew I was a fan of music (and of course his in particular) and he treated me like an old friend.

He invited me on his bus and we visited for several minutes over a cup of Community Coffee (funny the small details you remember after all these years). We talked everything from the mundane to sports to our love for music of all kinds. Although I do recall Billy Joe expressing his deep affection for swamp pop music, a style not all that far from his own brand.

For him, it was probably just another day on the road doing his job. To me, it was a lifelong memory and a lesson on how to treat the people you run across in your everyday life.

Rest in peace Billy Joe, my friend.

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