Billy Joe Royal

Obituaries and remembrances
of steel guitarists, their friends and families

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Eddie Freeman
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Joined: 13 Feb 2007 1:41 pm
Location: Natchez Mississippi

Billy Joe Royal

Post by Eddie Freeman »

According to the Daily Sun in Gainesville Florida, Billy Joe Royal died. That's all the info I have as of now.
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Steve Green
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Location: Gulfport, MS, USA

Post by Steve Green »

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Richard Tipple
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Location: Ohio, USA

Post by Richard Tipple »

So sad,,I met Billy Joe, back in ,1987 in Parkersberg WVA, at a club called,The Hanger. The band I was in did the opening show. RIP Billy
frank rogers
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Post by frank rogers »

Loved his 1990's Country stuff with Sonny Garrish on Steel..Reggie Young on Guitar...and of course the great 60s hits..particulary "I Knew You When, Cherry Hill Park, Hush, and of course Boondocks. He was part of that great group of Atlanta area superstars..Joe South, Ray Stevens, Jerry Reed, Tommy Roe, and others. We don't see/hear that type of talent and style today..unfortunately. RIP...Billy Joe Royal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DzN3AQ8-yc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rD2IU4N ... 5&index=42

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iz4Kneqsk70
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Michael Johnstone
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Joined: 29 Oct 1998 1:01 am
Location: Sylmar,Ca. USA

Post by Michael Johnstone »

I met him in 1967 when he and I were both on one of those Dick Clark Caravan of Stars package tours. I spent 30+ days on a bus with him touring the Southern US from Fla to SoCal. Nice guy and a great singer and performer. Great memories. R.I.P.
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chris ivey
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Location: california (deceased)

Post by chris ivey »

..but i'll pin a note on your pillow, or you might not even notice i'm gone...
sorry to hear this.
love billy joe royal. great songs and a special voice.
..burn like a rocket...!
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Joe Casey
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Joined: 25 Jan 1999 1:01 am
Location: Weeki Wachee .Springs FL (population.9)

Post by Joe Casey »

I've always liked the guy enough to buy 3 of his Albums.
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Brett Day
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Location: Pickens, SC

Post by Brett Day »

I met Billy Joe Royal in the late eighties or early nineties when he played a show in Greenville, South Carolina at the former Greenville Braves baseball stadium. I was a kid at the time, and I'd heard maybe two, three or four of his songs and was a huge fan. I never will forget, I went to a show called a "Family Reunion show, and Billy Joe was one of the featured artists, along with Holly Dunn. I remember watching and listening to Billy Joe playing his show-he did a great show, and after the show, he came to the tent where I was, shook my hand, and said "Hello Brett". I had no idea how he knew my name, but it was an awesome experience! I also found out at one time he played steel too.
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Dave O'Brien
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Joined: 23 Feb 2002 1:01 am
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his steel man

Post by Dave O'Brien »

Anybody ever hear him with my friend Silvio Tucciarone on steel (mid 70's)?
Dave O'Brien
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www.myspace.com/daveobrienband
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Jerry Hayes
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Post by Jerry Hayes »

Dave, what ever happened to Silvio? We were friends for a short while when he lived in SoCal in the seventies. He was a top notch player for sure....JH in Va.
Don't matter who's in Austin (or anywhere else) Ralph Mooney is still the king!!!
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Mark Eaton
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Location: Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California

Post by Mark Eaton »

Sad news for sure.

I'll be hearing Down In the Boondocks in my head all day - not a bad thing at all. An iconic song Joe South penned song covered by many.

Rest in peace Billie Joe Royal.
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Tommy Alexander
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Joined: 21 Apr 1999 12:01 am
Location: Friendswood, Texas 77546

Billy Joe

Post by Tommy Alexander »

In the early 60's, I moved to Charleston, SC and I gathered up a rock band and we called it the "Majestics". We worked a lot around the RVA Club and many others.
Billy Joe was working in Savannah, GA and he was great entertainer and the girls liked him a lot.
Our band worked there several times and we would split the band there and it was great.
At that point, Joe South was the guitar player and a great one.
Later on, Joe South moved to Nashville and he did some song writing especially the song he wrote called, "A Rose Garden" and Lynn Anderson made a big hit on it.
Billy Joe was having some problems and Joe South finally got him to come to Nashville and Joe did a lot for Billy Joe Royal.
It was a wild world in the sixties and a lot of fun and some great times; it is too sorry that it Billy Joe Royal will eventually fade away, but he won't be forgotten.
For me, I still remember the good times in Charleston and Savannah.
May the Good lord let him rest in Peace..........
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Godfrey Arthur
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Post by Godfrey Arthur »

Godspeed Billy Joe.

His music is a bridge for many.

Joe South's Down in the Boondocks;

The word boondocks is an Americanized version of the Philippine dialect Tagalog word "bundok" which means mountain areas difficult to access. The word was picked up by the U.S. military serving in the Philippines.



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Len Amaral
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Post by Len Amaral »

I always love his voice as he put such emotion into a song. RIP....