Billy Joe Royal – best known as the voice behind such ’60s hits as “Down in the Boondocks” and “Cherry Hill Park” – has passed away at the age of 73.
The cause of his death is unknown at this time.
The news of Royal’s passing was shared on Twitter this morning by singer BJ Thomas:
“My best friend Billy Joe Royal died this morning,” Thomas tweeted. “He was a sweet and talented man. Never a bad word. One of a kind.”
Royal’s blend of country and pop resulted in multiple Top 40 hits in the mid to late 60s.
His career stalled in the early 70s, but Royal soon regained popularity with the soulful single “Heart’s Desire.”
By the 1980s, he was back at the top of the charts, thanks to such country hits as “Tell It Like It Is” and “Burned Like a Rocket.”
Royal experienced a second career renaissance in the early 2000s, when regular airplay on numerous “oldies” stations introduced his music to a whole new generation of enthusiastic fans.
A member of the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, Royal recorded his final album in 2009. He was set to embark on a tour with Ronnie McDowell at the time of his death.
