Billy Lee Riley

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Billy Lee Riley (born October 5, 1933 - August 2, 2009 ) was a first generation Rockabilly musician, singer, record producer and songwriter who died in Jonesboro Arkansas.

Born in Pocahontas, Arkansas, the son of a sharecropper, Riley learned to play guitar from black farm workers. After 4 years in the Army, Riley first recorded in Memphis, Tennessee in 1955 before being lured to Sun Studios by Sam Phillips. He recorded “Trouble Bound” for Jack Clement and Slim Wallace. Sam Phillips obtained the rights and he released “Trouble Bound” b/w “”Rock With Me Baby” September 1,1956 (Sun 245). His first hit was “Flyin’ Saucers Rock and Roll” b/w “I Want You Baby” released February 23,1957 (Sun 260) after which he recorded “”Red Hot” b/w “Pearly Lee” released September 30,1957 (Sun 277) both with backing piano by Jerry Lee Lewis.

“Red Hot” was showing a lot of promise as a big hit record, but Sam Phillips pulled the promotion and switched it to “Great Balls Of Fire” by Jerry Lee Lewis. The record was pulled without a lot of sales. He had other Sun recordings and they, likewise, did not have a lot of sales as his promotion had stopped.

Considered good looking and with wild stage moves, Riley had a brief solo career with his backing band “The Little Green Men”. Riley and his Little Green Men were the main Sun studio band. They were Riley, Roland Janes, J.M. Van Eaton, Marvin Pepper, and Jimmy Wilson, later joined by Martin Willis.

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Popular tags: rockabilly, rock and roll, 50s, rock n roll, rock  See more

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Top Albums

• Classic Recordings 56-60
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• Red Hot: The Best of Billy Lee Riley
  Billy Lee Riley

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• Rockin' With Riley CD 1
  Billy Lee Riley

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• Rockin' With Riley CD 2
  Billy Lee Riley

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1		Red Hot			190
2		Rock With Me Baby			107
3		Flyin' Saucers Rock 'N' Roll			49
4		Swanee River Rock			47
5		Pearly Lee			44
6		No Name Girl			32
7		Got the Water Boiling			27
7		One More Time			27
9		Betty & Dupree			23
9		Dark Muddy Bottom			23
11		Baby Please Don't Go			21
12		Flying Saucers Rock 'n' Roll			20
13		I Want You Baby			19
14		Down By the Riverside			16
15		Searchin'			14

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