Billy Lee Riley: Biography

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• Discography
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• Carl Perkins
• Elvis Presley
• Sonny Burgess
• Warren Smith
• Jerry Lee Lewis
• Eddie Cochran
• Roy Orbison

• Sun
• Sonny Boy Williamson
• The Maddox Brothers & Rose
• Roosevelt Sykes
• Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys
• Robert Johnson
• Jimmie Rodgers

• Dan Penn
• Robert Gordon
• The Shadows
• The Cramps

• Jack Clement
• Ray Scott
• Jerry West
• Billy Riley

Born:

Oct 5, 1933 in Pocohontas, AR

Died:

Aug 2, 2009 in Jonesboro, AR

Genres:

50s Music, Folk & Country Rock Music

Decades Active:

1950's|1960's|1970's|1980's|1990's

Artistic Quality

Medium

Cultural Impact

Medium

Popularity

Low

Ratings Guide

Billy Lee Riley is a rockabilly singer and multi-instrumentalist. An alumnus of Sun Records, he was one of the most crazed, unabashed rockers that label had to offer -- in the company of Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Sonny Burgess, that's saying a lot. Proficient at harmonica, guitar, bass, and drums, Riley contributed as a sideman to many a classic Sun session, and his combo, the Little Green Men (most notably guitarist Roland Janes and drummer J.M. Van Eaton), in time became the Sun house band. Riley recorded for a number of labels in a variety of styles, especially effective with blues. Though never commercially successful, Riley's Sun recordings of "Flying Saucer Rock 'n' Roll" and "Red Hot" (both covered in wooden renditions by Robert Gordon) remain landmarks of the genre.

- Cub Koda, All Music Guide