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Artist Portrait

Billy Lee Riley

voc, g, 1933-2009 US, Pocahontas, Arkansas
Singer / Musician / Songwriter / Producer of Rock
A.k.a. Daaron Lee Darron Lee Lightnin' Leon Skip Wiley

Born October 5th, 1933, in Pocahontas, Arkansas Died August 2nd, 2009, in Jonesboro, Arkansas Billy Lee Riley was an American 1950's Rockabilly singer, best known for his recordings for Sun Records of Memphis. Performed as part of the "The Little Green Men", the "house band" at Sun. Considered good looking and with wild stage moves, Riley had a brief solo career with his backing band "The Little Green Men". In 1960, he left Sun, and started Rita Record label with Roland Janes. He later started two other labels Nita and Mojo. In 1962, he moved to Los Angeles and worked as a session musician with Dean Martin, the Beach Boys, Herb Alpert, Sammy Davis Jr. and others, as well as recording under various aliases. In the early seventies, Riley quit music to return to Arkansas to begin his own construction business. Rediscovered by Bob Dylan in 1992, who had been a fan since 1956. His album Hot Damn! (Capricorn, 1997) was nominated for the Grammy.

     
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • Guitar
  • Harmonica
  • Bass
Genres
  • Rock
  • Blues
  • Folk
  • World
  • R&B/Soul
Popular Tracks   
Red Hot - Remastered 2022 on Sun Records Originals: Flyin' Saucers Rock & Roll by Billy Lee Riley
Flyin' Saucers Rock 'n' Roll - Remastered 2022 on Sun Records Originals: Flyin' Saucers Rock & Roll by Billy Lee Riley
Your Cash Ain't Nothin' But Trash on Rock 'N' Roll Legend: Billy Lee Riley by Billy Lee Riley
Parchment Farm on Billy Lee Riley - In Action! by Billy Lee Riley
Goodnight Irene on Billy Lee Riley - In Action! by Billy Lee Riley
Pearly Lee on Sun Records Originals: Flyin' Saucers Rock & Roll by Billy Lee Riley
Baby Please Don't Go on Sun Records Originals: Flyin' Saucers Rock & Roll by Billy Lee Riley
Rock with Me Baby on Sun Records Originals: Flyin' Saucers Rock & Roll by Billy Lee Riley
Havin' a Whole Lot of Fun on Still Got My Mojo by Billy Lee Riley
St. James Infirmary on Billy Lee Riley - In Action! by Billy Lee Riley

Track list and 30sec audio provided by


Band Members
Discography



Title Artist Year Type
Red HotBilly Lee Riley2016Compil.
St. James Infirmary / I Found A WayBilly Lee Riley2014Single
Rock With Me BabyBilly Lee Riley2011Compil.
The OuttakesBilly Lee Riley2010Compil.
The Mojo Albums, PlusBilly Lee Riley2010Compil.
Still Got My MojoBilly Lee Riley2009Album
Rock 'n' Roll LegendBilly Lee Riley2008Compil.
Red HotBilly Lee Riley2008Single
The Sun YearsBilly Lee Riley2001Album
She's My Baby / Peroxide Blonde And A Hopped Up Model FordBilly Lee Riley / Gene Simmons2001Single
Shade Tree BluesBilly Lee Riley1999Album
Red HotBilly Lee Riley1998Compil.
Hot Damn!Billy Lee Riley1997Album
Red HotBilly Lee Riley1996Compil.
Rockin' FiftiesBilly Lee Riley1995Album
Everybody Let's RockBilly Lee Riley1995Compil.
Red Hot The Best Of Billy Lee RileyBilly Lee Riley1995Compil.
A Tribute To A LegendErik Mielzarek, Blue And The Legendary Billy Lee Riley1994Single
Flying Saucers Rock'n'RollBilly Lee Riley1993Compil.
Rock With MeBilly Lee Riley1992Album
Rockin' With RileyBilly Lee Riley1992Compil.
Blue Collar BluesBilly Lee Riley1992Album
Classic Recordings, 1956 - 1960Billy Lee Riley1990Compil.
Flyin' Saucers Rock and RollBilly Lee Riley1987Compil.
Rock With Me BabyBilly Lee Riley1987Compil.
Red HotBilly Lee Riley1985Album
Southern ManBilly Lee Riley1983Single
Southern ManBilly Lee Riley1983Album
Blue Monday / Good Old Rock And RollBilly Lee Riley1979Single
VintageBilly Lee Riley1978Album
Sun Sound SpecialBilly Lee Riley1978Compil.
Red Hot / Flying Saucers Rock & Roll / Pearly Lee / She's My BabyBilly Lee Riley1977Single
The Legendary Sun PerformersBilly Lee Riley1977Compil.
Flying Saucer Rock And RollBilly Lee Riley1976Single
Good Rocking Tonight (Alternative & Unissued Versions)Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Billy Lee Riley, Pee Wee Trahan1974Album
I Got A Thing About You BabyBilly Lee Riley1972Single
Kay / Looking For My BabyBilly Lee Riley1969Single
Show Me Your SoulBilly Lee Riley1969Single
Family Portrait / Going Back To MemphisBilly Lee Riley1968Single
Sittin' And A 'Waitin' / Happy ManBilly Lee Riley1968Single
Southern Soul: Recorded Live!! At The Brave • FalconBilly Lee Riley1967Album
In Action!!!Billy Lee Riley1966Album
Funk HarmonicaBilly Lee Riley1966Album
In ActionBilly Lee Riley1966Single
The Way I Feel / St. James InfirmaryBilly Lee Riley1966Single
I've Been Searching / Everybody's TwistingBilly Lee Riley1965Single
Whisky A Go Go Presents Billy Lee RileyBilly Lee Riley1965Album
Harmonica BeatlemaniaBilly Lee Riley1964Album
Big Harmonica SpecialBilly Lee Riley1964Album
Bo Diddley / MemphisBilly Lee Riley1964Single
Nightmare Mash / Harmoni-ChaBilly Lee Riley1963Single
Harmonica And The BluesBilly Lee Riley1962Album
Thats What I Want To DoBilly Lee Riley1961Single
Teenage Letter/Flip Flop And FlyBilly Lee Riley1961Single
Got The Water BoilingBilly Lee Riley1959Single
Down By The RiversideBilly Lee Riley1959Single
Is That All To The Ball (Mr. Hall) / Rockin' On The MoonBilly Lee Riley1958Single
Rock With Me BabyBilly Lee Riley1956Single
She's My Baby / Sweet WilliamBilly Lee RileySingle
Valley Of Dolls / Lonely ManBilly Lee RileySingle
Sings The BluesBilly Lee RileyCompil.
I'm Gonna Find A CaveBilly Lee RileySingle
Mississippi DeltaBilly Lee RileySingle
Mojo Workout / CharleneBilly Lee RileySingle
She's My Baby / That's RightBilly Lee RileySingle
Pilot Town, La.Billy Lee RileySingle
Midnite Hour / Southern SoulBilly Lee RileySingle
Speed Lovers / Nowhere ManBilly Lee RileySingle
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Acknowledgements
To all the music fans that are contributing on Discogs, MusicBrainz and Wikipedia. Thanks to Franz Flückiger for providing Storygram used to visualize band membership.
Universal Link: https://music.metason.net/artistinfo?name=Billy%20Lee%20Riley
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