Billy Lee Riley American rockabilly musician, multi-instrumentalist, singer, producer and songwriter Date of Birth: 05.10.1933 Country: USA

1. The Early Years
2. Sun Studios Years
3. "Great Balls of Fire"
4. The Little Green Men and Beyond
5. Retirement and Return to Music
6. Later Years

The Early Years

Billy Lee Riley, an American rockabilly musician, was born on October 5, 1933, in Pocahontas, Arkansas. Growing up as the son of a sharecropper, Riley initially learned guitar from the African American farmhands. After serving four years in the military, he made his first musical recordings in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1955, where he was signed to Sun Records by producer Sam Phillips.

Sun Studios Years

At Sun Studios, Riley was part of a legendary lineup that included Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Sonny Burgess. He showcased his virtuosity on harmonica, guitar, bass, and drums, making him a versatile session musician for many Sun recordings. Riley's work spanned multiple genres, but he particularly excelled in blues.

"Great Balls of Fire"

Riley's biggest hit, "Great Balls of Fire," was recorded at Sun Studios in Memphis on October 8, 1957, and released as a single in November. It reached number two on the Billboard Pop Chart, number three on the Rhythm and Blues Chart, topped the Country Chart, and became a number-one hit in the UK Pop Chart. "Great Balls of Fire" was featured in the rock and roll film "Jamboree," starring Carl Perkins, Fats Domino, Buddy Knox, and Dick Clark. Released by London Records in the UK, the song was also covered by numerous artists and ranked 96th on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

The Little Green Men and Beyond

Riley led his band The Little Green Men as a mainstay of Sun Studios, with members including Roland James, J.M. Van Eaton, Marvin Pepper, Jimmy Wilson, and Martin Willis. In 1960, Riley left Sun Records and signed with Rita Records, where he co-produced a national hit, "Mountain Of Love" by Harold Dorman, with Roland Janes. He later worked with Nita Records and Mojo Records. Relocating to Los Angeles in 1962, Riley became a session musician, collaborating with Dean Martin, The Beach Boys, Herb Alpert, Sammy Davis Jr., and others.

Retirement and Return to Music

In the early 1970s, Riley left the music industry and moved back to Arkansas, where he started his own construction business. Covers of "Red Hot" and "Flyin' Saucers Rock 'n' Roll" in 1978 led to Riley's induction into the Memphis Music Hall of Fame in 1979. Following this success, he resumed performing at Sun Studios and re-embraced his musical roots.

Later Years

Bob Dylan's fandom reignited interest in Riley's music in 1992. He continued to perform rock and roll, blues, and country blues. His 1997 album "Hot Damn!" on Capricorn Records earned a Grammy nomination. After a fall in a store, Riley underwent two hip replacement surgeries in 2005. He released his country album "Hillbilly Rockin' Man" in 2006. On August 2, 2009, Riley passed away in Jonesboro, Arkansas, after battling stage four colon cancer. Despite never achieving commercial success, his songs "Flying Saucer Rock 'n' Roll" and "Red Hot" remain enduring classics of the rockabilly genre.