# Benny Joy
> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Benny_Joy
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Benny_Joy.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benny_Joy
> Source revision: 1309934928
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Benny Joy
| image = Benny_Joy_musician.jpg
| image_size = 200px
| caption =
| birth_name = Benjamin Eidson
| alias =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1935|11|5|mf=y}}
| birth_place = [Atlanta](/source/Atlanta), Georgia, United States
| death_date = {{death date and age|1988|10|24|1935|11|05}}
| instrument = Guitar
| genre = [Rockabilly](/source/Rockabilly)
| occupation = Musician, songwriter
| years_active = 1950s
| label = Tri-Dec, Dixie, Antler, Buck Ram, [Decca](/source/Decca_Records)
| website =
}}
'''Benjamin Eidson''', known professionally as '''Benny Joy''' (November 5, 1935 – October 24, 1988) was an American [rockabilly](/source/rockabilly) guitarist and singer who released three [singles](/source/single_(music)) in his recording career, and was popular regionally in Florida. As a result of the rockabilly revival in England, Joy's material was met with renewed interest.
==Biography==
Joy was born in [Atlanta](/source/Atlanta), Georgia, United States, soon moving with his family to [Tampa Bay](/source/Tampa_Bay), Florida, where he was taught to play guitar by his neighbors. He performed on the local music club circuit, quickly gaining a reputation for his spontaneous dancing theatrics, and meeting contemporary guitarist Big John Taylor.[{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/benny-joy-mn0000793832|title=Benny Joy – Biography |publisher=[AllMusic](/source/AllMusic)|author=Unterberger, Richie|authorlink=Richie Unterberger|accessdate=September 10, 2015}}] The manager of the [independent record label](/source/independent_record_label) TRI-DEC Records, Daz Dodds, was encouraged to sign the two musicians, which resulted in several demos accompanied by Taylor, including Joy's best-known song "Spin the Bottle" being released as a single in 1957 to regional success. Much of Joy's material from the [recording sessions](/source/recording_sessions), which was mostly self-composed, such as "Little Red Book", "Hey High School Baby" and "Miss Bobby Sox" had a common theme revolved around teenage angst.[{{cite AV media notes|title=Crash the Rockabilly Party|type=CD liner notes|year=1998|author=Palao, Alec|author-link=Alec Palao|publisher=Ace Records}}]
In 1958, Joy switched to [Ram Records](/source/Ram_Records_(US)), releasing his second single the [Buddy Holly](/source/Buddy_Holly)-influenced "Ittie Bittie Everything". Also during the year, he became one of the earliest rockabilly music artists to tour Europe as Joy supported [the Platters](/source/the_Platters), [Barry De Vorzon](/source/Barry_De_Vorzon), and [Raymond Scott](/source/Raymond_Scott), among others. Joy followed it up with a similar tour six weeks later in the summer of 1959, by which time his final single "Crash the Party" was issued on [Decca Records](/source/Decca_Records) to both the U.S. and Europe.
Joy failed to have a breakout record and began working as a disk jockey and on the television program ''[American Bandstand](/source/American_Bandstand)''. He also became a songwriter, penning several songs for [Marty Robbins](/source/Marty_Robbins), [Jackie Wilson](/source/Jackie_Wilson), [Charlie Rich](/source/Charlie_Rich), [Burl Ives](/source/Burl_Ives), [Debbie Reynolds](/source/Debbie_Reynolds), [Johnny Rivers](/source/Johnny_Rivers), and [Carl Smith](/source/Carl_Smith_(country_musician)).[{{cite web|url=http://www.rockabilly.nl/artists/bjoy.htm|title=Benny Joy, Never to be Forgotten|website=Rockabilly.nl|accessdate=September 11, 2015}}]
As a result of England's rockabilly revival, Joy's recordings are championed among [record collector](/source/record_collector)s. His material has been made more accessible as much of his recordings are featured on the [compilation album](/source/compilation_album)s ''Crash the Rockabilly Party'' and the five-LP collection, ''The Benny Joy Story 1957–61''.[{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/crash-the-rockabilly-party-mw0000602120|title=Crash the Rockabilly Party – Review|publisher=[AllMusic](/source/AllMusic)|accessdate=September 11, 2015}}] One of his 1958 recordings, "Dark Angel", was included in another compilation album, ''Hillbillies in Hell: Country Music's Tormented Testament'' (2016).[{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/hillbillies-in-hell-country-musics-tormented-testament-mw0002910275|title=Hillbillies in Hell: Country Music's Tormented Testament – Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits|publisher=[AllMusic](/source/AllMusic)|accessdate=October 21, 2019}}]
He died in October 1988, from cancer at the age of 52.[{{Cite web|url=https://rcs-discography.com/rcs/comp.php?key=903|title=Collector CLCD4401 (CD) (RCS Comp. Track Listing)|website=Rcs-discography.com|accessdate=October 21, 2019}}]
* ''Crash the Rockabilly Party'', [Ace](/source/Ace_Records_(United_Kingdom)), CDCHD 703 (1998)[{{Cite web|url=https://acerecords.co.uk/crash-the-rockabilly-party|title=Crash The Rockabilly Party|website=Acerecords.co.uk|accessdate=October 21, 2019}}]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
* [http://www.discogs.com/artist/1320171-Benny-Joy Benny Joy] on [Discogs](/source/Discogs)
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Joy, Benny}}
Category:1935 births
Category:1988 deaths
Category:Decca Records artists
Category:American rockabilly musicians
Category:20th-century American musicians
Category:Country musicians from Georgia (U.S. state)
---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Benny Joy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benny_Joy) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benny_Joy?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.