Roy Dea was a record producer who produced music for Country artists. He also produced some Rhythm and blues recordings early in his career.
Background Roy Dea (last name pronounced DayPhoenix New Times, January 15, 1992 - MUSIC NEWS, TIME IN A BOTTLEAFTER DECADES OF DRINKIN' AND THINKIN', HONDY-TONK MAVERICK GARY STEWART HAS TROUBLE GETTING MELLOW By Larry Crowley) was born in Texas on April 18, 1940.
Artists he worked with include, Johnny Rodriguez on his release, Pass Me By (If You're Only Passing Through)", Dickey Lee on his release, "9,999,999 Tears", Gary Stewart on his release, "She's Actin' Single (I'm Drinkin' Doubles)",Roland Note - Roy Dea, Apr 18, 1940 and Randy Gurley on her releases "Don't Treat Me Like a Stranger"Cash Box, June 16, 1979 - Page 38 45 - REVIEWS - LP, RANDY GURLEY (RCA PB -11611) Don't Treat Me Like A Stranger and "If I Ever".Billboard, September 29, 1979 - Page 71 Billboard's Top Single Picks, recommended, RANDY GURLEY-If I Ever
It was Roy Dea who was responsible for Gary Stewart to sign up with RCA Records in 1973. Stewart had recorded a demo tape of Motown songs in a country style. Dea found the tape and encouraged Stewart to sign with RCA.The Musical Divide, May 28, 2020 - The Unbroken Circle: Gary Stewart – “She’s Actin’ Single (I’m Drinkin’ Doubles) (1975) By Zackary Kephart With Stewart working with Dea, a series of good albums followed.Dallas Observer, December 26, 1996 - Roadshows By Matt Weitz
Prior to coming on board with RCA, Dea was working for the Mercury label.Nu Country - DAVE'S DIARY - 21 DECEMBER 2003 - GARY STEWART - Q & A
Career Roy Dea produced the single, "The Hurt Won't Go Away" for Margie Hendrix which was released on Mercury in 1967.Billboard, April 8, 1967 - Page 8 Merc. Push on For New Acts
At some stage, Dea became unsatisfied with working for the Mercury label. He moved to Shreveport. In 1970, he returned to Music City and worked with Sun Records. It was his friend and fellow record producer Jerry Kennedy who convinced him to come back to Mercury.The Tennessean, Fri Aug 22, 1997 - Page 6 Obituary for Roy Dea This was reported in the March 14 issues of both Cash Box and Record World that Dea had joined the Mercury Record Corporation's A&R staff in Nashville.Cash Box, March 14, 1970 - Page 50 Roy Dea Joins Merc In NashvilleRecord World, March 14, 1970 - Dea Joins Merc A&R, Nashville According to Kennedy, Dea was one of the few people he felt he could trust to handle the artists in his name and would be involved in both signing and producing country and r&b acts for the label.Cash Box, March 14, 1970 - Page 50 Roy Dea Joins Merc In Nashville It was mentioned in the Record World article that Dea would be expanding the Mercury roster himself as well as taking on some of the production of the prformers that Kennedy was handling.Record World, March 14, 1970 - Dea Joins Merc A&R, Nashville
Johnny Rodriguez was a guitarist in Tom T. Hall's band. It was around 1972 that Hall took Rodriguez to the office of Roy Dea and Jerry Kennedy to audition for the producers at Mercury's Nashville division. Rodriguez performed songs, "I Can't Stop Loving You" and "If I’d Left It Up to You". After hearing his renditions, Dea signed him up immediately.Billy Bob's Texas - JOHNNY RODRIGUEZ, ABOUT JOHNNY RODRIGUEZ: According to the alancackett.com website, when Rodriguez was singing "I Can’t Stop Loving You", he broke into a Spanish verse which resulted in Dea being overcome by it.Alan Cackett - Johnny Rodriguez ('79), First published in Country Music People, August 1979
It was in the early to mid-1970s that Roy Dea was hired by Jerry Bradley as a producer. This happened when Bradley joined RCA.Phoenix New Times, January 15, 1992 - MUSIC NEWS, TIME IN A BOTTLEAFTER DECADES OF DRINKIN' AND THINKIN', HONDY-TONK MAVERICK GARY STEWART HAS TROUBLE GETTING MELLOW By Larry Crowley
It was noted in the June 10, 1994 issue of Radio & Records that Roy Dea and Paul Randall of WSIX in Nashville had formed joint publishing companies, Blue Day Music (BMI) and Gray Music (ASCAP). The offices were located at 30 Music Square West, Ste, 155, Nashville, TN 37203.Radio & Records, June 10, 1994 - Page 29 NASHVILLE THIS WEEK
Dea produced Johnny Rodriguez' album You Can Say That Again that was released on HighTone Records HCD 8073 in 1996.Discogs - Johnny Rodriguez (4) – You Can Say That Again
Hit productions (selective) 1974 - "Drinkin' Thing" by Gary Stewart 1974 - "Out of Hand" by Gary Stewart 1975 - "She's Actin' Single (I'm Drinkin' Doubles)" by Gary Stewart 1975 - "Rocky" by Dickey Lee 1977 - "May the Force Be with You Always" by Tom T. Hall 1978 - "What Have You Got to Lose" by Tom T. Hall 1979 - "Don't Treat Me Like a Stranger" by Randy Gurley 1979 - "If I Ever" by Randy Gurley 1979 - "The Old Side of Town" by Tom T. Hall
Death Roy Dea suffered a heart attack in Nashville on August 18, 1997.Roland Note - Roy Dea, Aug 18, 1997 He died two days later on August 20 at age 57.Roland Note - Roy Dea, Aug 20, 1997The Tennessean, Fri Aug 22, 1997 - Page 6 Obituary for Roy Dea
Further reading hitparade.ch - Roy Dea Songs von Roy Dea
References
External links Discogs - Roy Dea AllMusic - Roy Dea