The 5 Royales

Before I get to The 5 Royales, I have some unfinished buisness with The Drifters. There were so many singers and leads over the years, that it would be an injustice if we didn't profile some of them. So after I cover The 5 Royales I will come back and cover some of the singers that passed through The Drifters.

The 5 Royales were a gospel group form Winston-Salem, North Carolina, called The Royal Sons Quintet.They started recording in the early 50's and changed their name to The 5 Royales after moving from gospel to secular music. The group consisted of Lowman "Pete" Pauling who was the groups main writer and guitarist. Pauling wrote the group's first two hits. "Dedicated to the one I love" which was covered by the Shirells and The Momas and Papas, "Tell the Truth" covered by Ray Charles and "Think" covered by James Brown & The Famous Flames. It has been claimed that James Brown modeled his group after The 5 Royales. Steve Cropper of Booker T and the MG's credit Pauling as an influence.
Most of the group's recording were made in 1952 and 1953. The group consisted of Pauling, Jimmy Moore, Obadiah Carter, Otto Jefferies, and Johnny Tanner on lead. Tanners brother Eugene replaced Jeffries. Johnny Tanner had a big voice and lead on most of the group songs, including "Think". A sweeter voice was needed for the lead of "Dedicated to the One I Love", so Eugene Tanner was picked to lead. "Baby Don't Do It" became hits in 1953.
The group shared the stage with most of the major groups of the day including Sam Cooke and Ray Charles, and even filled in for The Raelettes, in Durham North Carolina.
In late 1952 some confusion arose when two 5 Royales groups started touring. The other group was from Detroit and was led by Hank Ballard. The confusion ended when a promoter sent the Detroit group to Winston-Salem and tried to pass them off as the original group. The audience was not fooled and soon after the Detroit group changed their name to The Midnighters. Both groups had hits at King records with Rock& Roll Hall of Fame producer Ralph Bass. The two groups became friends and from time to time staged battle of the bands. Hank Ballard and the Midnighters gained fame for the song and dance "The Twist". It has been claimed that the gospel group The Nightingales, wrote the song but could not sing it because of it's secular lyrics. The song was later covered by a new comer named Chubby Checker. The Midnighters gained greater fame with their risque series of "Annie" songs, ("Work With Me Annie", and "Annie Had a Baby").
In 1957 "Think" and "Tears of Joy" became hits for The 5 Royales. Some of their lesser known recording were now looked at as innovative.
The 5 Royales broke up in 1967, but various combination of musicians would tour with group's name into the 1970's
Pauling continued recording with pianist Royal Abbitt as El Pauling and the Royalton. Pauling's brother Clarence a former member of the Royal Sons Quintet found success as producer and song writer at Motown.
Most of the group's members lived well into the 1990's. Pauling however died of a seizure in December 1973.