The 5 Royales

Labels

Apollo

Members

Lowman Pauling, Johnny Tanner, Obadiah Carter, James Moore, and Otto Jeffries, who would be replaced by Eugene Tanner. (Pauling’s brother Clarence was also a founding member)

Writers

Lowman Pauling

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The members formed as a gospel group in 1951 calling themselves the Royal Sons Quintet in their hometown of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, soon becoming a regional favorite comprising Lowman Pauling, Johnny Tanner, Obadiah Carter, James Moore, and Otto Jeffries, who would be replaced by Eugene Tanner. (Pauling’s brother Clarence was also a founding member but left the group early on to join rival gospelaires Wings Over Jordan.) A demo made its way to New York City’s Apollo Records, an independent with tentacles in black gospel music. Two Royal Sons singles were released in 1951, but Apollo was looking for rhythm & blues: The Sons, seemingly without protest, made the switch.

Thus the “5” Royales were born. Within a year, the group had a smash: guitarist Pauling’s catchy stop/start jump blues “Baby Don’t Do It.” And off they went. Beginning with the next recording session, a sound evolved and singles followed. Another Pauling original from 1953, “Help Me Somebody,” featured the Royales’ formidable tenor Johnny Tanner, a treasure of a vocalist who burrowed heart and soul into the gospel-drenched, world-weary plea, with the group draped around him in support. 

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