The “5” Royales

The “5” Royales was an American rhythm and blues group formed in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Originally known as the Royal Sons Quintet, the band began recording secular music in the early 1950s. The lineup included guitarist Lowman Pauling and his brother Clarence Pauling alongside vocalists Jimmy Moore, Obadiah Carter, Otto Jeffries, and Johnny Tanner. The group’s recordings included the 1952 single “Take All of Me” and the 1957 hit “Think”. After recording for Apollo Records, the ensemble signed with King Records. Their albums included The Five Royales (1953) and The Five Royales Sing For You (1959). The band recorded for labels including Vee-Jay and ABC-Paramount before disbanding in 1965. They were inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame in 2009 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015. The compilation Soul & Swagger: The Complete “5” Royales 1951-1967 won a Blues Music Award in 2015.

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