The "5" Royales
The Soul of Winston-Salem
The "5" Royales were an R&B group that originated in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. From their beginnings as a local gospel group to a nationally-recognized band that influenced Chuck Berry, Stevie Wonder, James Brown, and others, the "5" Royals are Winston-Salem legends.
Source: Fox 8: "Roy's Folks: The Godfathers of R&B"
"The first rock & roll record is a matter of debate. This is not: the first rock & roll group was the "5" Royales."
David Fricke, Senior Editor, Rolling Stone
Gospel Beginnings
The “5” Royales started as a gospel group called the Royal Sons Quintet. Lowman Pauling formed the group with his family and friends. When not performing on the southeastern gospel circuit, the Royal Sons performed locally on Sunday morning radio shows and at Sunday afternoon gospel programs in school auditoriums.
In 1951, the Royal Sons sent Apollo Records demos of some of their songs. Apollo invited the group to New York, and soon after, asked them to stop singing gospel and perform popular music instead, which they did.
By 1952, the group had been renamed to the "5" Royales. Lowman and his wife Ellise moved to 1135 Rich Ave. in Winston-Salem where the group would practice.
In 1953, the group's first hit, "Baby Don't Do It," rose to No. 1 on the Billboard R&B Chart. "Help Me Somebody" hit No. 1 later in the year and stayed there for five weeks.
Meet the Band
The 1950s
This era saw a rise in popularity of R&B and rock & roll. The electric guitar, combined with the new dances of the period, helped propel new acts to national prominence.
The "5" Royales were apart of this new and growing R&B and rock & roll music scene that was growing in the 1950s.
The Singles
During their career, the “5” Royales recorded over 80 singles, including these that reached the top 5 on the Billboard R&B Chart.
"Baby Don't Do It"
1953
#1 Billboard R&B Chart
"Help Me Somebody"
1953
#1 Billboard R&B Chart
"Crazy, Crazy, Crazy"
1953
#5 Billboard R&B Chart
"Too Much Lovin'"
1953
#4 Billboard R&B Chart
The Albums
The “5” Royales released these albums during their career.
Dedicated to You
1957
Sing for You
1959
The Five Royales
1960
The Rockin' 5 Royales
1959
Source: Discogs
Touring the Nation
The group toured constantly over the next few years in order to pay the bills. One tour in 1958 featured the “5” Royales with such popular acts as Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Etta James, and Little Richard.
When the “5” Royales performed, Jim Crow laws in the South and other parts of the country prevented African Americans from attending the same places as whites.
For this reason, the “5” Royales mostly performed on the Chitlin' Circuit, a group of clubs, theaters, and dance halls around the country where African Americans went to dance and listen to live music.
The Covers
"Dedicated to the One I Love"
"Dedicated to the One I Love" was first written and recorded by the “5” Royales in 1957, when it hit No. 17 on the R&B Chart. It later was covered by The Shirelles in 1961, when it hit No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 2 on the R&B Chart. The Mamas and the Papas covered the song in 1967, when it hit the Billboard Hot 100’s No. 2 spot.
"Think"
In 1957, the “5” Royals released "Think," which reached No. 9 on the Billboard R&B Chart. In 1960, James Brown covered the song, when it hit No. 7 on the R&B Chart and No. 33 on the Pop Chart
"Tell the Truth"
"Tell the Truth," an original by the "5" Royales, was covered by Ray Charles in 1960.
End of the Road
By 1965, the band had called it quits, with most of the group returning back home to Winston-Salem and finding new jobs.
Lowman Pauling kept touring for a while. One of his acts was with his brother Curtis.
Over the coming years, the various band members passed away with Jimmy Moore being the last to pass away in 2008.
The Anthologies
Although the “5” Royals never gained widespread fame or fortune in their lifetimes, for music fans who appreciate the group’s genius and significance, their music has lived on.
Throughout the years, compilation albums have been released and enjoyed by fans around the world.
Soul and Swagger
2014
Monkey Hips and Rice
1994
The Very Best of the "5" Royales
2007
It's Hard but It's Fair
2005
Lasting Influence
The “5” Royales ‘invented’ soul music, if such a word can be used and if it could be used about one artist or group…Several of their key gospel-imbued singles came right at the start of their record career, predating discs from artists usually seen as pioneers of the genre.”
Dave Stephens, Music Historian and Author
"They will always be one of the great vocal groups and harmony groups. They just had a distinct sound that was exclusive to them."
Otis Williams, The Temptations
Winston-Salem Journal
April 5, 2015
The Legacy
In 1992, the “5” Royales were awarded the North Carolina Folk Heritage Award. In 2009, they were inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame, and in 2016 into the Winston-Salem Walk of Fame.
In 1991, Winston-Salem named a street after the group near where John and Eugene Tanner grew up near downtown, and in 2019 it added a historic maker in front of Lowman Pauling’s house on Rich Avenue.
In 2024, the city commissioned a world-class mural of the group, painted near the corner of Trade Street and MLK, Jr. Drive in downtown.
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
In 2015, the band was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in the category of "Early Influence" and cemented their place as one of the most influential bands of the 20th century.
Credits
Images courtesy of Digital Forsyth, Discogs, UNC Libraries, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Archives, Elizabeth Carlson and Carolina Music Ways, and the Winston-Salem Journal
News stories courtesy of Fox 8
Special thanks to the Pauling family, Jeffries family, Tanner family, Moore family, and the Carter family, Elizabeth Carlson, and Kathy White.
Design: Nick Sebesta, Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools
Other photo credits:
Moore, Tanner, and Carter at Royal Peacock, Touring the Nation, Doggett, J. T., and Tom McCullough. "The 5 Royales." Discoveries (1992): 38-44. Print.
