The "5" Royales

The 5 Royales were hugely successful exponents of southern vocal R&B throughout the 50s. Their first single, "Give Me One More Chance," was a spiritual standard energized into a raunchy R&B number. The group’s powerful and frequent live performances, now completely divorced from their gospel background, built them a formidable reputation. In January 1953 the band made their first appearance at the Apollo and topped the R&B Charts with "Baby Don’t Do It." The follow-up, "Help Me Somebody," stayed at number one for five weeks. Although few of the subsequent 40 singles by the band reached the charts, their energetic live performances were a fundamental influence on James Brown, with whom the group had frequently worked in their heyday.