The “5” Royals were a Rhythm & Blues band popular in the early 1950’s. Their sound was instrumental in the development of what would later be known as Soul music.\u00a0 Guitarist Lowman “Pete” Pauling wrote many of the tunes, some of which were later recorded by Ray Charles, Mick Jagger, The Shirelles, and James Brown among others.<\/p>\n
BB King, along with other legendary artists such as Lucinda Williams, Sharon Jones, Brian May, Steve Winwood, Delbert McClinton, John Popper, and others, will be featured on a new tribute to the band by famous session guitarist, Steve Cropper.<\/p>\n
As reported by “The Tennesean” at http:\/\/blogs.tennessean.com\/tunein\/2011\/04\/19\/steve-cropper-records-tribute-to-the-5-royales\/,<\/p>\n
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Legendary guitarist\/songwriter Steve Cropper<\/a> has put together a full-length tribute to his favorite band, The \u201c5\u2033 Royales.Dedicated<\/em> is due out July 5 on 429 Records, and it will feature guest shots from Lucinda Williams<\/a>, Sharon Jones<\/a>, Brian May, Steve Winwood, Bettye LaVette, B.B. King<\/a>, Shemekia Copeland, Delbert McClinton<\/a>, John Popper and others.<\/p>\n
A founding member of Booker T. & The MG\u2019s, Cropper\u2019s guitar work is an integral element in southern soul classics from Otis Redding, Sam & Dave and many others. He co-wrote hits including Redding\u2019s \u201c(Sittin\u2019 On) The Dock of the Bay,\u201d \u201cKnock on Wood\u201d and \u201cIn the Midnight Hour.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve already had four or five careers, and I\u2019m lucky to be alive,\u201d Cropper said in a statement. \u201cIf I can educate these young ears as to where the music started, because they\u2019re always asking, and if I can get them interested in The \u20195\u2032 Royales, I\u2019ve done something.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n[\/content_box_grey]<\/p>\n
If you’re not familiar with Steve Cropper, you should be. As well as being known as the guitarist in The Blues Brothers, he was in the Stax Records House Band, and Booker T. And The MG’s. He’s also played behind such greats as Otis Redding and Sam & Dave.<\/p>\n
Here’s a fun clip of The “5” Royals doing the Laundromat Blues<\/em><\/p>\n