Soul Strutter: Little Royal

I first came across Little Royal with a soul pack record from 70s I Want To Be Free (I Don't Want Nobody Standing Over Me)

His real name was Royal Torrence and he was also known as Leroy Little and was often referred to as little James Brown owing to his physical appearance and the similarity of his vocal style. It has been claimed that he was James Brown's half-brother but I don't know how much truth is in that. He opened for James Brown in the early years and I think the 'rumour' has 'evolved' from a statement: he made in an interview “James Brown looked at me and said we have to be brothers we look so alike.”

It is also claimed that Little Royal 'discovered' Teddy Pendergrass who was working as a waiter in a club in Atlantic City nightclub when he held auditions for the Swingmasters. Pendergrass got the job as drummer. Again, I am not sure how accurate that is as according to other sources [1] [2] he was with The Cadillacs before joining The Swingmasters in 1968 and then of course joined Harold Melvin & Blue Notes around 1970.

However, I have just found this comment left on Discogs by group member Doug McKinzie:
"Little Royal is still doing live performances, he can be contacted through . Artiscard.com/Little Royal. I am the MC and saxophonist that is playing on Little Royal Jealous Album and currently still working with him and his band The Swingmasters. I started working with the group in 1965, in 1968 I introduced Teddy Pendergrass to Little Royal in Atlantic City N.J. after our drummer Marvin Jolly left Little Royal band The Swingmasters. Little Royal hired Teddy Pendergrass in August 1968 at Edgehill"s Lounge at Illinois Ave and Baltic Ave A.C. N.J. The rest is history.

Tracks 15 through on this album or CD (referring to a Japanese compilation) was recorded at Sugar Hill Studios in Houston,Texas It was one of our last sessions done at that studio. The artists playing on those unreleased songs are Doug McKinzie Baritone Sax, Andrea Sims Tenor Sax,David Akers Trumpet, Michael Rogers Trombone Earnest Carter Drums, Norman Perkins Bass Guitar, Donnie Chillis Guitar, Herman Gissindiner Guitar, and Little Royal. WE are The Swingmasters."

NOTE Doug has a playlist of videos of the band performing live in 2013

Discography

45s

Little Royal
1967 - I Can Tell / I Know (You Love Me Too) [Carnival CAR-531]

1971 - I'll Come Crawling / Royal Showband - Panama RedTri Us 908]

1972 - Soul Train / My Love Needs Company [Tri Us TR-910]

Little Royal & The Swingmasters

1972 - Jealous / Razor Blade [Tri Us TR-912]

Little Royal

1972 - You'll Lose A Good Thing / I'll Come Crawling [Tri Us 913]

Little Royal & The Swingmasters Feat. Andre Simms

1972 - Switch Blade / Rainbow [Tri Us TR-914]

Little Royal

1972 - I Surrender / Soul Train [Tri Us TR-915]

1973 - I'm So Glad To Do It / My Love Needs Company [Tri Us TR-916]

1973 - Keep Pushing Your Luck / I Want To Be Free (I Don't Want Nobody Standing Over Me)[Tri Us TR-917]

Little Royal & The Swingmasters

1973 - I Want To Be Free (I Don't Want Nobody Standing Over Me) / Keep Pushing Your Luck [Black Pride BP-105]

Little Royal

1977 - Keep Pushing Your Luck / That's My Desire [Pacemaker PM-1980]

1981 - Groovin', Ain't No Love, Just My Imagination / Bring It On Home, Higher And Higher [Flame NM 1000]

1981 - Down On The Sand / Down On The Sand (Part II) [Flame NM 1720]

Albums

1972 - Jealous [Tri Us KS 1145-498]

TRi Us was a Houston, Texas label and it would appear that most recordings were made at Huey Meaux's Sugar Hill Studios and all but one of the listed releases were by Little Royal. The other is Wilson Williams - (Can't Get Over) Losing You. I wonder if this is the same song as I Can't Used To Losing You he released on How Big a year earlier in 1971? Wilson Williams recorded some nice modern soul tracks - so watch out for some future postings.

Jealous / Razor Blade Live Footage on Soul Street TV Show Cincinnati, Ohio 1972

Still performing in 2013 aged 79 just 3 years before his death 29 Sep 2016 (aged 82).

Little Royal [1967] - I Can Tell [Carnival CAR-531]

Deep Soul
A song which he wrote himself as R. Torrence.

Little Royal [1967] - I Know (You Love Me Too) [Carnival CAR-531]

Northern Soul

Little Royal [1971] - I'll Come Crawling [Tri Us 908]

Raw / Funky R&B

Royal Showband [1971] - Panama Red [Tri Us 908]

Raw / Funky instrumental

Little Royal [1972] - Soul Train [Tri Us TR-910]

Funk

Little Royal [1972] - My Love Needs Company [Tri Us TR-910]

Deep Soul

Little Royal & The Swingmasters [1972] - Jealous [Tri Us TR-912]

Deep Soul written by Little Royal (as Royal Torrence)

Little Royal & The Swingmasters [1972] - Razor Blade [Tri Us TR-912]

Hard/Deep Funk Instrumental

Sampled on Ice-T's Lethal Weapon

Little Royal [1972] - You'll Lose A Good Thing [Tri Us 913]

Deep Soul Cover of Barbara Lynn

Little Royal [1972] - I'll Come Crawling [Tri Us 913]

Raw / Funky R&B same as 908 above

Little Royal & The Swingmasters Feat. Andre Simms [1972] - Switch Blade [Tri Us TR-914]

Funky Instrumental

Another odd release as the label on the TY clip credits it as The Swingmasters Featuring Andre Simms which isn't listed but it is listed as Little Royal & The Swingmasters Feat. Andre Simms. The former credit would be about right as both are instrumentals and as such don't feature Little Royal.

Little Royal & The Swingmasters Feat. Andre Simms [1972] - Rainbow [Tri Us TR-914]

Funky Instrumental

Little Royal [1972] - I Surrender [Tri Us TR-915]

Hard / Deep Funk

Little Royal [1972] - Soul Train [Tri Us TR-915]

Hard / Deep Funk

Little Royal [1973] - I'm So Glad To Do It [Tri Us TR-916]

Raw Deep Soul

Little Royal [1973] - My Love Needs Company [Tri Us TR-916]

Deep Soul

Little Royal [1973] - Keep Pushing Your Luck [Tri Us TR-917]

Southern Soul Stroller

Little Royal [1973] - I Want To Be Free (I Don't Want Nobody Standing Over Me) [Tri Us TR-917]

Northern Soul / Crossover

Little Royal & The Swingmasters [1973] - I Want To Be Free (I Don't Want Nobody Standing Over Me) [Black Pride BP-105]

This is the copy I have. An 'odd' release as appears to be same recording on the only release on this label billed as Little Royal & The Swingmasters with a reference to Tri Us so presumably a re-issue? ... but why on this label?

Little Royal & The Swingmasters [1973] - Keep On Pushing Your Luck [Black Pride BP-105]

Little Royal & The Swingmasters [1975] - Miss Lady [Try-It TI-711]

Funky Northern Soul which starts of a bit like Black Nasty - Cut Your Motor Off

Little Royal & The Swingmasters [1975] - Rainbow [Try-It TI-711]

Funky Instrumental as Tri Us TR-914 above

Little Royal [1977] - Keep Pushing Your Luck [Pacemaker PM-1980]

Third release of this track which Discogs dates as 1977 which is in line with other releases yet 45Cat lists as 1973.

Little Royal [1977] - That's My Desire [Pacemaker PM-1980]

Crossover

This has got 'shades' of' Al Wilson - La La Peace Song.

Little Royal [1981] - Groovin', Ain't No Love, Just My Imagination [Flame NM 1000]

A medley of 3 classics. I'd guess this was targeted at the beach scene as ad-lib references to beach and another give-way is that it was recorded at Fantasy Sound Studio which is in Granite Falls, North Carolina and record was also distributed by a North Carolina label.