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."
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]
Little Royal & The Swingmasters
Jealous / Razor Blade Live Footage on Soul Street TV Show Cincinnati,
Ohio 1972
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]
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.
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.
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
Raw / Funky R&B
Royal Showband [1971] - Panama Red [Tri Us 908]
Raw / Funky instrumental
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.
Little Royal [1981] - Bring It On Home, Higher And Higher [Flame NM
1000]
Another medley of 2 classics.
Little Royal [1981] - Down On The Sand [Flame NM 1720]
Another beach song.
Release date is a guess based on previous Flame release..
Album Tracks not on 45
Little Royal [1972] - Jealous [Tri Us KS 1145-498]
Little Royal [1972] - Jealous [Tri Us KS 1145-498]
Losing Battle