The Royal Jokers - Promotional Film - 1999 скачать в хорошем качестве

The Royal Jokers - Promotional Film - 1999

Formed by schoolmates as the Serenaders in Detroit, Michigan in 1946, the rhythm and blues vocal group began recording under that name, as well as the Musketeers, for a variety of labels between 1952 and 1954 before changing their name to the Royals (as the Hank Ballard-led Royals group had recently changed their moniker to the Midnighters). Because of their on-stage comedy antics, the name was soon changed to the Royal Jokers. By early 1955, teenage tenor Willie Jones had been added to the evolving lineup, and the new quintet was signed to Atlantic Records’ Atco subsidiary. Their first release, “You Tickle Me Baby”, led by Jones, was a regional best seller. After two more singles with Atco, the Royal Jokers drifted to a half-dozen different labels into the mid-1960s, with Jones also leaving to launch a solo career between 1959 and 1962. The Royal Jokers drew some attention with the northern soul release, “Love Game (From A to Z)”, led by Jones in 1966, and the group continued working regularly with various personnel changes into the 1990s. Perhaps their strongest lineup, which included original recording members Jones, Thearon Hill, and Raymond Dorsey, appeared at both UGHA and PORCC events in 1996. By the time this promotional film was produced in 1999, the Royal Jokers had evolved yet again. Willie Jones was still leading, but was now joined by Herschel Hunter (1937-2001), who had been in the Monitors, Martiniques, 100 Proof (Aged In Soul), and with Joe Stubbs' Falcons until that singer's death in 1998. The two other members of this lineup – Andy Alonzo and Donald Revels, had been part of the reorganized Valadiers, beginning in 2003, and also worked with the Shades of Blue. Hunter died of cancer not long after this film was produced. While the Royal Jokers are no longer actively performing, Willie Jones recorded his first solo album, “Fire In My Soul”, in 2014, still in top-form. This nine-minute film reel features highlights and excerpts from the 1999 Royal Jokers’ stage show including two of their own recordings, “You Tickle Me Baby” and “September in The Rain”, alongside jazz (“Route 66”), R&B/soul (“Think”, “Never Let Me Go”), show (“Some Enchanted Evening”), rock (“More Today Than Yesterday”) and comedy material (“The Bug”, a staple in their live act dating back to the ‘50s). The group was attempting to interest nightclub and concert producers and promoters with a diverse repertoire. Film shared from the collection of Seymour Simon.