The "5" Royales was a rhythm and blues (R&B) vocal group from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, US, that combined gospel, jump blues and doo-wop, marking an early and influential step in the evolution of soul music. Most of their big R&B hits were recorded from 1952 to 1953 and written by guitarist Lowman "Pete" Pauling; later cover versions of the band's songs hit the Top 40, including "Dedicated to the One I Love" (the Shirelles, the Mamas & the Papas), "Tell the Truth" (Ray Charles), and "Think" (James Brown & The Famous Flames). Brown modeled his first vocal group after the "5" Royales, and both Eric Clapton and legendary Stax guitarist Steve Cropper cite Pauling as a key influence. Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger covered "Think" on his 1993 solo album Wandering Spirit. The 5 Royales have been inducted into the 2015 class of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

History

The Hollywood Flames were an American R&B vocal group in the 1950s, best known for their hit "Buzz-Buzz-Buzz".

They formed as The Flames in 1949, in Watts, Los Angeles, at a talent show where members of various high school groups got together. The original members were Bobby Byrd (lead), David Ford, Curlee Dinkins and Willie Ray Rockwell. Rockwell was sometimes replaced by Clyde Tillis, and Ford sometimes sang lead. Their first paying gig was at Johnny Otis's Barrelhouse Club. They first recorded in 1950 for the Selective label, and the following year, billed as The Hollywood Four Flames, released "Tabarin", a song written by Murry Wilson (father of The Beach Boys). They later recorded another Wilson song, "I'll Hide My Tears".

Over the years the group, under various names, is believed to have recorded for about nineteen different record labels, including Aladdin and Specialty. Although they had no big hits for several years, they were a successful local act in the Los Angeles area. The group also had a series of personnel changes, with Rockwell being replaced by Gaynel Hodge, and for a short while Dinkins being replaced by Curtis Williams. Hodge and Williams, with Jesse Belvin, were co-writers of The Penguins' "Earth Angel". In 1953 they released the sketch for this song "I Know" on the label Swing Time. Believed to be the first song to present the 6/8 piano-attacca known from later '50s hits such as "Only You" and "Ain't That a Shame".

"Buzz-Buzz-Buzz" is a song written by John Gray and Bobby Day and performed by The Hollywood Flames. The lead vocals were by Earl Nelson, later of Bob & Earl. It reached #5 on the US R&B chart and #11 on the Billboard pop chart in 1957.

The single ranked #94 on Billboard's Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1958.

Other versions

Buzz Buzz Buzz is a 2001 compilation album of BBC Sessions, by The Primitives. The track listing is identical to the BBC Sessions album, Bubbling Up, with different album art and liner notes. It features the songs recorded during four BBC radio sessions: for Andy Kershaw, recorded June 18, 1986; for John Peel, recorded September 30, 1986; Peel again, recorded March 31, 1987; and one more time for Peel, recorded April 17, 1988. It features a faster, less refined version of their highest-charting single "Crash", as well as a version of UK Top 100 hit "Stop Killing Me." Note that this album does not include all of the Primitives' radio sessions.

Track listing