Biography
The Royales are a rhythm & blues band based out of Athens, Ohio, that feature an astounding front man, solid horn section, and booming rhythm section, all culminating in a live show that is supercharged with energy.
Pronounced like the casino, (not the baseball team), the Royales formed in 1995 and have been playing regionally ever since at nightclubs such as the 19 South and Casa Nueva in Athens, the Court Street Grill in Pomeroy, and Ludlow’s in Columbus. They are also a favorite of the Marietta Jazz & Blues Society, who annually invite them to perform the “Red, White & BOOM” Festival, and the Marietta Blues Competition.
This year, for the 7th straight year in a row , the Royales were voted the “Best Band In Athens,” (Athens NEWS Reader’s Poll 2003 – 2011), and were also selected to headline the annual, (and infamous) Court Street Halloween Block Party, performing in front of 30,000 people.
With a workhorse load of cover songs in their repertoire, such as “If You Love Me Like You Say” (Albert Collins), “What I Say” (Ray Charles), and “Let Me Love You Baby” (Stevie Ray Vaughn), the Royales are sure to be entertaining and fun for audiences of all different tastes. For the more adventurous… they also have accumulated a hefty amount of rockin’, yet funky originals.
The Royales have shared stages with everyone from Jorma Kaukonen & Hot Tuna to the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, The Radiators, Willie Nelson, the Carpenter Ants, Mudhoney, Michael Hurley, Johnny Rawls, and have even played “T-Bone Shufle” with Tab Benoit on the lead guitar. The Royales high energy and take no prisoners approach to their blues/rock sound inspire dancing in abundance, and typically scare the bejeezus out of any act they open for.
The Royales are going on fifteen years as an active band and show absolutely no signs of slowing…
The Royales are:
1) Pat Brown- Vocals
2) John Borchard- Guitar
3) Ted Harris- Saxophone
4) Dick Garretson – trumpet
5) Roman Warmke- Bass
6) Chris Aubell- Drums
7) Bernie Nau- Keyboards
* Our special friends and guests are many:
- John Spataro (guitar) – John Sullivan (drums) – Rob Quebman (sax) – Andrew Stonerock (sax) – Dave Kosmyna (trumpet) – Jimmy Smailes (guitar) – K.C. Waltz (vox) – Jonathan Hunt (Keyboards) – Ben Repp (guitar) – Dustin Bastin (Trumpet) – Josh Brown (sound) and more…
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The Royales formed in 1995 as a low-key jaunt through soul standards but soon collided with heinous amplitude and a hard-driving townie motif. They’re now celebrating fourteen years of high-energy R&B, rock and funk that’s best enjoyed from a dancing position. Of, by and for Athens, The Royales were named ‘Best Local Band’ in the 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 Athens NEWS readers’ polls.
