About Us: The Royals of San Diego, formed in 2005, are committed to the recreation of the East Coast street corner sound from the late 50s and early 60s. They refer to themselves as an "East Meets West" group because members hail from both the East and West Coast.
While the group performs mainly on the West Coast, their recordings have earned them a global fan base thanks to online oldies radio. With their performances being featured in West Coast Doo Wop shows alongside some of the era's greatest legends, it's no wonder why they're often billed as "West Coast A cappella At Its Best"!
Baritone, Lead Vocals, Music Director Originally from Boston, he began studying classical piano at the age of seven. Over the course of the next four years, he was "corrupted" by the evils of early Rock & Roll and started playing the guitar in 1964. His vocal debut at the age of fifteen was a highly acclaimed rendition of "Honestly Sincere" from the musical Bye Bye Birdie in the summer of 1968. After getting a bit tired of acid rock, Doo Wop became his specialty in the early 1970’s. The first Sha Na Na album was probably the most significant influence on his musical career and he formed his first 50's band, "The Little Darlins" in 1971. Several years later, he became a bass player and has been ever since. His conversion to the bass guitar was influenced by Johnny Maestro (lead singer of the Crests and the Brooklyn Bridge). For a time, he returned to classical music and studied voice for nine years. In the early 1980’s, he sang with several opera companies in the New England area, including the Opera Company of Boston and the Providence Opera Theater in Rhode Island. He participated in the Metropolitan Opera Auditions in Boston in 1985. After having enough of New England winters, he relocated to San Diego in 1991 and has continued to work with numerous groups both singing and playing bass guitar. "The Royals" is his latest project in the Doo Wop arena.
Baritone, Second Tenor, Lead Vocals
Bass Jim is a multi-faceted musician, both vocally and instrumentally, with many ties to the San Diego music and theatre scene. Since 1992, he has been singing with a number of a cappella groups ranging in styles from Doo Wop, Jazz, Swing, to USO/Patriotic. As a solo artist, he has 10 years of experience at a church as their Bass Section Leader and Soloist. He also plays bass, and has worked with church worship bands, rock, & acoustic/coffee house bands. Jim's stage credits include Miss Saigon and Sweeney Todd (San Diego Civic Light Opera/Starlight), Guys & Dolls (Moonlight Amphitheatre), and Jesus Christ Superstar and Fiddler On The Roof (CCT). Additionally, he has performed with Lyric Opera San Diego in productions like Barber of Seville, Gondoliers, and Abduction From The Seraglio. Jim is also very accomplished in the recording studio, having done voice work for many projects, including a national children's radio drama, musical recordings, and educational DVDs. When not performing a cappella with The Royals, he sings with the Jazz/Swing group, Harmony Express. Yes, a cappella harmony is in his blood!
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