The Royal Tones

This rock & roll instrumental band came from Dearborn, Michigan. With their honking saxophone-dominated records, the Royaltones typified the sound of rock & roll bands of the late '50s, before the guitar sound had become dominant. The band was formed in 1957 as the Paragons, and comprised George Katsakis on tenor saxophone, Karl Kay on guitar, and two brothers, Mike Popoff on piano and Greg Popoff on drums. "Poor Boy" was a U.S. Top 20 hit in 1958. "Flamingo Express" went to number 82 in 1961. The Royaltones broke up in the mid-'60s, long after their sound had become pass+¬. ~...