The Royal Esquires quartet - Kenny Latham, David Mahan, Rondal Davis and James “Chuckie” Littleton formed the group at Columbus South High School in the mid 1960’s. After linking up with the talented Almon family (brothers Jay, Billy, and Roscoe) and the multi-instrumentalist Ron Fathing, who together had formed a band known as the Soul Partners, they did the local circuit of talent shows, clubs, halls and college gigs with vigour.
The HSI (Harmonic Sounds Incorporated) studios and Prix record label were set up by joint owners George Beter and Clem Price (Prix was a play on his name) and were based at 921 E. Broad Street Columbus, Ohio 43205. After putting out the word around town Price was interested in signing artists for management, promotion and recording. The Royal Esquires became Price’s first signing.
The Royal Esquires – “Ain't Gonna Run”/”Our Love Used To Be (On The Sunnyside Up)” (Prix HSI-69001) 1969.
“…we only cut the two songs and then we were drafted to Vietnam.”
Kenneth Latham.
The sole Royal Esquires single was released and promptly buried a decade later it would appear on the Northern soul scene finally turning the heads it deserved.
“Ain’t Gonna Run” was originally a big Richard Searling “60’s Newie” spin at Wigan Casino on the weekly Saturday All-nighters around 1980. To disguise its identity it was consequently covered up and announced as The Embers \"Playing the Part of a Fool\".
“Brilliant, uptempo Northern Soul from the Royal Esquires on the HSI/Prix record label out of Columbus, Ohio. And what an intro!!”
Loma Russ
Photograph of The Royal Esquires 2:19 reproduced from the Derek Pearson collection.
