Biography
A virtuoso on trumpet whose technical mastery, rich timbre, and expansive range set him apart, Ernie Royal passed the bulk of his professional life within the uncredited ranks of studio ensembles, enhancing countless sessions while earning recognition solely inside music circles. Nine years his junior, he followed alto saxophonist Marshall Royal into the profession and gained his first professional footing in Los Angeles, performing with Les Hite & His Orchestra from 1937 to 1938 and with Cee Pee Johnson the following year. The Royal siblings both joined Lionel Hampton’s orchestra in 1940 and remained until 1942, during which Ernie supplied the piercing upper-register flourishes on the band’s landmark recording of “Flying Home.”
Following military service from 1942 through 1945, he relocated briefly to San Francisco to work with Vernon Alley, returned to Los Angeles to join Phil Moore, and devoted most of 1946 to Count Basie’s orchestra. Between 1947 and 1949 he toured and recorded as a member of Woody Herman’s Second Herd, then undertook brief engagements with Charlie Barnet and Duke Ellington. Additional travels took him to France, where he performed with Jacques Hélian & Son Orchestre, before he collaborated with Wardell Gray in 1952 and appeared twice with Stan Kenton’s orchestra, in 1953 and again in 1955.
Once he joined the ABC staff in 1957, Royal concentrated on anonymous studio work, contributing to innumerable dates without often taking solos. As a leader he documented only ten selections in Paris during 1950—six of which later appeared on a Xanadu compilation—and one album for Urania in 1954.
Following military service from 1942 through 1945, he relocated briefly to San Francisco to work with Vernon Alley, returned to Los Angeles to join Phil Moore, and devoted most of 1946 to Count Basie’s orchestra. Between 1947 and 1949 he toured and recorded as a member of Woody Herman’s Second Herd, then undertook brief engagements with Charlie Barnet and Duke Ellington. Additional travels took him to France, where he performed with Jacques Hélian & Son Orchestre, before he collaborated with Wardell Gray in 1952 and appeared twice with Stan Kenton’s orchestra, in 1953 and again in 1955.
Once he joined the ABC staff in 1957, Royal concentrated on anonymous studio work, contributing to innumerable dates without often taking solos. As a leader he documented only ten selections in Paris during 1950—six of which later appeared on a Xanadu compilation—and one album for Urania in 1954.
Albums
