Roy Anthony Perry Cousins, B: 25-08-1949, Kingston, Jamaica, attended Rousseau Primary School, Ricketts Avenue, where he was classmates with future ‘greats’ such as, Bernard Collins (Abyssinians), Lloyd Parks (Termites), Ansell Collins, Dolphin ‘Naggo’ Morris, (Heptones), Eric ‘Fish’ Clark, Earl ‘Wire’ Lindo, Vic Taylor and Uriah ‘Peashead’ Johnson, both members of Byron Lee and the Dragonaires.
At an early age, Cousins was encouraged to sing by his late aunt, Melverlene ‘Melva’ Brown. He regularly accompanied her to the Bishop French Church of God in Kingston, where he became a member of the junior choir; he recalls his first duet with a friend at a church concert as, “one of the most frightening experiences of my life”.
His aunt later became a member of the Reverend Claudius Henrys’ Back to Africa Church, installing Cousins in the adjoining school, which as part of it’s curriculum taught African history. Cousins later attended Tarrant Senior School, where in 1962, he formed his first singing group with fellow pupils Granville Green, Garth Forbes and Eileen Burnett.
In 1965, he became friends with Winston ‘Cobra’ Francis, a member of the Sheridans, a quartet also featuring Pat Kelly. Cousins spent most evenings listening to them rehearse.
His first job was at the New Yorker garment factory where he met harmonisers Trevor McFarlane and Keith Smith, along with a friend of theirs, Bertram ‘Harry’ Johnson who was “the only youth in the area with a guitar.” They became The Tempests. After moving to Grass Quit Glade, Cockburn Pen, Cousins became acquainted with The Tartans, who comprised of Cedric Myton, ‘Prince’ Lincoln Thompson, Devon Russell and Lindburgh ‘Preps’ Lewis, who all lived in the vicinity and were to congregate with other local singers at Cousins’ address, which became the neighbourhood rehearsal yard and birthplace of the Royals. The Tempests and the Tartans were to merge and rehearsed with a view to recording but later dissipated.
The Royals, still sole access to the only guitar for miles, comprised of Roy Cousins, Errol Green, Trevor McFarlane, Bertram ‘Harry’ Johnson, and Maurice ‘Professor’ Johnson, who was to leave shortly afterwards to form the Tennors (he was later killed in a car accident shortly after recording Pressure and Slide.)
The Royals’ first recording, ‘House Upon the Hill’ was for Federal Records; it was later recorded for Duke Reid, and after this session, Trevor McFarlane and Errol Green left the group and were replaced by Errol Wilson (1948 – 2018), Keith Smith and Ivan Renee (who was later stabbed to death.)
From 1967 to 1978, The Royals consisted of 4 members; they recorded ‘Pick Up The Pieces’ for Studio One as The Tempests but later reverted back to The Royals (so named by their Cuban manager Errol Wilson a.k.a. Errol Nelson, who in 1978, became a member of Black Uhuru) Bertram ‘Harry’ Johnson and Keith Smith also left the group in 1978.
It was while working for the Jamaican Post Office that Cousins met Winston Edwards, who was to produce The Royals, Lloyd Forrester, who temporarily replaced Errol Wilson, Tommy Thomas; and Errol Davies (who joined the group in 1971) Cousins was therefore able to reform The Royals. Forrester and Thomas later left to form The Chantells; Errol Green was replaced by Melvin Reid (Ethiopians), and Hal Nicholson joined the group. Cousins became partners with David Robinson, a post office co-worker who partly funded Cousins’ first production and only release on his Uhuru label, ‘Pick Up The Pieces’.
Later labels were Tamoki, on which he only released ‘Monkey Fashion’ (1st take) and ‘Fashion Monkey’ (2nd take, I Roy) and Wambesi and Dove. His current label is Tamoki Wambesi Dove.
In 1978, Cousins was now residing at Savitri Rd, not far from King Tubbys’ Studio on Dromilly Avenue, another rehearsal yard for local artists such as Don Carlos and Vivian ‘Yabby U’ Jackson. Jackson, whose tracks, ‘Run Come Rally’ and ‘Carnal Mind’ featured, at Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry’s request, The Royals as backing harmony and were recorded at Perrys’ Black Ark studio.
Cousins had first met Perry when he twice auditioned The Royals for Studio One; he later utilised their talents as backing vocalists for other artists, including Joe Gibbs.
Throughout their diversified career, The Royals recorded for Federal Records, Duke Reid, Matador, Studio One, Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, Joe Gibbs, Jack Ruby, Bunny ‘Striker’ Lee, Winston Edwards and Prince Buster.
Around 1980/81, Roy Cousins left the group, and Lloyd ‘Scunna’ Ruddock replaced him as lead singer, and The Royals were renamed The Jays.