Royal Southern Brotherhood

Biography

Royal Southern Brotherhood is an American blues and blues rock supergroup that emerged in the early 2010s, bringing together five world-class musicians united by their shared passion for Southern music traditions. The band features Devon Allman (guitar, vocals) and Cyril Neville (vocals, percussion) as its primary creative forces, alongside Mike Zito (guitar, vocals), Charlie Wooton (bass), and Yonrico Scott (drums). Despite the inevitable 'supergroup' label stemming from the members' prestigious family histories and individual accomplishments, Royal Southern Brotherhood operates as a cohesive creative unit rather than a collection of egos. The band's approach emphasizes collaborative songwriting and tight interplay, with the dual guitar work of Devon and Mike weaving intricate stories atop the rhythmic foundation provided by Wooton and Scott.

The band's musical identity draws from an eclectic palette of influences spanning funk, soul, classic blues, and hard rock. Their self-titled debut album arrived in 2012, followed by the critically acclaimed 'HeartSoulBlood' in 2014, both recorded at the legendary Dockside Studios in Louisiana under the production guidance of Jim Gaines. The band has maintained an active touring schedule, performing across twenty-plus countries and releasing the live album 'Songs From The Road' in 2013. Rather than chasing commercial trends, Royal Southern Brotherhood has consistently prioritized artistic integrity, creating music designed to soundtrack people's lives while respecting blues and rock traditions while simultaneously pushing those genres into new creative territory.

The band's legacy centers on demonstrating that supergroups can transcend their individual members' reputations to create something genuinely unified and forward-thinking. By refusing to rely solely on genealogy or past accomplishments, Royal Southern Brotherhood has established itself as a bold creative force in contemporary blues rock, proving that the genre remains vital and evolving in the hands of dedicated musicians committed to both honoring and reimagining Southern musical traditions.

Fun Facts

• Royal Southern Brotherhood recorded both their self-titled debut and their second album 'HeartSoulBlood' at Dockside Studios in Louisiana, situated on the banks of the croc-infested Vermilion Bayou—the same studio that produced classic albums by B.B. King and Derek Trucks.
• The band completed the recording of their debut album in just seven days at Dockside Studios in February, capturing the creative magic that emerged when all five members convened together.
• Despite being labeled a 'supergroup' due to the legendary family histories of Devon Allman (Allman Brothers lineage) and Cyril Neville (Neville Brothers lineage), the band deliberately operates as a unified creative entity rather than five individual egos competing for supremacy.
• Royal Southern Brotherhood signed a deal with Ruf Records to make three albums, which included the 2013 live DVD/CD 'Songs From The Road,' demonstrating their commitment to capturing their dynamic live performances alongside studio work.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• The Allman Brothers Band - Devon Allman's family legacy and musical foundation (Devon's musical upbringing and stylistic development) [1970s-present]
• The Neville Brothers - Cyril Neville's family legacy and early musical training (Cyril's development as a vocalist and percussionist) [1970s-present]
• The Meters - Cyril Neville's early professional experience as a member (Foundational funk and soul influences) [1960s-1970s]
• Jim Gaines - Producer and recording mentor for both studio albums (Self-titled debut (2012) and HeartSoulBlood (2014)) [2012-2014]

Key Collaborators

• Devon Allman - Co-founder, guitarist, and vocalist (All Royal Southern Brotherhood albums) [2012-present]
• Cyril Neville - Co-founder, vocalist, and percussionist (All Royal Southern Brotherhood albums) [2012-present]
• Mike Zito - Guitarist and vocalist; dual guitar interplay with Devon Allman (All Royal Southern Brotherhood albums) [2012-present]
• Charlie Wooton - Bassist providing rhythmic foundation (All Royal Southern Brotherhood albums) [2012-present]
• Yonrico Scott - Drummer providing driving rhythmic bedrock (All Royal Southern Brotherhood albums) [2012-present]
• David Z - Engineer on HeartSoulBlood album (HeartSoulBlood (2014)) [2013-2014]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Where There's Smoke There's Fire (The Royal Gospel)
2. Trapped (Heartsoulblood)
3. I'm Comin' Home (The Royal Gospel)
4. I've Seen Enough to Know (The Royal Gospel)
5. Hard Blues (Don't Look Back)
6. Moonlight over the Mississippi (Royal Southern Brotherhood)
7. World Blues (Heartsoulblood)
8. Blood Is Thicker Than Water (The Royal Gospel)
9. I Wanna Be Free (Don't Look Back)
10. I Wonder Why (The Royal Gospel)

External Links

• Spotify
• [Wikipedia](Not found in search results)