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ROYAL CROWN REVUE, ­ the reigning kings of all that is sartorially and otherwise splendid in classic American music has pioneered a totally unique sound and style, serving as the blueprint for an entire generation of musicians and music lovers. This band exploded from the underground scene into bona fide cultural phenomenon.

Flanked by grunge bands to the north and hair bands to the south, singer EDDIE NICHOLS and tenor man MANDO DORAME decided it was time for something completely different. Drawing from collective roots in Southern California punk, rockabilly, East Side Rhythm and Blues and NYC street corner doo wop, the two began experimenting with a hybrid of roots styles, creating original music that drew its inspiration from the past, but was firmly placed in the present (and unknowingly) the future! Manic live shows at LA's underground clubs proved instantly popular and it quickly became clear that that a new style was being created and adorned.

Trumpeter SCOTT STEEN, upright bass player VEIKKO LEPISTO, drummer DANIEL GLASS, guitarist JAMES ACHOR and saxophonist/arranger BILL UNGERMAN sealed the core group, each man throwing his own world of influence, experience and talent into the mix.

RCR released it's first album, KINGS OF GANGSTER BOP, and was ceaselessly touring America and Europe, playing hundreds of shows to fans thrilled to hear a new genre of American music. The band also caused a stir with their love for all things vintage. In city after city, the band's enthusiastic approach inspired fans to make their own connections with classic American culture and thus began the scene that would soon become a full-scale movement.

ROYAL CROWN REVUE began a two-year house gig at a fledging club in Hollywood, which would play a pivotal role in the band's career. Built by Cecil B. DeMille in the 1920's, The Derby had undergone a major restoration, and its art deco motif proved the perfect setting for the band's stylish looks and high-energy delivery. Within months, RCR was playing to packed houses, creating a huge buzz in LA and beyond, and drawing influential Hollywood players interested in seeing old made new again.

One such observer was Chuck Russell, who asked the band to recreate their turbo-charged stage show for his film The Mask, which starred Jim Carrey and Cameron Diaz. RCR's cameo in this film made their song "Hey Pachuco!" an instant classic. The song's infectious jungle groove and shout chorus went on to grace countless film scores, Las Vegas revues, advertising campaigns, and numerous television shows.

RCR also served as inspiration for the hit movie Swingers, which brought the new music, dance and fashion ground swell to a larger public. Writer and star John Favreau originally scripted the film's style and dance sequences around his experiences as a Derby regular at RCR's now legendary Wednesday night shows.

Legendary producer/A&R man, Ted Templeman, witnessed the Crown's magic at the Derby and signed them to Warner Brothers Records. The resulting album, MUGZY'S MOVE, formally established the band's "hard-boiled" style, with songs of gangsters, Hollywood street life and big-top tragedies. The album was a tapestry, weaving tales of hard knocks with the cultural imaginings of a time gone by when women were sultry, men cool, and cars and music hot. As Nichols says, "we put it through the underground route and kicked it in the ass!"

RCR has made innumerable television, radio and print appearances, including Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Viva Variety, the Today Show and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. RCR appeared at the Playboy Jazz Festival, recorded and performed live with Bette Midler at the Billboard Music Awards and composed the original theme for the WB Network's television season. They graced an eclectic mixture of stages ­ from major Jazz Festivals like Concord and Newport, to the Warped Tour, an opening slot for KISS and The Hollywood Bowl, and the band broadened its international sphere of influence to cover Japan and Australia. The Gap and the New York Times acknowledged RCR as pioneers of style, and CNN and BRAVO told the world that RCR recreated a style that was here to stay!