Check Out Allen Mendez’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Allen Mendez.

Hi Allen, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Caleb King (Singer) and Allen Mendez (Bass) met each other at a few jam sessions back at the old Chars live venue in 2020. Both wanted to start a gigging live band that gave a different taste of classic R&B Funk and Soul songs. Mendez worked with Shane Vance (Guitar) in a previous neo-soul project. The three met Lawrence Parrett (Drums) at another Chars jam session and the original Royal Family quartet was born. Later on, the band started working with James Bowens (keyboard) and the main quintet started performing beyond the local bar scene. The band started performing at various festivals, corporate events, and weddings. The Royal Family is now a recognized music staple in the Phoenix valley.

Early on, the band was heavily influenced by relevant genre DJ’s. Nowadays The Royal Family takes that influence and creates mashups for songs that gives a variety of crowds dance music. From Luther Vandross to Ginuwine to Black Eyed Peas within the same medley of songs. The Royal family gives everyone a little taste.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Early on it was a struggle to find committed members. There are a lot of musicians who are willing to play with well established projects because the exposure, money, and gig calendar is already cemented. Just like life, many go with the familiar, few with the new.

Equally frustrating struggles were finding good venues willing to book The Royal Family even if they didn’t have a large social media presence/following. The sound that The Royal Family provides doesn’t work for background music at your local dive bar. It always demanded a bit of a higher elevation which can be immensely hard at the start.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
While there are many bands that play classic covers. Most of them try to stay note for note to those album recordings.

The Royal Family learns these famous recordings and then takes influence from various live recordings, covers, arrangements, and giving their own authentic twist on those classic songs. The band also keeps the audience in mind, like many successful DJ’s, the music should rarely stop. Less talking, more dancing.

The live audio quality is also taken into consideration. Most of the band has a background in live audio engineering. So the live sound quality is significantly better than most bands in similar lanes.

Finally internal communication. There is a great deal of pride when our internal communication quality is recognized by outside musicians. When one of us can’t make a gig, a hired gun can take their place and we do what we can to ensure those incoming musicians feel like they can perform with ease. So much to where a new audience member would never know and just enjoy themselves. BUT regular fans can enjoy the subtle differences a different band member has to offer to the sound.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
Tanner S. – Tanner and Groove Booking has really helped us with some great performance opportunities.

Jenn – If you see a live performance video of the band, it’s most likely shot by Jennifer Markus.

Chars – The old Chars Jam sessions helped link up musicians who were otherwise strangers into, not only a family, but The Royal Family.

MMW – Music Makers workshop is an after school academy that the band primarily rehearses after school closing.

Doubters – for providing that motivation to prove a bunch of y’all wrong.

Pricing:

• For private event pricing $1000 /hour
• Additional live sound services available
• Additional live lighting services available
• Additional live photo and video services available
• Song requests available, but are encouraged ahead of event.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Instagram.com/theroyalfamilyphx
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559137077303
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@theroyalfamilyphx
• Yelp: https://yelp.to/TtwPP_3ZK7
• Other: https://linktr.ee/theroyalfamilyphx

Image Credits
Jennifer Markus