The Royal Teens were a New Jersey rock and roll band formed in
1957, best known for their single "Short Shorts", which was a
#3 hit in the United States in 1958. The follow-up single, 1959's "Believe
me", hit #26. Member Bob Gaudio later became a member of The Four
Seasons. Fourteen-year-old member Al Kooper sometimes appeared with them
on the road in 1959, and later founded the group Blood Sweat &
Tears. Vocalist Joe Francovilla (also known as Joey Villa) joined them
in late 1958. He previously sang with the Three Friends who had a minor
hit with "Blanche". With several briefly tenured members of
the Royal Teens, he went on to form Joey and the Twisters which released
a few minor hits ("Do You Want to Dance," "Bony Maronie")
in 1961-1962 and frequently played the Peppermint Lounge in New York
City as contemporaries of Joey Dee and the Starlighters. They never
recorded an album, and broke up in 1965
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