GREGORY ROYALS
Minister of Music • Director of Music • Pianist • Organist • Composer • Arranger • Orchestrator • Producer • Educator
BIOGRAPHY
Gregory Royals is a Minister of Music and Director of Music whose life and work have been devoted to music and ministry. A versatile multi-instrumentalist, Gregory performs on Hammond and pipe organ, drums, and acoustic guitar, with piano as his primary instrument.
His musical work extends beyond performance into composition, arranging, orchestration, production, and music education. With more than 30 years of teaching experience, Gregory has worked with musicians and singers of varying ages and levels, helping them develop their musical gifts and understanding.
Whether performing, composing, arranging, orchestrating, teaching, or directing, Gregory seeks to use his musical gifts to the glory of God.
TOURING & INTERNATIONAL PERFORMANCE
Gregory performed regularly at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill with the Harlem Gospel Choir and toured internationally with the ensemble throughout the United States, Canada, Japan, Austria, the Netherlands, Ireland, and the Czech Republic.
His other international touring experience includes:
• Bermuda with the Tyrone Birkett Gospel Jazz Band
• Spain with the Central Baptist Choir
• Italy and Switzerland with the Antony Morgan Choir
These experiences have allowed Gregory to perform gospel, jazz, and other musical styles before audiences around the world.
FILM & THEATRICAL WORK
Gregory’s work with author, filmmaker, and playwright Mary Pat Kelly has included contributions to both film and theatrical productions.
Proud
— Feature Film
Gregory composed and performed the principal piano music for the feature film Proud, written and directed by Mary Pat Kelly, produced by Ally Hilfiger, and starring veteran actor and activist Ossie Davis in his final film performance.
Proud tells the story of the USS Mason (DE-529) during World War II, the first U.S. Navy ship to sail with a predominantly African American enlisted crew, and the eventual recognition of members of the crew for their distinguished service.
Special Intentions
— Theatrical Production
Gregory arranged and orchestrated the music for Mary Pat Kelly’s upcoming theatrical production, Special Intentions, based on her book of the same name.
This project further extends Gregory’s musical work into the theater, bringing his experience as an arranger and orchestrator to the musical realization of a dramatic work for the stage.
PERFORMANCE & MUSICAL COLLABORATIONS
New Jersey Symphony Orchestra
Filled in for pianist and arranger Joseph Joubert.
The Ray Abrams Big Band
Piano and Hammond organ.
Marvin Hamlisch
As Music Director of the Central Baptist Church Choir, Gregory prepared the choir to perform Mr. Hamlisch’s six-part vocal arrangements for a concert event and also performed with the choir and band during the gospel portion of the program.
NBC’s Today Show
As Music Director of the Central Baptist Church Choir, Gregory prepared and directed the choir for appearances on the Today Show’s annual Christmas broadcasts for two consecutive years.
RECORDING CREDITS — ARRANGING & ORCHESTRATION
Juanita Bynum — Morning Glory
“Morning Glory” — Orchestral Arrangement
Valerie Boyd
“God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” — Big Band Arrangement
Gregory has also written arrangements and orchestrations for numerous local and emerging recording artists.
RECORDING CREDITS — PIANO
Melvin Smith — I Surrender All
“Amazing Grace”
Melvin Smith — Portrait
“Someday We’ll All Be Free”
“Trylenera Part II”
“God Bless the Child”
Tyrone Birkett — In the Fullness of Time
“Abundant Life”
“Abundant Life Defined” — Featured Piano Solo
Paula Birkett — Fearless
Valerie Boyd — Heal Our Land
Piano
MUSICAL STUDIES & TRAINING
Dr. Edward V. Bonnemere
Upright Bass, Trombone, Baritone, and Trumpet
Brooklyn Music School
Piano and Violin
Music & Art High School
Trombone
New Muse Community Museum — Reggie Workman, Musical Director
Scholarship recipient — Jazz Piano
Steve Browman, M.D. — Brooklyn College Conservatory of Music
Jazz Piano
CURRENT PROJECTS
Gregory is currently developing and preparing for the release of an original body of spiritually centered music combining composition, arranging, orchestration, vocal writing, and music production.
At the heart of this work is a collection of original songs inspired by the teachings of Jesus, including the Beatitudes and Revelation 3:20, exploring themes of repentance, spiritual transformation, mercy, love, freedom, and opening the heart to God.
The project brings together Gregory’s many years as a pianist, organist, composer, arranger, orchestrator, choir musician, producer, and teacher, blending elements of gospel, jazz, choral writing, and orchestral music into a unified musical expression.
His goal is to create music that is spiritually meaningful while remaining clear, accessible, and inviting to listeners from many different backgrounds, including those who may have little or no religious background.
Through this new chapter of his work, Gregory seeks not simply to present music, but to use music as a means of communicating timeless spiritual truths in a fresh and meaningful way, all to the glory of God.
I think “Film & Theatrical Work” is considerably stronger now. It shows that Proud wasn’t an isolated credit. There is now a continuing creative connection with Mary Pat Kelly spanning film and theater, while clearly distinguishing what you did on each project.