The earliest line-up of the group featured Cousins along with Bertram Johnson and Errol Green, initially under the name The Tempests.
[2] Green had been the lead vocalist, but departed to be replaced by Errol Wilson, who worked with Cousins at the Jamaican Post Office.
[1] After a few more well-received singles, Cousins disbanded the group and took a 2-year break, saving money from his Post Office job.
In 1971, The Royals re-recorded "Pick Up the Pieces", with Lloyd Forest temporarily replacing Wilson, its success prompting Dodd to issue the original version (still credited to The Tempests),[3] which was also popular, its rhythm being used by several other artists since.
[2] The line-up changed again in 1975, with Cousins recruiting new members to replace his former colleagues who moved to Channel One Studios and recorded as The Jays.