The Royal Jelly Orchestra was formed by Jaymz Bee in 1996, following the breakup of his nine-years as leader and vocalist with Look People. The band was quickly offered a spot on Molly Johnson's Kumbaya Festival at Ontario Place Forum broadcast across the country on Much Music. The debut self-titled CD was released independently and then reissued by Leisure Lab/BMG as “Clint East Woody Allen Alda”. BMG also released “A Christmas Cocktail” and a handful of promotional CD’s to media and bars across North America. The band's best-selling and most popular album, 1997's "Cocktail: Shakin' and Stirred", featured lounge interpretations of classic Canadian rock songs, ranging from Rush and Guess Who to Crash Test Dummies and Alanis Morissette. Some of the vocalists featured on the disc were Tim Tamashiro, Big Rude Jake and John Southworth. 

 

The core of the band for many years consisted of Bee, Jono Grant on piano and guitar, Great Bob Scott on drums, George Koller on bass, Sarah McElcheran on trumpet, Jim Bish on saxophone, flute and clarinet, Richard Underhill on alto and soprano sax and Colleen Allen on tenor sax and flute. Other members of The RJO over the years include: Brandi Disterheft, Kevin Clark, Ross Wooldrdige, Terry Promane, Dave Dunlop, Alex Dean, Alexis Barro, William Carn, Christopher Plock, Robert Scott, Phil Kane, Victor Bateman, Curtis Lee, Stitch Winston, Jesse Baird and Justin Abedin.

 

A vast array of guest vocalists have also performed with the band, including Molly Johnson, Kyree Vibrant, Monika Deol, Ed the Sock, Moxy Früvous, Greg Keelor, Albert Schultz, Sophia Perlman, and Ralph Benmergui. Many singers, such as Michael Bublé, Alex Pangman and DK Ibomeka, have also gone on to do their own recordings and tours since guesting with the band. Other vocalists include Julie Michels, Jef "Vegas" Farquharson, Marieve Herington, Heather Bambrick, Michael Danso, Roger Clown, Heather Luckhart, June Garber and Lyne Tremblay.

 

After BMG, The RJO recorded “Life Of The Party” for LeisureDisc/Soundcore, followed by “Seriously Happy” for Wychwood Park. Their last album was entitled “Toronto Launch Pad” and will be available on CD Baby in the fall of 2012.

In the past two decades, The RJO has had multi instrumentalist Jono Grant, pianist Waylen Miki and guitarist Tony Quarrington acting as musical directors

 

Since 2012, The Royal Jelly Orchestra have not recorded but continue to perform at charity galas, corporate events, awards shows and big budget private parties.