Royal Crescent Mob, also known to fans as the R.C. Mob, was an American funk rock and punk funk band formed in Columbus, Ohio, in 1985. The group consisted of guitarist Brian "B" Emch, vocalist and harmonica player David Ellison, bassist and vocalist Harold "Happy" Chichester, and drummer Carlton Smith. Their early breakthrough came with the release of their debut EP, Land of Sugar (1986). In 1987, they released their first full-length album, Omerta, followed by Something New, Old and Borrowed (1988). These releases garnered significant college radio airplay and led to the group signing with Sire Records, which released the albums Spin the World (1989) and Midnight Rose's (1991). Throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, the band gained national exposure by opening for national touring artists the Replacements, the B-52's, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Following their time on Sire, they released 13 Destruction (1992) and Good Lucky Killer (1994) before disbanding. The group reunited for two benefit concerts in December 2022 to raise money for cancer research. Smith died on September 23, 2023, after a battle with glioblastoma.
