Doug James Royale went to join his Lord on May 9, 2024. He was a consummate musician and skilled potter. He was born August 5, 1957. He was preceded in death by his mother, Lynn Snead Royale, and his brother Tim Royale, both of Birmingham Alabama. He is survived by his nephew, Dylan Royale.

He was very close to his mother and brother. He lived with and took primary care of his mother during the advanced stages of her polycystic kidney disease. He learned to administer dialysis for her so she could be treated at home. This was a day long process administered multiple times per week.

Doug’s abilities in pottery were exceptional. He loved to tell the story of winning first prize in a pottery contest with the first piece he ever threw. He exceled in unique finishes and glazes. He love to teach it. Later in life, doing research on his family, he learned that there were potters in one line going back generations. He was able to pull clay from the original home place in north Georgia for his art.

Music was at the center of his life. He began playing bass guitar in a rock band at age 12. His mother was a great band mom and supported his love of music, which he pursued professionally. He belonged to several bands that played broadly, such as Crosswind, X-Cops and Bud Green. He had the greatest success with the band, The Bluedads, as featured vocalist, recording an album among other achievements. As a bassist he developed a unique and complex style that moved the bassline to the forefront of the music. Some friends called it playing ‘lead’ bass.

Doug joined the contemporary praise team at Canterbury United Methodist Church in 2001. He was passionate about this music. He formalized his long term faith by being baptized at Canterbury during a contemporary service. He played there for 15 years. During this time Doug overcame a severe throat injury to return to lead vocals.

He was a founding member of the travelling praise band, Healed by the Blood, and with them brought services to many churches, and were featured on television multiple times. As a companion skill, he had extraordinary abilities at live and studio sound engineering… the best ears in Alabama.

He was passionate and a perfectionist when it came to his music. He was, also, a wonderful friend to so many that will miss him greatly.

Memorial Service - Wednesday, May 22, 2024 at 2pm, Canterbury United Methodist Church Canterbury Center - 350 Overbrook Road, Birmingham, Alabama 35213.