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The Imperials

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The Imperials
This article is about the Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music group The Imperials. For information on the doo wop group, see Little Anthony & the Imperials.

The Imperials are a four time Grammy winning American gospel music group and a member of the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. They were founded in 1964 by Jake Hess and continue to perform today.

Biography

The band had its genesis when long-time Statesmen Quartet member Jake Hess retired from that band on December 7, 1963.[1] Hess wanted to start a new group recognized as "king" of the Southern gospel field and thought the "Imperials" would be a good moniker. After getting the go-ahead from Marion Snider for permission to use the name (Snider had previously operated an Imperial Quartet named after its sponsor Imperial Sugar), he gathered together pianist Henry Slaughter from the Weatherford Quartet, ex-Oak Ridge Boys baritone Gary McSpadden, the Weatherford Quartet's bass singer Armond Morales and Speer Family tenor Sherrill (Shawn) Neilsen to join him.[1] Signing with Benson Records subsidiary Heart Warming, the group had a busy first year releasing four albums in 1964. After 2 years with the group, tenor Nielsen was first to go and Jim Murray would replace him. Murray's past included stints with the Stamps Trio, Inspirationals, and Orrell Quartet. About this time, Slaughter also departed with Joe Moscheo of the Harmoneers replacing him at the keyboard. Health issues also forced Hess to retire and McSpadden chose to leave as well.

In 1966, Hess turned the reins of the group over to Morales, Moscheo, and Murray. With new members: Roger Wiles (from family group the Melodaires) and ex-Stamps Quartet member Terry Blackwood,[1] a new name (now simply known as The Imperials rather than of "Jake Hess and the Imperials"), along came a new, more contemporary sound on the 1967 album "New Dimensions." It also brought them their first of many awards: "Male Quartet of the Year" in 1969 from the Gospel Music Association.[2]

Rocker Elvis Presley had long harbored a love for gospel and Jake Hess in particular and invited them to tour as his backing vocalists. They joined him on the road from 1969-1972 and recorded two Gospel albums with him, including his final Grammy Award winning album He Touched Me, which used many of the songs that the Imperials had recorded on their own albums. It was during this period that Wiles left in 1970 [3] and after a short while thinking he fit the group better made arrangements for him to replace Gatlin. [4]

The Imperials surprised gospel music fans in February 1972 by hiring Sherman Andrus, a former member of Andrae Crouch and the Disciples to replace Greg Gordon.[5] This made them the first interracial Christian group America had ever seen, which Andrus jokingly referred as: "to boldly go where no black man had gone before."[6] The lineup of the group stayed stable with Andrus and Terry Blackwood sharing lead vocals through 1975 when Joe Moscheo left just after recording of Follow the Man with the Music. The following year, the pair themselves left to form contemporary Christian music act Andrus Blackwood and Company.[7]

In Early 1976, the group hired baritone David Will, who would stay on for 23 years with the group, and soulful belter Russ Taff as their new lead vocalist. The Taff-led outfit is heard on the albums Sail On, Imperials Live, Heed the Call, One More Song for You, Christmas With the Imperials, and Priority. It was during this era that the group found their biggest success, both with awards and on the charts.

After 5 years, Taff left the group for a solo career and Paul Smith came on as his replacement, being first heard on 1982's Stand by the Power. During Smith's time with the group came another first, a 2-disc album with each member taking a solo side (Side by Side), which gave them their last Dove Award. Then a return to four-part harmony singing (The Imperials Sing the Classics) before returning to their Christian pop sound on 1985's Let the Wind Blow.

The group saw its biggest turnover since Blackwood and Andrus' departure when both Smith and long-time tenor Jim Murray left the group. Smith opted for a solo CCM career while Murray sought to perform more traditionally styled gospel music again. Smith was replaced by Danny Ward but he left before recording an album with the band. In the end, Jimmie Lee Sloas and Ron Hemby were the new members bringing an infusion of youth into the group.

The Imperials stirred up controversy and lost many of their oldest fans when they exchanged the soft pop gospel music for a more contemporary pop/rock sound with prominent guitars for the 1987 album This Year's Model. The song Power of God became a theme song for Christian bodybuilders The Power Team and much younger fans began to come to Imperials Concerts. The album Free The Fire reverted a bit towards the soft pop sound and after its recording Sloas became the next Imperial to seek a solo career. David Robertson replaced him but following 1990's Love's Still Changing Hearts he himself opted to go solo with Jason Beddoe and Jonathan Hildreth (later known as Jonathan Pierce) joining the ranks.

In 1991, The Imperials would surprise fans again by bringing Armond’s sister Pam Morales in to the line up. Although she appeared with The Imperials in the early 80s as a backup singer, this would be the first time a female was a front member of the quartet. Long time member Armond Morales decided to bring her in when Beddoe left the group while in the midst of recording for Big God. She remained in the lineup through 1993's Stir it Up.

1993 saw the group change and go into a different direction. What once was strictly a set contract agreement to most performances, the Imperials began to re-establish themselves within the local church performing for love-offering only and "IN" the local churches. They had scaled down their act, opting for simple accompaniment and more intimate church performances in lieu of stadium and large concerts. The Imperials that year performed in over 200 churches, more dates than the previous two years, this they achieved with minister Brian Comeaux singing lead and a succession of tenors, including Mark Addock, Peter Pankratz and Bill Morris, singing at selected dates. No albums were recorded during this time.

In 1994 they returned, with new members Steven Ferguson and Jeff Walker, both of whom were ordained ministers, as were Armond and Will by this time. They signed a one project deal with the familiar Impact Records, which had just been re-acquired by Homeland Records and Landmark Distribution. After a 3 year recording hiatus, the release of 'Til He Comes marked the change back to a four-part harmony sound, losing the hard edge of previous albums and helping restore their original fans to the fold.

In 1998 The Imperials were inducted into the Gospel Music Association's Gospel Music Hall of Fame. All five original members, Jake, Armond, Gary, Sherrill & Henry, as well as Terry Blackwood, Sherman Andrus, Joe Moscheo, Jim Murray and Russ Taff were there to accept their induction. In 2003, The five members of The Imperials that toured with Elvis reunited for a 25th Anniversary Elvis Lives concert and DVD recording. In 2008 the Imperials were inducted into the Christian Music Hall of Fame. Taff was inducted for his contributions separately but performed with the new Imperials and made the acceptance with them for the broadcast.[8]

In September 2004, Armond Morales transferred ownership of The Imperials to the then current lineup: Jason Morales, Jeremie Hudson, Ian Owens and Shannon Smith. This group has returned to a more traditional Gospel music sound, releasing two albums in 2007 and achieving their first top 20 song in more than 15 years. The Hudson-Smith-Morales-Owens lineup of the group also performed at Carnegie Hall, the first time the Imperials ever appeared at that venue. In April 2008, The Imperials latest project, Back To The Roots, earned album of the year honors from Sogospelnews.com.

As of Fall 2008, the lineup now consists of Jason Morales, Ian Owens, Scott Allen (lead), and Perry Jones (tenor).

Sometime around the year 2000, former Imperials Jim Murray, Terry Blackwood and Sherman Andrus began touring part-time with bass singer Hovie Walker, under the name "Classic Voices". Their repertoire was made up of well-known Imperials hits, and when Armond retired from the official group in 2004, he began touring with the group as well. Shortly after he joined, the name of the group was changed to the Classic Imperials. This group initially performed exclusively in Hawaii. They did record an album, a joint project with the Stamps Quartet, entitled The Gospel Side of Elvis which focused on songs both groups had performed while backing up Elvis Presley.

When Armond Morales returned to the mainland United States, he and Jim Murray parted company with Blackwood and Andrus.

Terry Blackwood and Sherman Andrus, along with new member Gus Gaches, joined a group owned and managed by former pianist Joe Moscheo, who now sings bass. This new group also tours as "The Imperials".[9] This group has been contacted concerning their use of the name despite no longer owning it, but for the time being has been allowed to continue to use it, and no charges have been filed as a result of their use of the name. Joe Moscheo implied, when asked about the lawsuit between the current group and Armond Morales, that Morales may not have officially owned every aspect of the group, which may be his reasoning for using the name, as well as the fact that the official National trademark still belongs to Clarence Collins of Little Anthony & the Imperials.[10]

Moscheo's group mostly exist to commemorate through song the "gospel years" of Elvis Presley, trading heavily on their years spent touring with Elvis.

Armond Morales, along with Murray and David Will, who still is the longest lasting former Imperial apart from Morales, continued under the name "The Classic Imperials", and were joined by Rick Evans, who had been a member of the Dennis Agajanian Band for 13 years, and was a member of the Franklin Graham Crusade Team. When Jim Murray again retired in 2006, he was replaced by Robbie Hiner, a 35-year veteran of Jerry Falwell's Old Time Gospel Hour ministry, as well as the founder of the now-defunct Old Time Gospel Hour Quartet. The Classic Imperials became a full-time quartet, who performed both classic hits of the old group, as well as recording new material.[11]

In early 2008, a lawsuit was filed by the four concurrent members of the Imperials. [12] This suit was settled out of court in July of that year, and both groups continue today.

Awards and honors

Over the years, the Imperials have released over 40 albums and had 14 number one songs. They have also won four Grammy Awards and 13 Dove Awards on their own, making the Imperials one of the most popular and respected bands in the history of Contemporary Christian Music. Rather than retiring the Imperials name, the current group of Imperials continue the organization even though they have less than 10 concerts scheduled for 2009.(www.theimperials.com)

Year Album Grammy Awards Genre
1981 "Priority" Best Gospel Performance Contemporary Or Inspirational Gospel
1979 "Heed The Call" Best Gospel Performance, Contemporary Or Inspirational Gospel
1977 "Sail On" Best Gospel Performance, Contemporary Or Inspirational Gospel
1975 "No Shortage" Best Gospel Performance (Other Than Soul Gospel) Gospel
Year GMA Dove Awards
1984 POP/CONTEMPORARY ALBUM OF THE YEAR for "Side By Side"
1983 GROUP OF THE YEAR
1982 POP/CONTEMPORARY ALBUM OF THE YEAR for "Priority"
1982 GROUP OF THE YEAR
1981 POP/CONTEMPORARY ALBUM OF THE YEAR "One More Song For You"
1981 ARTIST OF THE YEAR
1981 GROUP OF THE YEAR
1980 MALE GROUP OF THE YEAR
1978 MALE GROUP OF THE YEAR
1976 POP/CONTEMPORARY ALBUM OF THE YEAR for "No Shortage"
1976 MALE GROUP OF THE YEAR
1975 MALE GROUP OF THE YEAR
1969 MALE GROUP OF THE YEAR

Band Membership Over the Years

  • Jake Hess, Lead (1964-67) (Original Member)(died January 2004)
  • Gary McSpadden, Baritone (1964-67) (Original Member)(previously fill-in for Jake Hess as lead with the The Statesmen Quartet, baritone of the Oak Ridge Boys, later a soloist, then joined the Bill Gaither Trio and then the Gaither Vocal Band)
  • Armond Morales, Bass (1964-2004) (Original Member)(toured with Elvis) (Current member of the Classic Imperials)
  • Sherrill (Shawn) Neilsen, Tenor (1964-66) (Original Member)
  • Henry Slaughter, Pianist (1964-66) (Original Member)
  • Jim Murray, Tenor (1966-86) (toured with Elvis, later joined the Gaither Vocal Band for around 5 years.) (Toured with the Classic Imperials from 2000-06)
  • Joe Moscheo, Pianist (1966-75) (toured with Elvis) (Current owner and manager of another version of the group)
  • Terry Blackwood, Lead/Baritone (1967-76 ) (toured with Elvis)(formed Andrus, Blackwood & Company) (Toured with the Classic Imperials from 2000-05, current member of Joe Moscheo's Imperials)
  • Roger Wiles, Baritone (1967-70) (toured with Elvis)
  • Larry Gatlin, Baritone (1971) (never recorded with the group)
  • Greg Gordon, Baritone (1971)
  • Sherman Andrus, Lead/Baritone (1971-76) (original member of Andrae Crouch & The Disciples)(later formed Andrus, Blackwood & CO) (Toured with the Classic Imperials from 2000-05, current member of Joe Moscheo's Imperials)
  • David Will, Baritone/Lead (1976-99) (Current member of the Classic Imperials)
  • Russ Taff, Lead (1976-81) (Grammy Award Winning Soloist and later joined the Gaither Vocal Band for around 3 years.)
  • Paul Smith, Lead (1981-85)
  • Danny Ward, Lead (1985-86) (never recorded with the group)
  • Ron Hemby, Lead/Tenor (1986-90) (later a member of country group The Buffalo Club)
  • Jimmie Lee Sloas, Lead (1986-89) (went on to produce bands like Whitecross and other legendary Christian Rock Artists)
  • David Robertson, Lead (1989-90)
  • Jason Beddoe, Lead/Tenor (1990) (was recorded on the album When Things Get Electric)
  • Jonathan (Hildreth) Pierce, Lead (1990-93)(later joined the Gaither Vocal Band for about 3 years.)
  • Pam Morales, Lead/Tenor (1991-93) (victim of a fatal car crash in Bakersfield, CA in 2005)[13]
  • Mark Addock, Tenor (1993)(Performed but never recorded)
  • Brian Comeaux, Lead (1993)(Performed but never recorded)
  • Peter Pankratz, Tenor (1993)(Performed but never recorded)
  • Bill Morris, Tenor (1993)(Performed but never recorded)
  • Steven Ferguson, Tenor (1994-99)
  • Jeff Walker, Lead/Baritone (1994-96)
  • Steve Shapiro, Lead/Baritone (1996-98)
  • Barry Weeks, Lead/Baritone (1997-99)
  • Jeremie Hudson, Tenor (1999-2008)
  • Jason Hallcox, Lead/Baritone (1999-2000) (Never recorded with group, except as backup singer)
  • Jason Morales, Baritone/Lead (1999-present)
  • Richie Crook, Lead (2000-02)
  • Shannon Smith, Lead (2002-2008)
  • Ian Owens, Bass (2004-present)
  • Scott Allen, Lead (2008-present)
  • Perry Jones, Tenor (2008)

Discography

Main article: The Imperials discography

References

  1. ^ a b c http://sogospelnews.com/index/features/comments/117/ Southern Gospel News.com article Accessed 5/5/2008
  2. ^ Dove Awards of 1969 Dove Awards of 1969 Wikipedia article Accessed 5/5/2008
  3. ^ http://www.musicstack.com/item/5095134/imperials/gospel's+alive+and Gospel's Alive and Well album track listing Accessed 5/5/2008
  4. ^ All The Gold In California Larry Gatlin with Jeff Lendburg pg. 61-80.
  5. ^ 6
  6. ^ Powell, Mark Allan. 2002. The Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music. Hendrickson Publishers, Inc. P. 39, ISBN 1-56563-679-1
  7. ^ 7
  8. ^ Christian Music Hall of Fame. "Welcome to the Christian Music Hall of Fame and Museum". CMHOF. Retrieved 2008-12-01. The Imperials Inducted into the Christian Music Hall of Fame {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  9. ^ http://www.theimperials.us/bio.shtml
  10. ^ http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/februaryweb-only/109-43.0.html?start=3
  11. ^ http://www.theclassicimperials.com/
  12. ^ http://theimperials.com/site/home/openletter/
  13. ^ 21

20) http://www.bsnpubs.com/word/dayspring.html (Dayspring/Word Discography)
21) http://theimperials.com/history.php (8th paragraph) Accessed 5/5/2008

.Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music; Powell; pp 46, 47; Hendrickson Publishers; Pap/Cdr edition (August 2002) ISBN 1565636791 ISBN 978-1565636798

As a result of the lawsuit, the MOSH group, theimperials.com are now defunct. They no longer exist. They are being sued by Clarence Collins of Little Anthony and the Imperials. Elvis' Imperials, Joe, Terry, Sherman, and Gus continue on with a new site www.elvisimperials.com while concentrating mostly on Elvis related events with occasional tours with Tanya Tucker and Ronnie Milsap in the works.

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