The Imperials
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The Imperials |
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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.
Group History
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 "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. The group recorded with Elvis in sessions from May 1966 to June 1971. This included his last two Grammy Award-winning albums: How Great Thou Art (featuring a duet with Hess on the classic Statesmen song "If The Lord Wasn’t Walking By My Side") and He Touched Me (which used many of the songs that the Imperials had recorded on their own albums). In 1969 he hired the group to perform in concert with him after the Jordanaires had turned down Elvis' invitation to play Vegas and tour because, as studio singers, they did not feel they could afford to be away from Nashville that much. At the same time the Imperials appeared with Jimmy Dean live and on his television show. This would continue until 1972.[3]
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.[4] 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."[5] 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 & Company.[6]
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.[7]
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).
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 Gospel music.
| 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
| 1963-1966
(Under the Name "Jake Hess & the Imperials") |
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| 1966 |
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| 1966-1967 |
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| 1967-1970
(Under the Name "The Imperials") |
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| 1970-1971 |
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| 1971-1972 |
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| 1972-1975 |
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| 1975-1976 |
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| 1976 |
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| 1976-1981 |
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| 1981-1985 |
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| 1985-86 |
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| 1986 |
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| 1986-1989 |
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| 1989-1990 |
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| 1990 |
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| 1990-93 |
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| 1993 |
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| 1993 |
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| 1993 |
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| 1994-1996 |
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| 1996-1998 |
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| 1998-1999 |
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| 1999 |
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| 1999-2000 |
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| 2000-2002 |
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| 2002-2003 |
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| 2003-2008 |
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| 2008-Present |
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Discography
External links
References
- ^ a b c http://sogospelnews.com/index/features/comments/117/ Southern Gospel News.com article Accessed 5/5/2008
- ^ Dove Awards of 1969 Dove Awards of 1969 Wikipedia article Accessed 5/5/2008
- ^ Elvis World
- ^ 6
- ^ Powell, Mark Allan. 2002. The Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music. Hendrickson Publishers, Inc. P. 39, ISBN 1-56563-679-1
- ^ 7
- ^ 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)
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
- http://www.theimperials.com - facts, and new album details
- http://www.russtaff.com - russ taff
- http://www.gmahalloffame.org/inductee_bio.cfm?ID=362 - GMA Hall of Fame
- http://www.newhavenrecords.com/ - the imperials – classic hits
- http://www.bsnpubs.com/word/myrrh.html - Myrrh/Word Discography
- http://www.bsnpubs.com/word/starsong.html - StarSong Discography
- http://www.ascap.com/ace/search.cfm?requesttimeout=300&mode=results&searchstr=IMPERIALS&search_in=a&search_type=exact&search_det=t,s,w,p,b,v&results_pp=30&start=1
- http://www.cmt.com/artists/az/imperials_gospel_/albums.jhtml - CMT.com
- http://sogospelnews.com/index/features/comments/117/ - SoGospelNews.com SG History 101