The Imperials
This poorly sourced must be removed immediately from the article and its talk page, especially if potentially libelous. )Find sources: "The Imperials" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (August 2019) |
The Imperials | |
---|---|
StarSong | |
Members |
|
Past members |
|
Website | theclassicimperials |
The Imperials are an American Christian music group that has been active for over 55 years. Originating as a southern gospel quartet, the innovative group would become pioneers of contemporary Christian music in the 1960s. There have been many changes for the band in membership and musical styles over the years. They would go on to win four Grammys, 15 Dove Awards and be inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.
Group history
Jake Hess and the Imperials
The band had its genesis when long-time
The Elvis years
In late 1966, Henry Slaughter left the group and Hess assembled a new, more contemporary band to accompany the quartet. Joe Moscheo on piano, Larry Benson on drums, keyboard, bass, and miscellaneous other instruments along with Dave Mathis on electric guitar formed this new sound behind the group. Ron Hamm replaced Mathis on guitar within a few months. In late mid-1967, Hess began having heart issues and by the end of the year left the road, under doctor's orders, turning the reins of the group over to Morales, Moscheo, and Murray. McSpadden chose to leave around this time in 1967 also.
From pioneers to headliners in CCM
The Imperials surprised gospel music fans in February 1972 by hiring
After Taff
After five years with the group, Taff left for a solo career.
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. Danny Ward replaced Smith, 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. Hemby was later a member of the country band The Buffalo Club.
The Imperials stirred up controversy and lost some of their long-time fans when they exchanged their usually soft pop-rock sound for a more rock sound with prominent electric guitars for the 1987 album
In 1991, The Imperials would surprise fans again by bringing in Armond's sister Pam Morales to the lineup. 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. Longtime 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.
A new focus on ministry
1993 saw the group change and go in a different direction. What once was strictly a set contract agreement to most performances, the Imperials began to re-establish themselves by scaling down their act, opting for simple accompaniment and more intimate church performances in place of stadium and large concerts—ministering in local churches for free-will offerings only.[11] The Imperials that year performed in over 200 churches, more dates than the previous two years, this they achieved with 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 been re-acquired by Homeland Records and Landmark Distribution. After a three-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, Hess, Morales, McSpadden, Sherrill, and Slaughter; as well as Blackwood, Andrus, Moscheo, Murray, and Taff were there to accept the induction.
In 2003, the five members of the Imperials that toured with Elvis (Murray, Blackwood, Wiles, Morales, and Moscheo) reunited for a 25th Anniversary, Elvis Lives concert and DVD recording, in Memphis, Tennessee.
The next generation
In September 2004, Armond Morales transferred ownership of The Imperials to the lineup at the time: son Jason Morales, Jeremie Hudson, Ian Owens, and Shannon Smith.[11] This version of the group released two albums on Lamon Records, The Imperials (2006) and Back to the Roots (2007), which is a collection of new versions of classic Imperials songs, and brought the group's 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 2008, the Imperials were inducted into the Christian Music Hall of Fame. Taff was inducted for his contributions separately but performed with the Imperials and made the acceptance with them for the broadcast.[12] In April 2008, The Imperials received the Southern Gospel News Awards' Album of the Year award for Back to the Roots.[13] In early 2010, the Imperials, consisting of Jason Morales, Ian Owens, Scott Allen, and Perry Jones, disbanded.
Classics return as The Imperials
Returning from a restless retirement and a short-lived legal scrimmage for control of the "Imperials" name, Armond Morales, along with Imperials alumni Smith and Will, joined Robbie Hiner and Rick Evans – the group's GM and lead singer – to continue the legacy of The Imperials. Morales – the only still-performing original member – along with the rest of the reunited foursome, released Still Standing in 2010, their first project with Smith in 25 years.[14]
Accomplishments
- First Dove Award winner for male group of the year (1969)
- First gospel group to perform live on The Grammy Awards.
- First Dove Award winner for Artist of the Year (1981)
- First group to have a No. 1 song ("Oh Buddha") on all three of the following charts: Southern Gospel
- First Christian group to use four individual microphones on stage
- First Christian group to use cordless microphones
- First Christian group to use a live band on stage
- Recorded the theme song for the Daniel Boone television series (third version)[15]
- Only Christian group to have a No. 1 song charting in four consecutive decades (1960s–1990s)[16]
Discography
Members
1964–1965
(Jake Hess and the Imperials) |
|
|
1966 |
|
|
---|---|---|
1966–1967 |
|
To Sing is the Thing (1967) |
1967–1970
(Now simply "The Imperials") |
|
|
1971 |
| |
1971–1972 |
|
|
1972–1975 |
|
|
1975–1976 |
|
|
1976 |
| |
1976–1981 |
|
|
1981–1985 |
|
|
1985–1986 |
| |
1986 |
| |
1986–1989 |
|
|
1989–1990 |
|
|
1990 |
| |
1990–1993 |
|
|
1993 |
| |
1993 |
| |
1993 |
| |
1994–1996 |
|
Til He Comes (1995) |
1996–1998 |
|
It's Still the Cross (1996) |
1998–1999 |
|
Songs of Christmas (1998) |
1999 |
| |
1999–2000 |
| |
2000–2002 |
|
I Was Made for This (2002) |
2002–2003 |
| |
2003–2008 |
|
|
2008–2010 |
| |
2006–2010
(a.k.a. The Classic Imperials) |
|
|
2010–2017 |
|
|
2018 |
|
Standing Strong (2018) (re-released under new label and only for download) |
2019–2021 |
| |
2021–2022 |
| |
2022–present |
|
|
In memoriam
- Jake Hess: December 24, 1927 – January 4, 2004[17]
- Pam Morales-Dietz: (d) August 27, 2005[18]
- Sherrill "Shaun" Nielsen: September 10, 1942 – December 10, 2010[19]
- Joe Moscheo: August 11, 1937 – January 11, 2016[20]
- Gary McSpadden: January 26, 1943 – April 15, 2020[21]
- Jonathan Pierce Hildreth: October 15, 1967 – May 9, 2020[22]
- Henry Slaughter: January 9, 1927 – November 13, 2020[23]
- David Will: October 22, 1943 – March 4, 2022[24]
- Armond Morales: February 25, 1932 – December 5, 2022[25]
Accolades
Grammy Awards | |||
---|---|---|---|
Year | Category | Nominated work | Result |
1972 | Best Gospel Performance (Other Than Soul Gospel) | Time to Get It Together | Nominated |
1974 | Live | Nominated | |
1975 | No Shortage | Won | |
1977 | Just Because | Nominated | |
1978 | Best Gospel Performance, Contemporary or Inspirational | Sail On | Won |
1979 | Imperials Live | Nominated | |
1980 | Heed the Call | Won | |
1981 | Priority | Won |
Year | GMA Dove Awards
|
---|---|
1969 | Male Group of the Year |
1975 | Male Group of the Year |
1976 | |
Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year: No Shortage | |
1978 | Male Group of the Year |
1980 | |
1981 | Artist of the Year |
Group of the Year | |
Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year: One More Song for You | |
1982 | Male Group of the Year |
Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year: Priority | |
1983 | Group of the Year |
1984 | Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year: Side By Side |
References
- ^ a b c "SG History 101 - the Imperials, SG History 10 - SoGospelNews.com". Archived from the original on February 3, 2009. Retrieved June 12, 2007. Southern Gospel News.com article Accessed May 5, 2008
- ^ Gospel, Absolutely. "A Beautiful Love Story". sogospelnews. Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved June 11, 2010.
- ^ ISBN 1-56563-679-1
- ^ 1969 Dove Awards
- ^ "The Imperials".
- ^ Gallagher, Pat (March 16, 2017). "Larry Gatlin Remembers His First Time on the Radio: 'I Nearly Passed Out!'". The Boot.
- ^ James, Gary. "Gary James' Interview With Terry Blackwood of The Imperials". classicbands.com. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
- ^ Williams, Bill (February 26, 1972). "1st Integrated Gospel Act". Billboard.
- ^ "David Will Biography".
- ^ John Bush. "Jonathan Pierce". AllMusic. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
- ^ a b "The Imperials Meet The Classic Imperials". sogospelnews. Archived from the original on January 7, 2010. Retrieved June 11, 2010.
- ^ Christian Music Hall of Fame. "Welcome to the Christian Music Hall of Fame and Museum". CMHOF. Archived from the original on December 29, 2010. Retrieved December 1, 2008.
The Imperials Inducted into the Christian Music Hall of Fame
- ^ "The Imperials Win Album of the Year for Back to the Roots". Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved June 11, 2010.
- ^ "Legendary gospel group The Classic Imperials are 'Still Standing'". Today Christian. September 16, 2010. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
- ^ "Daniel Boone Theme Song". Archived from the original on March 5, 2010. Retrieved March 20, 2010.
- ^ "Imperials Trivia". Retrieved March 19, 2010.
- ^ "Jake Hess". Encyclopedia of Alabama.
- ^ Unthank, Chris D. "Absolutely Gospel Music". absolutelygospel.com.
- ^ "Sherrill Nielsen Obituary".
- ^ Paulson, Dave (January 12, 2016). "Gospel singer Joe Moscheo of The Imperials dies at 78". The Tennessean. USA Today. Retrieved January 13, 2016.
- ^ "Gary McSpadden passes away". April 15, 2020.
- ^ McMillen, Lynn (May 12, 2020). "Jonathan Pierce Obituary".
- ^ "Henry Slaughter obituary". November 17, 2020.
- ^ "David Will obituary". The Tennessean. March 4, 2022.
- ^ "Armond Morales Passes Away – Absolutely Gospel Music". absolutelygospel.com.
External links
- Official website
- The Imperials at AllMusic
- Rick Evans