| The Imperials | |
|---|---|
| Origin |  United States |
| Genre(s) | Southern Gospel Contemporary Christian |
| Years active | 1964—present |
| Website | The Imperials Official Website |
| Members | |
| Jason Morales Jeremie Hudson Shannon Smith Ian Owens |
|
| Former members | |
| Jake Hess Gary McSpadden |
|
- 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 an American gospel music group. They were founded in 1964 by Jake Hess. The original line up consisted of Jake, Henry Slaughter, Gary McSpadden, Armond Morales and Sherrill (Shawn) Neilsen. Since then, they have undergone many personnel and stylistic changes. Over the years, 25 different singers have come and gone, including Russ Taff, Paul Smith, and Jim Murray. The current Imperials lineup includes Jason Morales (Armond's son) with Jeremie Hudson, Shannon Smith and Ian Owens. Over the years, the Imperials have released over 40 albums and had 14 number one songs. They toured with Elvis Presley from 1969-1972 and recorded two Gospel albums with him, including his final Grammy Award winning album He Touched Me. 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. Their signature songs are "Sweet, Sweet Spirit" and "Sail On".
In 1971, The Imperials surprised fans and the nation by becoming the first interracial Gospel Quartet by bringing in Sherman Andrus, a former member of Andrae Crouch and the Disciples. The change brought The Imperials' R&B side out with albums like Follow the Man with the Music, No Shortage and Just Because. In 1987, after the departure of long time tenor Jim Murray and lead singer Paul Smith, The Imperials stirred up controversy and lost many of their oldest fans when they exchanged gospel to adopt a harder rock/techno/pop sound with the album This Year's Model. However, still being on top of their game, the album spun off an instant hit with Power of God; the song became a theme song with the 80s TBN act The Power Team and brought in much younger fans to Imperial Concerts. The albums "Free The Fire" and Love's Still Changing Hearts continued in the same style.
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. Pam died in a car crash in Bakersfield, CA Saturday, August 27, 2005. In 1994 they decided to scale down their act, opting for simple accompaniment and more intimate church performances in lieu of stadium and large concerts. They signed a one project deal with the familiar impact records; that had just been required by Homeland Records and Landmark Distribution. The release of Til He Comes marked the change back to the classic Imperials sound, losing the hard edge of previous albums. Their oldest fans slowly returned. 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, Shermen Andrus, Joe Moscheo, Jim Murray and Russ Taff were all 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 September of 2004, Armond transferred ownership of The Imperials to the current lineup: Jason Morales, Jeremie Hudson, Ian Owens and Shannon Smith. Hand picked by Armond to continue, they have returned to the more traditional, gospel music sound. This current group released two albums in 2007. They have a top 20 song for the first time in over 15 years! The current group has also performed at Carnegie Hall. Something that had escaped The Imperials until 2007. Keep looking and listening. I know that we will be hearing more from this group in the near future.
Contents |
Group Members
The Imperials - Complete List of Group Members
- Jake Hess, Lead (1964-67) (Original Member)(died January 2004)
- Gary McSpadden, Baritone (1964-67) (Original Member)(later joined the Bill Gaither Trio)
- Armond Morales, Bass (1964-2004) (Original Member)(toured with Elvis)
- 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 a short time.)
- Joe Moscheo, Pianist (1966-75) (toured with Elvis)
- Terry Blackwood, Lead (1967-76) (toured with Elvis)(formed Andrus, Blackwood & CO)
- Roger Wiles, Baritone (1967-70) (toured with Elvis)
- Larry Gatlin, Baritone (1970) (never recorded with the group)
- Greg Gordon, Baritone (1970-71)
- Sherman Andrus, Baritone (1971-76) (original member of Andrae Crouch & The Disciples)(later formed Andrus, Blackwood & CO)
- Russ Taff, Lead (1976-81) (Grammy Award Winning Soloist and later joined the Gaither Vocal Band for a short time)
- David Will, Baritone (1976-99)
- Paul Smith, Lead (1981-85)
- Danny Ward, Lead (1985-86) (never recorded with the group)
- Ron Hemby, 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, Tenor (1990) (was recorded on the album when things get electric)
- Jonathan (Hildreth) Pierce, Lead (1990-93)(later joined the Gaither Vocal Band for a short time.)
- Pam Morales, Tenor (1991-93) (died in Bakersfield, CA in 2005)
- Steven Ferguson, Tenor (1994-99)
- Jeff Walker, Lead (1994-96)
- Steve Shapiro, Lead (1996-98)
- Barry Weeks, Lead (1998-99)
- Jeremie Hudson, Tenor (1999-present)
- Jason Hallcox, Lead (1999-2000)
- Jason Morales, Baritone (1999-present)
- Richie Crook, Lead (2000-02)
- Shannon Smith, Lead (2002-present)
- Ian Owens, Bass (2004-present)
Awards
| 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 Shorage" |
| 1976 | MALE GROUP OF THE YEAR |
| 1975 | MALE GROUP OF THE YEAR |
| 1969 | MALE GROUP OF THE YEAR |
Discography
- 1964 Jake Hess & The Imperials (Skylite)
- 1964 Introducing The Illustrious Imperials (HeartWarming/Benson)
- 1964 Fireside Hymns (HeartWarming/Benson)
- 1964 Blends & Rhythms (HeartWarming/Benson)
- 1965 Talent Times Five (HeartWarming/Benson)
- 1965 Slaughter Writes - Imperials Sing (HeartWarming/Benson)
- 1965 Happy Sounds of The Imperials (HeartWarming/Benson)
- 1965 He Was a Preachin Man (HeartWarming/Benson)
- 1965 Slightly Regal (HeartWarming/Benson)
- 1966 Sing Their Favorite Hymns (HeartWarming/Benson)
- 1966 Sing Inspirational Classics (Impact/Benson)
- 1966 To Sing Is the Thing (Impact/Benson)
- 1967 New Dimensions (Impact/Benson)
- 1968 Now (Impact/Benson)
- 1969 Love Is the Thing (Impact/Benson)
- 1970 Gospel's Alive and Well (Impact/Benson)
- 1971 Time to Get it Together (Impact/Benson)
- 1972 Imperials (Impact/Benson)
- 1973 Imperials LIVE (Impact/Benson)
- 1974 Follow the Man with the Music (Impact/Benson)
- 1975 No Shortage (Impact/Benson)
- 1976 Just Because (Impact/Benson)
- 1977 Sail On (Dayspring/Word)
- 1978 Imperials LIVE (Dayspring/Word)
- 1979 Heed the Call (Dayspring/Word)
- 1979 One More Song for You (Dayspring/Word)
- 1980 Priority (Dayspring/Word)
- 1980 Christmas with the Imperials (Dayspring/Word)
- 1982 Stand By the Power (Dayspring/Word)
- 1983 Side By Side (Dayspring/Word)
- 1984 Sing The Classics (Dayspring/Word)
- 1985 Let the Wind Blow (Myrrh/Word)
- 1987 This Year's Model (Myrrh/Word)
- 1988 Free the Fire (Myrrh/Word)
- 1990 Love's Still Changing Hearts (StarSong)
- 1991 Big God (StarSong)
- 1992 Stir it Up (StarSong)
- 1995 Til He Comes (impact/Homeland)
- 1997 It's Still the Cross (Big God Records)
- 1998 Songs of Christmas (Big God Records)
- 2002 I Was Made for This (Big God Records)
- 2006 The Lost Album (Word) *originally recorded in 1976
- 2007 The Imperials (Indie/Lamon Records)
- 2007 Back To The Roots (Indie)
Compilations
- 1970 Believe It (Vista)
- 1972 The Imperials 1968-1972 (Impact/Benson)
- 1973 A Thing Called Love (Vista)
- 1977 The Best of the Imperials (Impact/Benson)
- 1979 The Imperials – Featuring Terry and Sherman (Impact/Benson)
- 1981 The Very Best of The Imperials (Dayspring/Word)
- 1982 First Day In Heaven (Impact/Benson)
- 1986 Old Fashioned Faith (Dayspring/Word)
- 1989 20 Favorites By The Imperials (Benson)
- 1992 Masters of Gospel (RiverSong/Benson)
- 1994 Treasures (StarSong)
- 1996 The Imperials – Legacy 1977-1988 (Word)
- 1998 Gospel Music Hall of Fame 1964-1976 (Benson)
- 2006 The Imperials - Classic Hits (New Haven/Provident)
- 2007 The Definitive Collection (Word/Warner)
Albums Done With Elvis Presley
- 1966 How Great Thou Art (RCA)
- 1969 ELVIS At The International (RCA)
- 1970 On Stage (RCA)
- 1970 Thats The Way It Is LIVE (RCA)
- 1972 He Touched Me (RCA)
Movies & Video
- 1970 ELVIS PRESLEY - Thats The Way It Is (MGM) (Armond, Jim, Joe, Terry & Roger)
- 1984 The Imperials 20th Anniversary (Myrrh/Word) (Armond, Jim, Dave & Paul)
- 2003 ELVIS LIVES 25th Anniversary Concert (Armond, Jim, Joe, Terry, Roger & Sherman)
References
- Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music; Powell; pp 46, 47; Hendrickson Publishers; Pap/Cdr edition (August 2002) ISBN-10: 1565636791 ISBN-13: 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/dayspring.html - Dayspring/Word Discography
- 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.ascap.com/ace/search.cfm?requesttimeout=300&mode=results&searchstr=IMPERIALS%20QUART&search_in=a&search_type=exact&search_det=t,s,w,p,b,v&results_pp=30&start=1
- http://www.ascap.com/ace/search.cfm?requesttimeout=300&mode=results&searchstr=IMPERIALS%20QUARTET&search_in=a&search_type=exact&search_det=t,s,w,p,b,v&results_pp=30&start=1
- http://www.sghistory.com/index.php?n=Main.Imperials (does not have complete list of recordings up to 2007 listed yet)
- http://www.cmt.com/artists/az/imperials_gospel_/albums.jhtml - CMT.com
- http://sogospelnews.com/index/features/comments/117/ - SoGospelNews.com SG History 101
