Little Anthony & the Imperials

Little Anthony and the Imperials
Little Anthony and the Imperials in 2005, New York City. (L to R) Harold Jenkins, Ernest Wright, Clarence Collins, "Little Anthony" Gourdine
Background information
Also known as	The Imperials
Origin	Brooklyn, New York City, United States
Genres	R&B, rock & roll, soul, adult contemporary
Years active	1958–present
Labels	End, Roulette, London, United Artists Records, Ridge, Avco Records, Janus Records, Veep Records, DCP Records
Website	littleanthonyandtheimperials.org
Members	"Little Anthony" Gourdine Ernest Wright Robert Deblanc Johnny Britt
Past members	Clarence "Wa-hoo" Collins Samuel "Sammy" Strain Glouster "Nate" Rogers Tracey Lord Bobby Wade Harold "Hawk" Jenkins Kenny Seymour George Kerr

Little Anthony and the Imperials is an American rhythm and blues/soul vocal group from New York City, first active in the 1950s. Lead singer Jerome Anthony "Little Anthony" Gourdine was noted for his high-pitched voice, influenced by Jimmy Scott. The other original members were: Clarence Collins (group founder), Ernest Wright, Glouster "Nate" Rogers and Tracey Lord, the last two of whom were replaced by Samuel "Sammy" Strain. The group was one of the very few doo-wop groups to maintain success on the R&B and pop charts throughout the 1960s. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on April 4, 2009, 23 years after the group's first year of eligibility for induction.

In 1957, a doo-wop group known as the Chesters existed with members Clarence Collins, Tracey Lord, Nathaniel Rodgers, and Ronald Ross. Anthony Gourdine, a former member of the Duponts, joined as lead vocalist. Ernest Wright took over from Ross, and the group recorded briefly for Apollo Records.

Changing their name to the Imperials, they signed with End Records in 1958. Their first single was "Tears on My Pillow", which was an instant hit. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc by the RIAA. (While playing this song, D.J. Alan Freed came up with the name "Little Anthony".) The B-side, "Two People in the World", was also a hit. The group followed up with "Shimmy, Shimmy, Ko Ko Bop" in 1960. When their success dwindled in 1961, Gourdine left to attempt a solo career. Original Imperials member Nate Rogers was drafted into the service and Tracey Lord, another original member, left to get married. and the line-up then became Collins, Wright, Sammy Strain, (a childhood friend who had grown up together with the Imperials in Brooklyn), and George Kerr. Kerr was replaced by Kenny Seymour after a short time. This line-up had little success.