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{{Infobox Band
| band_name = [[The Imperials(musical group)|The Imperials]]
| image = [[Image:Imperials2007.jpg|thumb|right|The Imperials(musical group)|The Imperials]]
| caption =
| years_active = 1964—present
| origin =
| country = {{flagicon|USA}} [[United States]]
| music_genre = [[Southern Gospel]]<br />[[Contemporary Christian]]
| current_members = Jason Morales<br/>Jeremie Hudson<br/>Shannon Smith<br/>Ian Owens
| website = [http://www.theimperials.com/ The Imperials Official Website]
}}
:''This article is about the Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music group '''The Imperials'''. For information on the [[doo wop]] group, see [[Little Anthony & the Imperials]].''
[[Image:Imperials77.jpg|thumb|left|The Imperials (1977)]]
'''The Imperials''' are a hugely successful American [[gospel music]] group. They were founded in [[1964]] by [[Jake Hess]]. The original line up consisted of Jake, [[Henry Slaughter]], [[Gary McSapdden]], [[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 such legends as [[Russ Taff]], [[Paul Smith (christian music)|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".''
[[Image:Imperials1973.jpg|thumb|left|The Imperials (1973)]]
In [[1971]], The Imperials surprised fans and the nation by becoming the first interracial Gospel Quartet by bringing in former member of [[Andrae Crouch]] and the Disciples "[[Sherman Andrus]]." The change also 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 (music)|rock]]/[[techno]]/[[pop music|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 following albums, ''"Free The Fire"'' and ''"Love's Still Changing Hearts"'' continued in the same style.
[[Image:Imperials1991.jpg|thumb|left|The Imperials (1991)]]
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]] Armond shut things down for a few months. They decided they would 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 sound of the previouse 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 except 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 Sept of 2004, Armond stepped aside from the current group only to form the "Classic Imperials"; a quartet that opens its doors for former members to be able to come back and be apart of the ministry today.
Armond transferred ownership of '''The Imperials''' to the current lineup: Jason Morales, Jeremie Hudson,Ian Owens and Shannon Smith. They were hand picked by Armond to continue The Imperials and are being called the best Imperials ever!! They have returned to the more traditional, gospel music sound. This current group released a new CD on April 10th and have plans to record a "Back To The Roots" CD in 2007 as well.
==GROUP MEMBERS ==
The Imperials - Complete List of Group Members
*[[Jake Hess]], Lead (1964-67) ''(Original Member)(passed away January 2004 on the 40th Anniversary of The Imperials)''
*[[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 Soloest and later joined the Gaither Vocal Band for a short time)''
*David Will, Baritone (1976-99)
*[[Paul Smith (christian music)|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 [[Buffalo Club (band)|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) ''(never recorded with the group)''
*Jonathan (Hildreth) Pierce, Lead (1990-93)''(later joined the Gaither Vocal Band for short time.)''
*Pam Morales, Tenor (1991-93) ''(passed away 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)
==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''
*2006 '''The Imperials''' Independent-Distribution Lamon Records
===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.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product/510739876?item_no=CD06521&event=CF ''- the imperials - classic hits''
* http://worddistribution.com/_products.php?mode=detail&pID=2477 ''– the lost album''
* http://worddistribution.com/_products.php?mode=detail&pID=268 ''– the imperials legacy''
* http://worddistribution.com/_products.php?mode=detail&pID=274 ''– the very best of the imperials''
* http://worddistribution.com/_products.php?mode=detail&pID=2503 ''– the definitive collection''
* http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=CD83823&netp_id=457273&event=ESRCN&item_code=WW ''- the definitive collection''
* 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''
==External link==
*[http://www.theimperials.com/ The Imperials Official site]
*[http://www.worddistribution.com/ Word Music Group]
*[http://www.providentmusic.com/pgs/main.aspx/ Provident Music Group (Benson)]
*[http://www.chordant.com/ EMI/CMG Distribution (StarSong)]
[[Category:Christian musical groups|Imperials]]
[[Category:Grammy Award winners|Imperials]]
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