Little Anthony & The Imperials is a rhythm and blues/soul/doo-wop vocal gro… Read Full Bio ↴Little Anthony & The Imperials is a rhythm and blues/soul/doo-wop vocal group from New York, first active in the 1950s. Lead singer Little Anthony was noted for his high-pitched falsetto voice influenced by Jimmy Scott.
In 1957, a doo-wop group known as The Chesters existed with members Clarence Collins, Tracy Lord, Nathaniel Rodgers, and Ronald Ross. Anthony Gourdine, a former member of The Duponts, joined as lead vocalist. Ernest Wright took over for Ross, and the group recorded shortly 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. (While playing this song, D.J. Alan Freed dubbed the name "Little Anthony".) The B side, "Two Kinds of People" was also a hit. The group followed up with "Shimmy, Shimmy, Ko Ko Bop" in 1960. When their success dwindled in 1961, Little Anthony left to attempt a solo career. Some members left, and the line-up then became Collins, Wright, Sammy Strain, and George Kerr. Kerr was replaced by Kenny Seymour after a short time. This line-up had little success.
Little Anthony returned in 1963, replacing Seymour. With the help of record producer/songwriter Teddy Randazzo, the group found success on the new DCP label with the dramatic pop-soul records "I'm On The Outside Looking In" (1964), "Goin' Out Of My Head" (1964), "Hurt So Bad" (1965), "I Miss You So" (1965), "Take Me Back" (1965), and "Out of Sight, Out Of Mind" (1969).
Ernest Wright left in 1971 to join Tony Williams' Platters. He was replaced by the returning Kenny Seymour, who was again replaced after a short time by Bobby Wade. Strain left in 1972 to join The O'Jays, and was replaced by Harold Jenkins (who had already been functioning as the group's choreographer). Jenkins and Seymour had previously performed together in The Impacts. Little Anthony left for a second (more successful) attempt at a solo career. The trio of Collins, Wade, and Jenkins continued as "The Imperials".
Clarence Collins left in 1988 and was replaced by Sherman James. They toured as "Bobby Wade's Imperials". James left in 1992, and was replaced by Ron Stevenson. That same year, Collins, Wright, Strain, and Little Anthony reunited for a concert at Madison Square Gardens. When the decision was made for the foursome to tour together again, Wade relinquished the Imperials name, with his group becoming "Bobby Wade's Emperors". They became the house band at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas.
Little Anthony, Collins, Wright, and Strain continued touring as "Little Anthony and the Imperials". Strain retired in 2004, and Harold Jenkins returned to take his place.
They were inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame on October 15, 2006.
In 1957, a doo-wop group known as The Chesters existed with members Clarence Collins, Tracy Lord, Nathaniel Rodgers, and Ronald Ross. Anthony Gourdine, a former member of The Duponts, joined as lead vocalist. Ernest Wright took over for Ross, and the group recorded shortly 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. (While playing this song, D.J. Alan Freed dubbed the name "Little Anthony".) The B side, "Two Kinds of People" was also a hit. The group followed up with "Shimmy, Shimmy, Ko Ko Bop" in 1960. When their success dwindled in 1961, Little Anthony left to attempt a solo career. Some members left, and the line-up then became Collins, Wright, Sammy Strain, and George Kerr. Kerr was replaced by Kenny Seymour after a short time. This line-up had little success.
Little Anthony returned in 1963, replacing Seymour. With the help of record producer/songwriter Teddy Randazzo, the group found success on the new DCP label with the dramatic pop-soul records "I'm On The Outside Looking In" (1964), "Goin' Out Of My Head" (1964), "Hurt So Bad" (1965), "I Miss You So" (1965), "Take Me Back" (1965), and "Out of Sight, Out Of Mind" (1969).
Ernest Wright left in 1971 to join Tony Williams' Platters. He was replaced by the returning Kenny Seymour, who was again replaced after a short time by Bobby Wade. Strain left in 1972 to join The O'Jays, and was replaced by Harold Jenkins (who had already been functioning as the group's choreographer). Jenkins and Seymour had previously performed together in The Impacts. Little Anthony left for a second (more successful) attempt at a solo career. The trio of Collins, Wade, and Jenkins continued as "The Imperials".
Clarence Collins left in 1988 and was replaced by Sherman James. They toured as "Bobby Wade's Imperials". James left in 1992, and was replaced by Ron Stevenson. That same year, Collins, Wright, Strain, and Little Anthony reunited for a concert at Madison Square Gardens. When the decision was made for the foursome to tour together again, Wade relinquished the Imperials name, with his group becoming "Bobby Wade's Emperors". They became the house band at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas.
Little Anthony, Collins, Wright, and Strain continued touring as "Little Anthony and the Imperials". Strain retired in 2004, and Harold Jenkins returned to take his place.
They were inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame on October 15, 2006.
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Tears On My Pillow - 40 Classic Doo Wop Hits
Little Anthony & the Imperials Lyrics
All or Nothing At All All or nothing at all Half a love, never appealed to…
Don't Get Around Much Anymore Missed the Saturday dance Heard they crowded the floor Could…
Dream If you are but a dream I hope I never waken, It's…
I Cover the Waterfront I cover the waterfront, I'm watching the sea,, Will the one …
I'll Never Smile Again I'll never smile again Until I smile at you I'll never laugh…
I'm Still in Love With You When you see me once Will you see me again? After tonight Le…
If You Are But a Dream If you are but a dream I hope I never waken, It's…
Love Is a Many Splendoured Thing Love is a many splendored thing It's the April rose that…
My Empty Room Why must I sit here in my empty room Why did…
Over the Rainbow Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high There's a land that…
Please Say You Want Me (Doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo) (Doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo) …
Shimmy, Shimmy, Ko-Ko-Bop Oh ! Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh -…
So Much Ohh, ohh I'd move a mountain If you want me to Though it's…
Tears on My Pillow (Oh oh oh) You don't remember me, but I remember you 'Twas…
The Diary How I'd like to look into that little book, The one…
They Say It's Wonderful They say that falling in love is wonderful It's wonderful,…
This Love of Mine I've been waiting my whole life I finally found the one…
Two People in the World Two People In the World Little Anthony and the Imperials Wri…
Undecided First you say you do And then you don't And then you…
When You Wish Upon A Star When a star is born They possess a gift or two One…
Wishful Thinking (Wishful, wishful wishful, wishful) You don't believe in me…
We also have lyrics for these tracks by Little Anthony:
All Or Nothing At All All or nothing at all Half a love, never appealed to…
Don't Get Around Much Anymore Missed the Saturday dance Heard they crowded the floor Cou…
I Cover The Waterfront I cover the waterfront, I'm watching the sea,, Will the one …
I'll Never Smile Again I'll never smile again Until I smile at you I'll never laugh…
I'm Still In Love With You When you see me once Will you see me again? After tonight Le…
If You Are But A Dream If you are but a dream I hope I never waken, It's…
Love Is A Many Splendoured Thing Love is a many splendored thing It's the April rose that…
Over The Rainbow Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high There's a land that…
Please Say You Want Me (Doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo) (Doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo) …
So Much Ohh, ohh I'd move a mountain If you want me to Though it's…
Tears On My Pillow (Oh oh oh) You don't remember me, but I remember you 'Twas…
The Diary How I'd like to look into that little book The one…
They Say It's Wonderful They say that falling in love is wonderful It's wonderful,…
Two People In The World Two People In the World Little Anthony and the Imperials W…
Undecided First you say you do And then you don't And then you…
When You Wish Upon A Star When a star is born They possess a gift or two One…
Wishful Thinking (Wishful, wishful wishful, wishful) You don't believe in me …
We also have lyrics for these tracks by the Imperials:
Over The Rainbow Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high There's a land that…
So Much Ohh, ohh I'd move a mountain If you want me to Though it's…
Tears On My Pillow (Oh oh oh) You don't remember me, but I remember you 'Twas…
The Diary How I'd like to look into that little book The one…
Two People In The World Two People In the World Little Anthony and the Imperials Wri…
When You Wish Upon A Star When a star is born They possess a gift or two One…