"I" Groups

The Imperials

The Imperials formed in 1958 in Brooklyn, New York by Anthony Gourdine. Their first recording for End records was the smash hit "Tears On My Pillow." This was their biggest hit selling over one million copies and one of the greatest love ballads of the 1950's. The group consisted of Anthony Gourdine, Tracy Lord, Ernest Wright Jr., Clarence Collins, and Glouster Rogers. Alan Freed, who was a DJ at WINS radio while announcing a record of the Imperials announced then as 'Little Anthony and the Imperials and the name stuck. Little Anthony and the Imperials went to record several smash hits; "Two People In The World," "Wishful Thinking," "Oh Yeah," "So Much," "Shimmy Shimmy Ko Ko Pop," "When You Wish Upon A Star," "Going Out Of My Head," " Hurt So Bad." 

The Impressions

The Impressions founded in Chicago, Illinois in 1958 and lead by Jerry Butler and Curtis Mayfield. Their first recording "For Your Precious Love," not only being a smash hit, it contained the basis of which changed R&B and ushered in the soul sound. Butler left the group in 1960. Curtis Mayfield prevailed and went on to exceptional success in the 1960's & 1970's but that is a whole story in itself.