The Imperials were formed when gospel legend Jake Hess decided to form his own "super-group". Hess had been the lead singer for Hovie Lister and the Statesmen for the previous 17 years. In 1963, he began the process of forming Jake Hess and the Imperials. He formed it in a very unusual way: rather than auditioning singers, or getting together with friends of his, he "hand-picked" singers from other quartets at the time that he thought of as "the best" in their respective categories.

The baritone singer was Gary McSpadden, a young man who had subbed for Hess with the Statesmen when Hess had to be hospitalized. Reportedly, when he heard what McSpadden sounded like with the Statesmen, Hess said "When I form my group, that young man will be in it." And he was, but he had to quit the Oak Ridge Boys, with whom he was singing at the time.

The bass singer was a Philippino named Armond Morales who at the time was singing with the Weatherfords. Pianist Henry Slaughter also came from that group. Sherril Nielsen, of the Speer Family, was hired as tenor.
Jake Hess & the Imperials were a unique group in several respects. Firstly, they had a "Holiness Clause" that meant all the members had to live what they sang. Secondly, they had a large repertoire that enabled them to sing all day without repeating a song. Thirdly, they were very prolific, with four albums released in their first year alone. They were "Jake Hess & the Imperials", "Introducing the Illustrious Imperials", "Fireside Hymns" and "Blends & Rhythms". In 1965, they released "Talent Times Five", "Slightly Regal" and "Slaughter Writes & the Imperials Sing", but by 1966, Sherril Nielsen had moved on, and a young tenor singer by the name of Jim Murray had joined the group to replace him (he's second from left in the pic below). Murray would remain with the group for the next twenty years.

By this time, the name Jake Hess & the Imperials had become a household name in Christian homes across the country. They performed many concerts with Hess's old group, the Statesmen, and others as well. They were famous for thinking "outside the box" and adding songs to their repertoire and performing in venues other than what southern gospel groups usually would. They released the album "The Happy Sounds of Jake Hess & the Imperials" before they had another change-over. Henry Slaughter left the group later that year, to be replaced by a young Italian-American named Joe Moscheo. (You can see him in the bottom right of the picture below.) Four more albums were produced between 1966 and 1967: "He Was a Preachin' Man", "The Imperials Sing Inspirational Classics", "The Imperials Sing Their Favorite Hymns" and "To Sing is the Thing".

In mid 1967, Jake Hess again began to experience health issues. He was plagued by them all his life, and by the time he died in January 2004 he had suffered three heart attacks. While in the hospital, Jake sold the group to Armond Morales, Jim Murray and Joe Moscheo and announced that he had taken them as far as he could. At the same time, Gary McSpadden became a full-time pastor and left the group as well.

Armond, Jim and Joe reconstituted the group simply as "The Imperials" and began the search for new members. For a new lead singer, Armond hired Terry Blackwood (bottom left in the pic below), the son of gospel legend Doyle Blackwood, one of the original Blackwood Brothers. Roger Wiles (top middle below) was hired as baritone. When they released their 1968 album, the first without Jake, entitled "The Imperials Now", they unveiled a new sound that wasn't entirely bound by the constraints of southern gospel. The almost modern-sounding album still contained the tight harmonies the group had become famous for. A second album released that year, "New Dimensions", is considered an early classic. Terry Blackwood's dynamic lead vocals made him into one of the greatest lead singers in gospel music.

At this point in the Imperials' career they began singing with Elvis Presley, which they continued to do for several years. Other gospel groups such as the Stamps and the Jordanaires sang with Elvis, but the Imperials even sang with him when he wasn't performing gospel songs. The group became incredibly well-known. They released a 1969 album entitled "Love is the Thing", and followed that in 1970 with a live album called "Gospel's Alive and Well". By the time that album had been released, Roger Wiles had left the group and Greg Gordon (top middle below) replaced him.

Greg was younger, hipper and had a modern-style sound to his voice. The group began to noticeably change to a younger modern style themselves. Their hair got longer, their outfits flashier and their sound edgier. They even released an album of modern-day pop hits called "Time to Get it Together", wherein they found the religious truth in songs like Bridge Over Troubled Water, Teach Your Children and Let it Be, among others. It was the only album Gordon recorded with the group. He left in 1971 and the Imperials performed several concerts with country legend Larry Gatlin filling in before finally hiring Sherman Andrus (second from right below), formerly of Andre Crouch and the Disciples. This made them the first interracial gospel group ever. Andrus and Blackwood both sang "lead" for the time this version of the group as they became less and less hardwired into "parts". The Andrus/Blackwood era is probably the most popular of them all, with most fans immediately thinking of this group whenever someone says "The Imperials". They released 6 albums: "Song of Love" (1972), "A Thing Called Love" (1973), "Live" (1974), "Follow the Man with the Music" (1975), "No Shortage" (1975) and "Just Because" (1976). The only change in lineup during this time was Joe Moscheo, who left shortly after completing "Follow the Man with the Music". He sold his share of the group to Armond and Jim and was never replaced.

In early 1976, just shortly after the release of "Just Because", Andrus and Blackwood decided to form their own group, "Andrus/Blackwood & Company", which they did. It was the end of an era for the group, but the beginning of a new one, as they hired two new singers who changed their sound and their direction. Russ Taff (second from right below) became the new lead singer, and his dynamic, distinctive voice became the voice of the group. David Will (far right below) was hired as the new baritone, beginning a 23-year stint with the group, making him the longest-lasting group member other than Armond himself. At this point the group began to leave behind the tight harmonies and became less a "quartet" and more of a four-man vocal band (kind of like 4Him or GLAD). Russ Taff became the main attraction of the group and took the lead on almost all the songs they sang, while the other four seemed to back him up.

It was at this point that I became familiar with the group. When I think "The Imperials", I think Armond, Jim, Russ and David. The albums released by this lineup include "Sail On" (1976), "Imperials Live" (1977), "Heed the Call" (1978), "One More Song for You" (1979), "Christmas With the Imperials" (1980) and finally, "Priority" (1981). "Heed the Call", "One More Song for You" and "Priority" each are considered modern classics from the group and contain many of the group's hit singles.

In 1981, Russ Taff left for a solo career and Paul Smith (second from right below) was hired as his replacement. Smith sounded a lot like Taff and was even more modern-looking and handsome, which provided him with no shortage of young female fans. He debuted with the group on the 1982 album "Stand By the Power".

In 1983, the group released an experimental album called "Side By Side", which wasn't really an Imperials album, but a collection of solo recordings--five by each man--all on the same recording.

The Imperials returned to their roots with the 1984 album "The Imperials Sing the Classics", which featured a return to the four-part harmony that made the group famous. A return to the rock style of the "modern" Imperials was prevelant on their 1985 release "Let the Wind Blow", which was the last recording for both Smith and Murray. Smith pulled a Russ Taff in 1985 and was replaced by Danny Ward (second from right below), who didn't stay with the group long enough to record an album.

By mid 1986, Murray had sold his share of the group to Armond Morales and left as well, hoping to get back into singing more traditional gospel. He was replaced by Ron Hemby (second from right in the pic below). This group had barely been together when Ward left, and was replaced by Jimmie Lee Sloas (second from left below).

It was at this point that the Imperials sound became incredibly different overnight. Hemby and Sloas became the dominant voices in the group (Armond and David hardly being heard) and the group's look and demographic skewed more and more toward hard rock. The 1987 album "This Year's Model" featured screeching guitars and pounding drum rhythms that would have been at home on a Petra or Whiteheart album. The album didn't sell well at all, alienating both old fans and new, so the second release by this group, 1989's "Free the Fire", was more easy-listening. Sloas left shortly after completing that recording for a solo career, and David Robertson (second from right below) replaced him. Robertson was only with the group long enough to record one album, 1990's "Love's Still Changing Hearts", but the album was very popular and spawned numerous singles, giving many people the impression that he was with the group longer.

In 1990 both Hemby and Robertson left, and Jason Beddoe was hired as the new tenor and Jonathan Pierce (then known as Jonathan Hildreth) as the new lead (again, they weren't hard-wired into parts, so it's unclear exactly which man sang which part). Beddoe was with the group a very short time, and by early 1991 the group was in the market for a new tenor again. An album was already in the works and Armond needed someone fast.

Taking a chance, Armond hired his own sister, Pam Morales (second from left below), to sing alto with the group. It was the first, and so far only, time that a female joined the Imperials.  Pam, who died in a car crash this year, appeared on the albums "Big God" (1991) and "Stir it Up (1993). She and Pierce (second from left below) sounded so much alike that when they sang together it was like one voice. The sound again changed to more inspirational pop, along the lines of Michael W. Smith.

Armond put the group on sabbatical in 1993, concerned that the group had become far too concerned with image, sound and money-making. He wanted to focus more on ministry, and with that in mind began re-imaging the group. Pam and Jonathan left, and Armond's focus was on people who would bring a ministry-heavy approach with them. Ordained minister Jeff Walker (second from left below) was hired as the new lead and sounded remarkably like Russ Taff. Steven Ferguson (second from right below) became the new tenor. This group only recorded one album, 1994's "Til He Comes", which, while still considered adult contemporary, featured a return to tight harmony and music that wouldn't be out of place in a church service. The group hard-wired themselves into parts again and once more became an official quartet.

Walker didn't stay long, leaving in 1996 to enter the pastorate full-time, and Steve Shapiro (far left below) became the new lead singer. He appeared with the group for the first time on the 1996 album "It's Still the Cross". This album was also the first recorded on their new label "Big God Records", and the first with new producer, Barry Weeks.

In 1998 Shapiro left the group and Barry Weeks (top middle below) began singing with them. They only recorded one album, another Christmas album called "Songs of Christmas" released in 1998 in response to the growing fan request for the old "Christmas with the Imperials" release, which was out of print and the masters no longer existed.

In 1999, Steven Ferguson left the group for some solo work, and Jeremie Hudson was hired to take his place. Shortly after that, David Will and Barry Weeks announced that they were forming their own ministry and left as well.

It would seem to be the end of the road for the group, but not so. With Jeremie Hudson (second from right below) still on board, Armond hired Jason Hallcox (far right below) as the new lead singer and his own son, Jason (far left below), to sing baritone. Jason had been running sound for the group, but he had a great singing voice and was a natural choice for the new baritone.

By 1999, Jason Hallcox had left and Richie Crook (far right below) took his place.  It was this group that recorded the most recent album by the group, "I Was Made for This". It is a great pastiche of all the different styles the group has incorporated over the years with distinct four-part harmony.

Richie Crook left the group in 2002; just around the time "I Was Made for This" was released. Shannon Smith was his replacement. Around this time several of the old fans began to come back, excited that the more traditional approach had returned to the group. It didn't hurt that the newest singers in the group were at the top of their game. The group hadn't sounded so good since the Russ Taff years.

Shannon Smith has been compared to Guy Penrod of the GVB and Jeremie Hudson has been called the best tenor currently active in gospel music. Jason Morales's smooth baritone puts him at the head of his class, as well.

In late 2003, Armond Morales announced he was retiring. After nearly four decades of guiding the Imperials through numerous ups and downs, Armond left the road and put Jason in charge, while maintaining ownership of the group. Jason immediately hired Ian Owens as the new bass singer. In 2004 Armond sold the group to the four current members and they became equal partners in the ownership and management of the group.  The current group has yet to release an album, but is thrilling fans across the country with their amazing quartet sound. They do have two songs which have gotten some radio play and prove the new group of Imperials to be one of the best ever. I am very excited about the future of this group.

By Josh Parker (with special thanks to John Crenshaw and David Bruce Murray)

Pictures of the Past