Jerome Anthony “Little Anthony” Gourdine, of Little Anthony and the Imperials, is born in New York City.
Clarence Collins, of Little Anthony and the Imperials, is born in Brooklyn, New York.
Ernest Wright, Jr. , of Little Anthony and the Imperials, is born in Brooklyn, New York.
Sammy Strain, of Little Anthony and the Imperials, is born.
Sammy Strain, of Little Anthony and the Imperials, is born.
The Duponts, who will soon change their name to Little Anthony and the Imperials, appear on the star-filled bill of Alan Freed’s concert series at New York’s Paramount Theater.
“Tears On My Pillow,” by Little Anthony and the Imperials, enters Billboard’s singles chart. The first pressing credits the song to, simply, “The Imperials.”
Little Anthony and the Imperials appear on Dick Clark’s American Bandstand, where they sing “Tears On My Pillow.”
We Are the Imperials, the first album by Little Anthony and the Imperials, is released on End Records.
Little Anthony and the Imperials return to the Top Forty with “Shimmy, Shimmy, Ko-Ko Bop,” a dance tune.
“I’m on the Outside (Looking In)” gives Little Anthony and the Imperials their first hit in five years. Over the next two years, they will place a half-dozen more singles on the charts.
Little Anthony and the Imperials’ “Goin’ Out of My Head,” a vocal-group soul classic, enters the Billboard chart, where it will peak in the Top Ten.
“Hurt So Bad,” by Little Anthony and the Imperials, enters Billboard’s singles chart. It will become the group’s second straight Top Ten hit, peaking at #6 (pop) and #4 (R&B).
“Take Me Back,” by Little Anthony and the Imperials, makes its chart debut. It will peak at #15.
Closing out an incredible year, Little Anthony and the Imperials launch their last Top Forty pop hit, “I Miss You So.”
“I’m Falling in Love With You,” by Little Anthony and the Imperials, enters the R&B chart, will it will peak at #34. It is the group’s last single to make the R&B Top Forty.
Anthony Gourdine leaves Little Anthony and the Imperials for a solo career, while Sammy Strain has departed to replace William Powell in the O’Jays. The remaining members continue as the Imperials.
A reunited Little Anthony and the Imperials perform on Dick Clark’s 40th anniversary American Bandstand special.
You’ll Never Know, an album of new recordings by Little Anthony and the Imperials, marks the group’s 50th anniversary.
Little Anthony and the Imperials are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the 24th annual ceremony. Smokey Robinson is their presenter.
