Uploaded February 2016 | Updated September 2026, 5 hours ago
From their 1972 album 'The Imperials' (Impact Records/R3165)
Jim Murray, Terry Blackwood, Sherman Andrus, Armond Morales, Joe Moscheo.
In 1964, Jake Hess was already well known as the lead singer for the Statesmen. Hess wanted to form a quartet that would enter the field of gospel music at the very top of the game. He retired from the Statesmen Quartet on December 7, 1963 to put all of his efforts into this all-star quartet. He contacted Marion Snider who had formerly operated a group called the Imperial Sugar Quartet, and requested permission to use the name “Imperials”. After receiving Snider’s blessing, “Jake Hess and the Imperials” was born.
Hess and former Weatherford Quartet pianist Henry Slaughter chose Sherrill Nielsen (tenor), Gary McSpadden (baritone), and Armond Morales (bass) to complete the new group. At the time, all of the members were active in other major gospel quartets.
The Imperials released five recordings simultaneously to coincide with their debut. They soon began their own newspaper, “The Imperial Times”, to herald their arrival on the gospel music scene. Some groups didn’t want to appear on programs with the Imperials though. They didn't appreciate the way the group was formed. In his book Nothin’ But Fine, Hess details their struggles on the gospel music circuit.
Influential promoters finally accepted the Imperials, though, and they began to break down musical barriers in the 1960s much as the Statesmen had done in the 1950s. In keeping with their trend-setting ways, the Imperials were soon hired to sing backup for Elvis Presley. The classic Presley recording His Hand in Mine prominently features the Imperials.
By 1967, Nielsen, Slaughter, Hess, and McSpadden had departed for various reasons. Jim Murray had replaced Nielsen at tenor in 1966, Joe Moscheo took over keyboard duties, and Terry Blackwood and Roger Wiles moved into the lead and baritone positions. Recordings such as New Dimensions, The Imperials NOW, and Love Is The Thing put the Imperials back on top in the gospel music industry.
Roger Wiles left the group in 1970. Larry Gatlin sang with the group for about a month in early 1971 before being replaced by Greg Gordon, a son of Anna and Howard Gordon of Chuck Wagon Gang fame. During this time, the Imperials began to record music that was outside the gospel music realm. Popular songs such as “Bridge Over Troubled Waters”, “Let it Be”, “My Sweet Lord”, and “A Thing Called Love” became part of their repertoire. In 1972, the Imperials began to stage a pop medley from their album Time to Get it Together. At this time, they became one of the first groups to perform in concert with recorded music tracks complimented by Moscheo’s piano.
Gordon’s tenure with the group was short-lived. In February 1972, the Imperials became the first interracial quartet in gospel music. Sherman Andrus, a former member of Andrae Crouch and the Disciples was brought in to replace Greg Gordon. They soon hired a band, Solid Rock, to accompany them in their live appearances.
From their 1972 album 'The Imperials' (Impact Records/R3165)
Jim Murray, Terry Blackwood, Sherman Andrus, Armond Morales, Joe Moscheo.
In 1964, Jake Hess was already well known as the lead singer for the Statesmen. Hess wanted to form a quartet that would enter the field of gospel music at the very top of the game. He retired from the Statesmen Quartet on December 7, 1963 to put all of his efforts into this all-star quartet. He contacted Marion Snider who had formerly operated a group called the Imperial Sugar Quartet, and requested permission to use the name “Imperials”. After receiving Snider’s blessing, “Jake Hess and the Imperials” was born.
Hess and former Weatherford Quartet pianist Henry Slaughter chose Sherrill Nielsen (tenor), Gary McSpadden (baritone), and Armond Morales (bass) to complete the new group. At the time, all of the members were active in other major gospel quartets.
The Imperials released five recordings simultaneously to coincide with their debut. They soon began their own newspaper, “The Imperial Times”, to herald their arrival on the gospel music scene. Some groups didn’t want to appear on programs with the Imperials though. They didn't appreciate the way the group was formed. In his book Nothin’ But Fine, Hess details their struggles on the gospel music circuit.
Influential promoters finally accepted the Imperials, though, and they began to break down musical barriers in the 1960s much as the Statesmen had done in the 1950s. In keeping with their trend-setting ways, the Imperials were soon hired to sing backup for Elvis Presley. The classic Presley recording His Hand in Mine prominently features the Imperials.
By 1967, Nielsen, Slaughter, Hess, and McSpadden had departed for various reasons. Jim Murray had replaced Nielsen at tenor in 1966, Joe Moscheo took over keyboard duties, and Terry Blackwood and Roger Wiles moved into the lead and baritone positions. Recordings such as New Dimensions, The Imperials NOW, and Love Is The Thing put the Imperials back on top in the gospel music industry.
Roger Wiles left the group in 1970. Larry Gatlin sang with the group for about a month in early 1971 before being replaced by Greg Gordon, a son of Anna and Howard Gordon of Chuck Wagon Gang fame. During this time, the Imperials began to record music that was outside the gospel music realm. Popular songs such as “Bridge Over Troubled Waters”, “Let it Be”, “My Sweet Lord”, and “A Thing Called Love” became part of their repertoire. In 1972, the Imperials began to stage a pop medley from their album Time to Get it Together. At this time, they became one of the first groups to perform in concert with recorded music tracks complimented by Moscheo’s piano.
Gordon’s tenure with the group was short-lived. In February 1972, the Imperials became the first interracial quartet in gospel music. Sherman Andrus, a former member of Andrae Crouch and the Disciples was brought in to replace Greg Gordon. They soon hired a band, Solid Rock, to accompany them in their live appearances.
