I don’t know if you remember Shirley Temple when she did “Heidi” but even if you catch the commercial for her DVD collection, there she is crying out “Grandfather, grandfather” as she is reunited with him at the film’s end. Like a lot of people who are “Grandparent age”, I spent my Christmas with some of my grand-kids. My son Tony and his wife and their kids were at my house for the holidays visiting.  

It was so much fun to have them at our house for the holidays. My wife Linda and I love having the kids visit for Christmas. We spoke about how great it was to exchange gifts and we ate like pigs, which blew my waist line. Don’t tell The Imperials though.  

Linda and I then headed to Seattle and stayed there from 26^th of Dec. to Jan. 1^st to visit our other two grandkids. Man it was something. The weather was worst than the way they reported in the news. There was no garbage collection due to the holidays so the Christmas recycling and the dinner garbage piled up. We all pitched in and got it organized. It’s a dirty job but it was a “bonding experience” that only a family can appreciate.  

We watched the New Year begin on TV like millions of other Americans. We watched Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Year’s Party. With that in mind, I wanted to thank all of you and tell you how much I love you all. I didn’t get to wish you all a Happy New Year and now, I am! I hope all of your dreams come true and a prosperous and healthy new year. Thanks for reading my column and I intend to keep it going as long as possible. 

HOPE IS ETERNAL AND LEGEND IS FOREVER 

They will be announcing the HOF inductees on Jan. 23, a Friday and although there is a group of 500-600 people who decide who gets in, I wish you all could vote. It’s an industry thing I know but “Rock And Roll” belongs to us all, song-by-song, artist-by-artist. I hope we make the cut, as they say. 

To be touted a “legend” in any industry is some accolade. You know that I see Little Anthony & the Imperials as more than a “doo wop group” and if we are inducted into the HOF, we will be honored by our peers and designated as “legends”. I would want to share this honor with a number of people who helped us along the way. But, unfortunately several have passed and are no longer with us. One of those people, Richard Butler gave us Little Anthony & The Imperials are first recording – 1958 and then, there is Teddy Randazzo and Don Costa, who gave us a “new sound” in 1964. They will not be there but their spirit lives on every time we sing. If inducted, I intend to dedicate it to them in words and our hearts. 

SPEAKING OF DOO WOP 

We will be at the Izod Center as “special guests” for a “Doo Wop 20^th anniversary concert” celebrating Richard Nader’s production/concert in 1988. The tickets went on sale the other day for the show which is Saturday, June 13^th. Now, I’ve sounded off on the fact Little Anthony & the Imperials are called a “doo wop act” but being on this show, will be a joy for us. Richard Nader, who has fallen on ill-health, was a good promoter and an entertainment visionary.  

Deborah Nader, his wife is producing this show and we are honored to be headlining this concert event. Like I said, the tickets are on sale now – 6 months in advance. Man, time has changed and pretty much for the better. 

I don’t want to beat the “doo wop thing” into the ground but Little Anthony & the Imperials had two hits that are considered “doo wop songs”. We also had four other hits so calling Little Anthony & The Imperials a doo wop group, negates those hits like “Hurt So Bad” or “Goin’ Out Of My Head” or “Take Me Back”. I hope that our whole song history defines us and if we are inducted into the HOF that would be icing on the cake. 

UPCOMING Little Anthony & the Imperials DATES 

Ever since we were on Letterman last August, our career has taken an upswing. We were just invited to perform in England and we have an upcoming date at the Cleveland RNR HOF on the 13^th of February (read one of the earlier columns for further info). 

The next day, Valentine’s Day, we play the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville and that should be night to remember. And let’s not forget the Vets show Little Anthony & the Imperials are doing in Tampa on the 12^th of February. It’s a free concert and we hope to raise awareness for all hospitalized veterans especially this Valentine’s Day. We owe them a lot and to remember then in a loving way is an ideal American expression of our caring.   

In March, we will be doing 3 concerts in Florida: Clearwater on the 7^th, Ft. Lauderdale on the 8^th and Jacksonville on the 21^st (let’s here it for Spring). We then travel cross-country to Portland, OR, to do a concert on the 28^th.  

Hope y’all can join us.