BLACK HISTORY MONTH IMPERIAL STYLE 

You know, sometimes I think to myself that The Imperials and I really “lived” what you would have to call, “Black History”. I mean to say, we are apart of “Black History personified” in a lot of ways. In the entertainment biz, we did it all and you could say we are the “last men standing”. For the last 50 years we survived and we are still performing. We, right now, are getting more recognition and praise not just for performing but for having lived the life.  

I think that now, at the close of our 50^th anniversary, we can talk freely and candidly about this history we call “entertainment”. Think about it. Since the late ‘50s so much has happened and we were there as American citizens onstage and at home in Brooklyn, Las Vegas or Los Angeles. Not many performers have lasted as long as we have. 

Let me digress for a moment – I remember The Olympics in 1968 which was held in Mexico City. It was one of the most controversial Olympics of all, perhaps. There was a rising racial tension at the time and colleges were protesting. For many of us, it was almost unbearable. The anti-Viet Nam War movement, civil rights demonstrations, the death of Martin Luther King, counter-culture, a country divided, and on and on. Wow, it was an incredible time. 

The highlight though had to be when John Carlos and Tommy Smith were #1 and #2 respectfully, in the hundred meter run. They were awarded gold and silver medals and as they were presented, they raised their fists covered by black gloves in a silent “power to the people” protest gesture. It turned the whole world upside down and career-wise, they paid a heavy price. I was so proud of them. I watched their protest on TV at my Ebbett’s Field apartment in Brooklyn that day. I felt vindicated for being humiliated all those years I spent performing before segregated audiences. 

When I said that we lived it, we did. The Imperials and I were told on one particular tour through the South - Birmingham, Alabama in particular, that the theater had two sides. The stage was in the middle with one side for the black audience and the other side for the white audience. They told us to ignore the black side and only perform for the white side. We were incensed but we solved the problem without anyone telling us how. We performed and sang to the side wall of the theater. It made us as proud as John Carlos and Tommy Smith must have been on that Olympic day.  

There were more stories of racial prejudice but I think this “Imperial tale” sums it up. As entertainers we had a job to do but as a black group from New York, we had to be our own person, too. Now, with a mixed race President, those days seem long ago. The pride is greater now and this month, Black History Month, has a truer significance for me and Americans nationwide. Sometimes you have to take a stand and in turn, suffer the consequences in order to move forward.

OH WHERE OH WHERE IS OPRAH 

I know my column is only a couple of months old and for the last two columns, I’ve been writing Oprah. I am determined to meet her. She is a very special person and probably one of the best known TV personalities in the business. The Imperials and I would be great on her show. We have a history to tell and I think one of our songs could well be a favorite of hers, like “Hurt So Bad” or “Goin’ Out Of My Head”.  

Maybe we could tell her about how Muhammad Ali, then known as Mr. Cassius Clay, was in the studio with us when we recorded “Hurt So Bad”. He was a friend of Don Costa’s and played fiddle, sort of, in a fooling around way. Or we could talk about “Jackie” Moms Mabley, Sammy Davis Jr. or Redd Foxx. Or I could tell her about how I didn’t make the cut at The Apollo when I auditioned one night with The Duponts.  

OK I admit it, I have crush on Oprah and I think she would love our new CD “You’ll Never Know”. Does it sound like I am kissing up to her? Well, I am and I don’t feel a bit a shame about it either. Oprah can you hear me? 

CLEVELAND ROCKS 

Thanks to the publicity generated by our induction into the Rock Hall of Fame, we have been adopted by the city of Cleveland. Not only will be performing on Fuse TV live when the HOF special airs on April 4^th, we are also going to do a special concert at one of the legendary rock clubs in the country, The Agora Ballroom on April 3^rd. The Agora is so thrilled to have us they are creating a special poster in our honor. I can not thank them enough for this performance opportunity. 

Then, it gets better still. On April 5^th, Sunday we have been invited to sing the National Anthem at the Cleveland Cavs game. Man, I want to meet LeBron James. This will be one of those lifetime moments for me and our fans, too. 

Now, some performers are afraid to sing the National Anthem but not me and The Imperials. We will rock the house with an Imperial rendition to open the game. Our four-part harmony of the “Star Spangled Banner” is something to hear and it will be broadcast on ESPN as well.  

Two national TV appearances within days’ time, man it does not get better than that. First the Fuse broadcast of the HOF induction concert and then, ESPN. Let’s face it, today it is all about TV and in the past year, we’ve benefited greatly from the Letterman performance and recently the CBS Sunday Morning interview. Now we can add, two more broadcasts to our resume.  

Like the song says, “Cleveland rocks” and when we leave town after the HOF show and the Cavs game, The Imperials and I will add a new “Imperial” dimension to the term.

A 2009 DOO WOP IMPERIAL SWANSONG 

I’ve talked about how I dislike having LA&TIs labeled a “doo wop group” several times in previous columns. Like Jeff Greenfield pointed out during the segment he did with us on CBS Sunday Morning, the term “doo wop” was created almost 10 years after the music was out there. Little Anthony & The Imperials are more than two hit songs and although we started out under a street light singing, today our performance is so much more. Doing “Hurt So Bad” on David Letterman proved that without question and I thank Dave and Paul Shaffer for helping us to accomplish that. 

I feel that we transcended “doo wop” and reemerged in the ‘60s as a definitive R&B performers. Don Costa thought so and so did Teddy Randazzo. With that said, this year 2009 we decided collectively that Little Anthony & The Imperials were going to stop doing “doo wop reunion shows”. Call it our 2009 “doo wop swansong” if you will. 

We work with a wonderful promoter, Deborah Nader and she is carrying on the business her husband, Richard Nader created. We have a number of concerts coming up including two in Florida: Clearwater on Saturday, March 7^th and then, Ft. Lauderdale on March 8^th. Both of these shows are billed as “Doo Wop Reunions” with LA&TIs are “special guests”. Then on Saturday, June 13^th we are once again “special guests” at a massive concert at NJ’s Meadowlands Izod Center in New Jersey. Tickets go on sale March 1^st.  

These “doo wop reunion shows” and maybe a couple of more in the Fall, will be our last. Out of respect to our beloved fans and promoter Deborah Nader, we are headlining these “doo wop shows” and then, we will close out that chapter in our career. It’s not like we will not sing “Two Kinds Of People” or “Tears On My Pillow” again but The Imperials and I are planning other concerts that do not limit our performance. We are planning to some orchestral concerts and surprise duets, if it all works out. 

Take for example, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons and how they have elevated their concerts and the music that defines them. Little Anthony & The Imperials are about to begin a 5-year plan of not only raising our entertainment stature but becoming a “we were there” voice of the music we can rock ‘n roll. Much of the rock history has been told and a lot of it, not. We hope to fill the void in concert and like I said before, we are “setting the record straight”. This is the life we lived and we plan to share it. 

2009 will be a swansong to the concerts called “doo wop reunions”. You never say never though in this business and therefore, if there is a special show where we can be “special guests” in a year or so, maybe we will, or maybe we won’t. These next few years will be a finale of LA&TIs’ career and also, a new beginning. Our concerts will define us more so than any tag could ever attempt to. Our “Imperial” best is yet to come.