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Little Anthony and the Imperials

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Vocalists

The Resume

    (1958- )
    Born in New York City, New York
    1964 Line-Up:
    Little Anthony Gourdine, lead
    Sammy Strain, first tenor
    Ernest Wright, second tenor
    Clarence Collins, bass
    Recorded the singles 'Tears on My Pillow' (1958), 'Two Kinds of People' (1958), 'Shimmy Shimmy Ko Ko Bop' (1960), 'I'm On The Outside Looking In' (1964), 'Going Out Of My Head' (1964), 'Hurt So Bad' (1965), 'Take Me Back' (1965), 'Hurt' (1966) and 'Out of Sight, Out of Mind' (1969)
    Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2009)

Why they might be annoying:

    Their hits featured Anthony's falsetto.
    Anthony left for a solo career (1961), but returned two years later when neither he nor the group had any hits.
    Anthony became a born-again Christian and moved to gospel.
    At one point, two different groups of Imperials were touring the oldies circuit.

Why they might not be annoying:

    They were one of the few 50s doo-wop groups to go on to success in the 60s.
    Sammy Strain joined the O'Jays.
    As of the band's 50th anniversary, Gourdine, Wright and Collins were still performing together.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 6 Votes: 16.67% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 10 Votes: 10.0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 18 Votes: 27.78% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 10 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 3 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 11 Votes: 18.18% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 24 Votes: 16.67% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 16 Votes: 56.25% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 12 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 12 Votes: 41.67% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 6 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 29 Votes: 51.72% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 36 Votes: 47.22% Annoying