By Frank Cornacchiulo
Little Anthony Gourdine, Ernest Wright and Clarence Collins the Imperials (originally called the Chester’s) Attended Boys High School Brooklyn 1957. It’s not just Rock n’ Roll its Happenstance n” Luck that created The Imperials.
The vocal combo's original members were Jerome Anthony Gourdine (Jan. 8, 1941, New York, N.Y., U.S.), Clarence Collins (March 17, 1941, Brooklyn, N.Y.), Ernest Wright, Jr. I attended Boys High School Annex as a freshman in 1956. While standing on the elevated subway platform every afternoon on my why home from school I would hear this group singing acappella “Crazy Little Mama” every day for months on end which was practice for them. Apparently practice makes perfect because they later became “the Imperials” .
Clarence Collins was born in 1942 in Brooklyn, New York where he grew up and was raised by his father. His father worked at the Brooklyn Navy Shipyard. They lived in the Fort Green Project Complex run by the United States Government for its Navy yard workers. His father worked along with Anthony's father, so Anthony Gourdine and Clarence have known each other since the age of 3. He attended Public School 67 and Boys High School. Clarence’s love of music began when he listened to his father play the piano in a jazz band, it was in his genes.
Ernest Wright, grew up in Brooklyn, New York, where as a young boy, he met Anthony, Clarence and Sammy. On many occasions you could find them on the street corners of Brooklyn singing acappella, for hours. Clarence Collins decided to form a group called The Chester’s, which Anthony, and Clarence were a part of. A few years later the name of the group was officially changed to The Imperials. It was also then when Sammy Strain joined the group as well.
Little Anthony and the Imperials continue a full production venture throughout the world. Also in various cities where they were are appearing in the US, such as casinos, stadiums, and music halls. Where you can enjoy and experience the group called “The Imperials”, their music is timeless and legendary.
Anthony was sitting on a Brooklyn Park bench one evening, listening to WINS radio DJ Alan Freed, on the radio. As he announced the next record, Anthony heard, ... "and here's a new record that's making a lot of noise ... Little Anthony & The Imperials...singing 'Tears on My Pillow'...". The nickname Little Anthony stuck, and the new group name was official. This is where Happenstance comes in. They were just a group of young men with talent who found each other. They had a dream that came true in making the Imperials a great success.
Update, Happy Birthday Little Anthony now 83 years old. When we attended Boys High School in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, NY. I wrote about you in my blog http://happenstance-n-luck.com I love your music. But when you and the Imperials would practice singing "Crazy Little Mama" very day after school on the old subway EL, it drives me crazy, because I still hear you and the original, Chester's at that time, singing that song in my head. Thanks, for the memories.
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