The Duprees Band bio (Italian boys from Jersey City) – More information here: http://www.duprees.com/home.html
The Duprees are known the world over for their romantic interpretations of some of the most beautiful love songs ever written. They relied on updates of pre-rock pop standards dressing up classy big band arrangements for most of their hits. Their New Jersey street-corner roots were still audible in their doo-wop harmonies, giving their treatments of classic songs enough of a contemporary flavor to compete in the rock and pop marketplace, with songs like “You Belong to Me,” the group’s first Million Seller (previously recorded by Jo Stafford, Patti Page, Dean Martin, and Joni James) and “My Own True Love” (from the soundtrack of Gone With the Wind), as well as “Have You Heard,” and “Why Don’t You Believe Me” which were also Top 40 hits.

They have made a career out of giving new life to old hits. If you take the Glenn Miller arrangements of the 1940’s along with the tunes of Joni James, Frank Sinatra, Jo Stafford, Nat King Cole, (just to name a few) and put them together, you have the sound of The Duprees.

Starting out in the early sixties, in Jersey City, New Jersey, The Duprees were formed by Michael J. Arnone. They were discovered by George Paxton, the president of Coed Records and former big band leader from the 1940’s. Impressed with The Duprees’ smooth vocal quality, he had them record Jo Stafford’s 1950’s ballad “You Belong To Me” with Big Band arrangements. It was an instant national hit and the group’s first Million Seller.

Little Anthony and The Imperials Band bio
R&B/Pop vocal group Little Anthony & The Imperials have begun to take the concert stages by storm once again. Officially reuniting in early 1992, the group had not performed together for over 17 years, yet the magic returned immediately and audiences are showing their approval with thunderous applause. This successful reunion has already brought the group to sold-out appearances at concert halls and performance venues throughout the U.S., including Madison Square Gardens in New York and the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles.

The group are just now receiving a long-overdue recognition of their artistry and lifelong contributions to rhythm and blues music, and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in 2009.

After high school, Anthony Gourdine, originally with “The Duponts”, left to join “The Chesters”, a group founded by Clarence Collins who were looking for a lead voice. In early ‘58, Richard Barrett and Lou Gally (A&R and PR men from End Records, respectively) spotted the group and signed them to a contract and named them “The Imperials”.

Their first record for End Records was a double-sided ballad smash. The “A” side, “Tears on My Pillow”, instantly launched their career into musical history. This would be one of their biggest-selling hits, with over one million copies sold, and has been one of the most enduring love ballads of the ’50s. The flip side hit, “Two People In The World” made this one of the most popular double-sided ballad records in vocal group history.

Anthony was sitting on a Brooklyn park bench one evening, listening to WINS radio DJ Alan Freed, coming over 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

Band members:
Anthony Gourdine, Lead Singer/Producer/Writer
http://www.imperialsofficial.com/anthonybio.html
Clarence Collins, Founder/Singer/Producer/Writer
http://www.imperialsofficial.com/clarencebio.html
Ernest Wright, Producer/Writer/Arranger
http://www.imperialsofficial.com/ernestbio.html
Harold Jenkins, Singer/ Choreographer
http://www.imperialsofficial.com/haroldbio.html
John DiGiulio (drums and percussion)
http://www.imperialsofficial.com/johnbio.html
Michael Raye: Musical Director, Conductor, Keyboards/Piano, Producer, Arranger, Singer, Actor
http://www.imperialsofficial.com/michaelbio.html