There is quite a buzz about in the Southern Gospel Industry about the Imperials having a presence in this genre again. I realize that we are never going to see a 3 chords and a cloud of dust Imperials group, because they never have been, but what can we expect to see and hear from the new and improved Imperials?
Jason: The same unwavering commitment to making excellent music no matter what type we are singing.
Ian: I think people can expect to hear some Gospel "Zydeco" such as our new song: "Allie the Alligator Eats the Pastor". Also some Gospel Blues such as: "Whole Lotta Love; Not Much Offering". We also have a new Gospel Hip Hop version of "Who Let the Dogs Out". We are calling it," Who Let the Dogs Out for Jesus".
Jeremie: Our self-titled project that was released earlier this year only had a few songs that "fit" in the SG genre; however, the project we just finished and that is releasing this month, Back to the Roots has no less than eight songs that would be considered SG in today's musical landscape. As you've said, while not everything we do is one particular style, SG fans can expect that The Imperials love SG and want to continue making music that fits in that genre.
Shannon: You can expect to see a continued commitment to excellence. The Imperials is a unique group in that we've done music that appeals to many different genres. I like to say that SG is a part of our core DNA and we don't plan to change that. It's not all that we are but it definitely is a part of who we are.
Your new CD, Back To the Roots is just outstanding. What went into the thought process for making that CD? How did you decide what songs to record, and how many did you finally do? What was it like working with Michael Sykes?
Jason: I know that this project started out as a CD for the fans, but it quickly became an opportunity for us to sing songs we grew up listening to and loving. It amazes me how these song are still timely and there message is still as strong today as it was 30 years ago. Working with Micheal Sykes was an incredible experience. His personality meshed so well with us. We had a great time. (Thanks Mike).
Ian: Jeremie and Shannon point out that a lot of our motivation for this album was to give the fans what they have been asking for, however it is also an attempt to help people in the industry associate our faces with the sound and songs that have come to be expected from The Imperials. Also, we love our roots and are very proud of what came before us so we wanted to go Back to the Roots to pay respect to The Imperials heritage.
Jeremie: Initially, it was a fan-based project. What I mean by that is that at nearly every concert fans come up to us and request recordings of this current group singing some of the Imperials' classic songs. We did this project for the fans.
Shannon: While we did this project for the fans, there's a real sense in which we are included in those fans. We love The Imperials history and we have done our best to treat these songs with great respect while at the same time updating them a little. We chose 11 songs. Some of them are very well known and some we dug around a little for. Narrowing down 40 years of albums to just 11 songs was quite difficult but it was a lot of fun listening to all of those songs again! A quick shout out to Michael Sykes - we love you, man! You're the best!
I understand that the original "Big Red" went to the big bus graveyard and you bought another bus that wasn't even red. What's up with that?
Jason: Well it's red now isn't it? That's all that matters.
Ian: The bus we bought wasn't red?!! They said it was RED!! Why doesn't anyone tell me these things?!! RED!!!
Jeremie: There's more than one color in the rainbow and all buses aren't red.
Shannon: Actually, the Lord gave us a great deal on this bus and we're really grateful for it. Also, one of our dear friends just recently donated a paint job for it and now it is "Big Red 2".
For the past few years, it seems that the Imperials have become more of a church ministering group rather than a concert entertainment group, tell us a little about that?
Ian: I'm happy to tell you about it, Deon. For the past few years, the Imperials have become more of a church ministering group rather than a concert entertainment group. Next question, please. RED!!!
Jeremie: Personally, my heart is bent toward ministry whether in the church or the concert hall. The venue really has very little to do with how we approach what we do.
Shannon: As you know, we are all either licensed or ordained ministers and as Jeremie said, we approach all of our events as ministry opportunities. That's not to say that we're insensitive to the venue or crowd that is present. Just like our set-list isn't "set in stone" every night, the words we say aren't either. We want to be sensitive to what the Holy Spirit is doing and ultimately our goal is that people spend time in the presence of Jesus and that we facilitate an atmosphere in which He can work in their lives.
Tell us about one thing that each of you do that we might be surprised to know, such as, do any of you pick your toes at night, do any of you cry at movies? Tell us something that we would be surprised to know about you.
Jason: One of my passions is cars and motorcycles. Anything motorized. If I could, I would own about 20 cars and bikes. (Also Ian's middle name is Ginger)
Ian: You might be surprised to know that I like to collect old Transformers toys. I also collect Star Wars toys, but Jeremie's collection of Star Wars toys far surpasses mine. He can't touch my collection of Transfomers, though! Hahahaha!!
Jeremie: I pick my belly button lint and I get real long ear hairs. Seriously, one thing that most people would consider odd is that I LOVE TO CLEAN!
Shannon: According to the guys (and my wife) I'm the snoring champion of the world! Also, I watch as many Yankees games as possible on MLB.TV when they aren't televised and if I can't be online I follow the games on my cell phone. Yep, I bleed blue and white pinstripes!
If you guys weren't Gospel singers today, what would you be doing?
Jason: I would probably be working in a studio somewhere, I love being part of the creative process. That or a mechanic, maybe a welder. (Again I love cars).
Ian: I always wanted to be a commercial aviator, but God didn't give me the eyes for it. Actually, I majored in classical brass so I would probably be a band director somewhere.
Jeremie: I would be in ministry of some type I'm sure. I would also love to have a ranch and fly fish all day. (I don't know who would take care of the animals.)
Shannon: When I was growing up, I always said that there were two things I dreamed of doing: Being the second baseman for the New York Yankees or being the lead singer for The Imperials. I guess one out of two isn't bad!
Knowing that Shannon is a devout NY Yankees fan. What's that like traveling on the bus? Are any of the rest of you sports fans?
Jason: I really like sports, Love football and Formula 1 racing. I don't like the Yankee's fans (Shannon), also God doesn't wear a Yankees hat, Morgan Freeman does, Big Difference!
Ian: Sorry I don't follow Hockey so I can't comment on the Yankees. I love football, though! Go Red Sox!!! RED!!!
Jeremie: I'm a devout Alabama Crimson Tide "bleed red for a reason" fan.
Shannon: If you remember the Bruce Almighty film, God wears a Yankee cap. I always knew he was a Yankee fan! I also love "Da Bears".
What is the most exciting conversion experience you have seen in your ministry?
Jason: I have a hard time separating one particular event because they are all amazing to me. Just the fact the God would use us to do one of the greatest miracles still floors me.
Ian: Every year since I joined the Imperials we have gone to the Tennessee Prison for Women to give the inmates there a Christmas concert. Our first year there we saw about 300 women come to Christ! That is incredible!
Jeremie: Not sure that I can separate one from another because honestly it always gives me chills when someone steps out to make the decision for Christ.
Shannon: One night an 8-year-old, a 19-year-old, and an 80-year-old all responded to the same invitation. That was pretty amazing because our motto is "Bridging the Hearts of Generations" and that was as good an example of that as we can ever hope to see.
What are the responsibilities of carrying on such a name-sake as The Imperials?
Jeremie: A question we get from time to time is, "What makes you guys the Imperials?" or "Rather than try and 'be the Imperials' why don't you just pick another name and start fresh?" I don't feel like we're trying to "be The Imperials". I sang with Armond for four years before he retired and so being "an Imperial" was not new for me. Jason and I have been with the group for eight years now which makes us among some of the longest tenured group members in the more than 40-year history. We do everything we know to do to run the group with integrity, prayerfulness and commitment to our mission.
Shannon: While we are humbled and honored to carry on the legacy that's been entrusted to us, we're not intimidated by that. We believe with all of our hearts that God has called and anointed us to do what we do and to be who we are. From the outside it might look like we walked into a "gold-mine" but that's not the case. When we began to run this group, it had been away from the industry limelight for a long time. There had been no record deals and no number one hits for many years. We have worked very hard to make this thing work. We have bled for this group and we lay it all on the line every day just like other people do. We know what it is to take pay cuts, do without pay checks from time-to-time, and sacrifice to fulfill God's calling on our lives. I'm not "poor-mouthing", I'm just being real. We love The Imperials! We believe in The Imperials (the past, the present and the future)! We believe The Imperials best days are ahead of us!
Author: AGM
| Author's Website: http://absolutelygospel.com/
Written: 09/01/2007
| 
Category: Feature Articles
Comments: 3
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Can't wait to get my copy of "Back to the Roots".
Interesting interview of some of my favorite guys.
Is it just me, or is Ian having a little trouble focusing. Red!!
honestly I have felt that there is an anointing and has always been on the Imperials...and I think that you guys carry that anointing and carry that name and ministry with excellence and with honor! great album and your best days are certainly ahead!
This is one of the BEST recording I've heard in a long time. Michael Sykes should be very proud of this project. My hat's off to Jason, Ian, Jeremie & Shannon. You guys ROCK!
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