The Imperials (no relation to Little Anthony’s group) were started in 1963 by Jake Hess after he left the venerable Statesmen Quartet.  From 1966 to 1971, the Imperials recorded with Elvis Presley and appeared on two of his gospel albums, How Great Thou Art and He Touched Me.  In 1969, Elvis hired the Imperials to perform with him as well after his previous background singers, the Jordanaires (also a gospel group) declined to accompany him to Las Vegas and other far-flung places. 

(July 2014)

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After touring with him and making a movie together, Sylvie Vartan married Johnny Hallyday, a true French icon who is often referred to as the “French Elvis” and has sold 80 million albums worldwide (though he remains largely unknown in the English-speaking world).  They flew to Nashville by the end of 1963 and recorded a best-selling album with the Jordanaires (who recorded with the real Elvis for many years) called Sylvie à Nashville; it sold one million copies in Japan alone.  Three of the songs were in English, including one with Paul Anka.  Sylvie Vartan and Johnny Hallyday were the country’s “golden couple” and had joint sellout shows annually in the 1960’s through the 1970’s. 

(April 2015/1)