The Imperials (4)

The Imperials (4) (Providence, Rhode Island)

Personnel :

Tom Batista

Joe DiBiase

Don Troiano

Michael Traficante

Discography :

1958 - C'Mon Tiger (Gimme A Growl) / The Glory Of Love (Liberty 55119)

Biography :

These Imperials were from Providence, Rhode Island, and were formed by Joseph DiBiase and Tom Battista, both of whom played in their school band. DiBiase started playing piano at the age of 5 and later pursued studies in conducting and arranging. DiBiase and Battista along with Don Troiano and Michael Traficante formed the Imperials as teens, and the group appeared on radio and television. While touring in California, the group was picked up by Liberty Records. The group's only single was "C'mon Tiger (Gimma a Growl)," a song written by Hal Winn. Winn was a British producer and songwriter who composed a lot of songs with interesting titles, such as "(Come on and) Join the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Girls in Love," recorded by the Cody Sisters in 1959, and "Rate-a-Date Book," recorded by Linda Star & the Starlets in 1963. In the 1970s, Winn produced and composed for the Mystic Moods Orchestra.

  
                                                                 Reunion Concert The Imperials perform at Foxwoods in 1994

The B-side was "The Glory of Love," a pop oldie that has been recorded countless times. The song had been a #1 pop hit for Benny Goodman in 1936 and a #1 R&B hit for the Five Keys in 1951 and would become a minor hit for the Roommates in 1961.The Imperials recorded their single with the Spencer-Hagen Orchestra, which also recorded separately for Liberty on albums such as Essence of Romance. (Hear the orchestra's recording of "Voodoo" here.) The Imperials don't appear to have lasted long after "C'mon Tiger" was released.


Songs :

  
     The Glory Of Love                    C'Mon Tiger (Gimme A Growl)



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