[1] Hess wanted to start a new group recognized as "king" of the Southern gospel field and thought the "Imperials" would be a good moniker.

Joe Moscheo on piano, Larry Benson on drums, keyboard, bass, and miscellaneous other instruments along with Dave Mathis on electric guitar formed this new sound behind the group.

In late mid-1967, Hess began having heart issues and by the end of the year left the road, under doctor's orders, turning the reins of the group over to Morales, Moscheo, and Murray.

Larry Gatlin auditioned for the group in the fall of 1970, then got the call to sing with them in early 1971 backing Jimmy Dean in Las Vegas.

[7] The Imperials surprised gospel music fans in February 1972 by hiring Sherman Andrus, a former member of Andrae Crouch and the Disciples to replace Greg Gordon.

[3] The lineup of the group stayed stable with Andrus and Terry Blackwood sharing lead vocals through 1976 when Joe Moscheo left just after the recording of Follow the Man with the Music.

The following year, the pair themselves left to form contemporary Christian music act Andrus, Blackwood & Company.

Paul Smith, who while promoting an Imperials concert at Baylor University (while he was a student there), gave Armond Morales a tape of his music.

Smith opted for a solo CCM career while Murray sought to perform more traditionally styled gospel music again.

The album Free the Fire reverted a bit towards the soft pop sound and after its recording, Sloas became the next Imperial to seek a solo career.

As the story goes, Naomi Judd heard Jonathan sing a solo while he was a member of the Christ Church Choir in Nashville.

Member and owner Armond Morales decided to bring her in when Beddoe left the group while in the midst of recording for Big God.

After a three-year recording hiatus, the release of Til He Comes marked the change back to a four-part harmony sound—losing the hard edge of previous albums and helping restore their original fans to the fold.

All five original members, Hess, Morales, McSpadden, Sherrill, and Slaughter; as well as Blackwood, Andrus, Moscheo, Murray, and Taff were there to accept the induction.

Morales – the only still-performing original member – along with the rest of the reunited foursome, released Still Standing in 2010, their first project with Smith in 25 years.