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Jerome Anthony "Little Anthony" Gourdine was the driving force behind this group. Little Anthony changed singing groups a couple of times in his singing career but found himself returning to the Imperials in 1963. At this time, Little Anthony and the Imperials became one of the finest vocal groups to emerge from the talent-rich New York scene. Little Anthony and the Imperials enjoyed even greater success in the Sixties with a string of chart singles on the DCP label. Against fierce competition from the British Invasion and Motown, Little Anthony and the Imperials had back-to-back Top Ten hits with "Goin' Out of My Head" and "Hurt So Bad". Both were dramatic pop-soul epics about romantic loss that were keyed by Little Anthony's fevered, confessional delivery and a strong vocal arrangement. Little Anthony himself exited the group in 1975 for a solo career. They reunited in 1992 to make a well-received appearance on an oldies bill at Madison Square Garden.

Little Anthony and the Imperials received the Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation and have been inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.