Little Anthony otherwise known as Jerome Gourdine was born on January 8^th 1941. He grew up in Brooklyn New York. Both his parents were musicians, so at a young age he was extremely involved in music.  While in high school, he and his friends created a group called “The Duponts”, where he found his own style, outside his family’s music. As he grew up that group fell apart but he quickly met Clarence Collins. Clarence Collins was in a group called “The Chesters” and was looking for a lead singer. Gourdine and Collins clicked instantly and Gourdine became the lead singer. In 1957 they signed a recording contract with Gone and End records and changed their group name to “Little Anthony & The Imperials”. In the same year they came out with their first record “Tears on My Pillow”. The song became a hit over night, and hit the top ten in a matter of a week. That song marked the beginning of an exciting successful career.

Going through songs that were early on in the recording industry was a bit difficult for me. I went through a good amount of songs that were good, but just not the one where I thought “this song is awesome sauce”. But after about twenty minutes I came across Little Anthony & The Imperials hit song “Tears on My Pillow”. While the lyrics are quite short I was still somehow mesmerized. “Tears on my pillow, pain in my heart, caused by you, you. If we could start anew, I wouldn’t hesitate. I’d gladly take you back, and tempt the hand of fate”. This particular line really got to me, because in my young age all of my friends are at a point in their life, when they’re dating not the best person, but still repeatedly go back to them. And Little Anthony just understood that. Understood the notion of “Hey you broke my heart, but I’d take you back in an instant”. I emotionally just connected to that, even if the logical sense isn’t there.

While the lyrics in this song are relatable, Little Anthony’s voice is the icing on this delicious cake. His voice is not the typical deep manly voice, you hear in many other songs. Its high pitched, and works well with the backup singers soothing doo ops.  Imagine Urkel from the TV show “Family Matters” singing; that is what Little Anthony voice sounds like. But this unique style of singing is what many people took notice too, and was part of the reason they became so successful. The song was number 4 on the top ten charts. You don’t get to that spot with an average mainstream voice.

If nothing what I want my readers to get from this music blog entry, that this song is a go to song if a person ever breaks your heart. And lastly Little Anthony ( Jerome Gourdine) broke stereotypes of what a man’s singing voice had to be, and became very successful off of that. So when in doubt, be different, and don’t be mainstream like many others.