Little Anthony

Last updated
Little Anthony
Birth nameJerome Gourdine
Also known asLittle Anthony
Born (1941-01-08) January 8, 1941 (age 84)
GenresSoul
InstrumentVocals
Years active1957present
Member of Little Anthony and the Imperials

Jerome Gourdine (born Janaury 8, 1941 [1] ), known as Little Anthony, is an American singer, best known for leading Little Anthony and the Imperials.

Contents

Career

He formed The Duponts, who later renamed to Little Anthony and the Imperials. [1] In 1959, they recorded "Shimmy, Shimmy, Ko-Ko-Bop", which sold over one million copies. [1] Gourdine is nicknamed "Little Anthony" despite the fact he is 5ft 9in. [2] Gourdine left the Imperials in 1961 to go solo before returning in 1963. Anthony reformed the Imperials many years later and still fronts the group as the only original member.

The Imperials were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on April 4, 2009. [3] Gourdine released an autobiography titled "My Journey, My Destiny". [2]

Personal life

Gourdine was born to Victoria Stafford and Thomas Elliot Gourdine. [1] His parents and his three brothers were also involved in music; his mother sang in The Nazareth Baptist with her three sisters, and his father played saxophone while being employed as an electrician during the second world war. [4] He grew up in the Fort Greene area of Brooklyn in New York City, and attended Boys High School. [1]

Anthony has been married twice. He was marrried to his first wife, Judy Fouseca, from 1961 to 1963 and had four children with her; they remarried in 1967, moved to Baldwin Hills and then Los Angeles, and divorced again in 1974. [4] [5] Gourdine has been married to his second wife, Linda, for over forty years and has five children with her. [1] [2] [4] They live in Las Vegas. [1] He has nine children, thirteen grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren. [2] [6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Jerome "Little Anthony" Gourdine's Biography". The HistoryMakers. Retrieved 2025-09-24.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Greenblatt, Mike. "An Imperial singer to the end". Goldmine Magazine: Record Collector & Music Memorabilia. Retrieved 2025-09-24.
  3. "The Associated Press: Run-DMC, Metallica lead list of 2009 Rock Hall". www.google.com. Archived from the original on 2009-01-23. Retrieved 2025-09-24.
  4. 1 2 3 "Little Anthony and The Imperials Anthony Gourdine Bio". www.algomes.com. Retrieved 2025-09-24.
  5. "Page 3 of The Classic Imperials: The complete history of the Christian music pioneers - The Classic Imperials". www.crossrhythms.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2024-12-15. Retrieved 2025-09-24.
  6. Bolder, Growing (2023-09-22). "Little Anthony Gourdine". Growing Bolder®. Retrieved 2025-09-24.