 |
Little Anthony | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Jerome Gourdine |
| Also known as | Little Anthony |
| Born | January 8, 1941 |
| Genres | Soul |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Years active | 1957–present |
| Member of | Little Anthony and the Imperials |
Jerome Gourdine (born January 8, 1941 [1] ), known as Little Anthony, is an American singer, best known for leading Little Anthony and the Imperials.
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]
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]