Turning contemporary

In 1971, the Jesus movement was beginning to marry music similar to mainstream pop and rock music with lyrics expressing a Christian message. The group took note of this development and began to flavor their more traditional music with contemporary flourishes. Time to Get it Together heralds this shift with its album cover which utilized the "One Way" symbol of the Jesus movement. The cover depicts a hand with index finger pointing skyward, which Jesus freaks used to mean "Personally knowing Jesus is the one way to achieve eternity in heaven with God."

The Imperials surprised gospel music fans in February of 1972 by hiring Sherman Andrus, a former member of Andrae Crouch and the Disciples to replace Greg Gordon.[7] This made Andrus the first African-American member of a Southern gospel group which Andrus jokingly referred to: "to boldly go where no black man had gone before."[8]The lineup of the group stayed stable with Andrus and Terry Blackwood sharing lead vocals through 1975 when Joe Moscheo left just after recording of Follow the Man with the Music. The following year, the pair themselves left to form contemporary Christian music act Andrus Blackwood and Company.[9]


In Early 1976, the group hired baritone David Will, who would stay on for 23 years with the group, and soulful belter Russ Taff as their new lead vocalist. The Taff-led outfit is heard on
the albums Sail On, Imperials Live,Heed the Call,One More Song for You,Christmas With the Imperials and Priority. Following the album, Taff left the group for a solo career and Paul Smith
came on as his replacement, being first heard on 1982's Stand by the Power.

The group seemed to flounder a bit after that album recording first an album with each member taking a solo (Side by Side) and a one-off return to four part harmony singing (The Imperials Sing the Classics) before returning to their Christian pop sound on 1985's Let the Wind Blow.

The group saw its biggest turnover since Blackwood and Andrus' departure when both Smith and long-time tenor Jim Murray left the group. Smith opted for a solo CCM career while Murray sought to perform more traditionally styled gospel music again. Smith was replaced by Danny Ward but he left before recording an album with the band. In the end, Jimmie Lee Sloas and Ron Hemby were the new members bringing an infusion of youth into the group.

The Imperials stirred up controversy and lost many of their oldest fans when they exchanged the soft pop gospel music for a more contemporary pop/rock sound with prominent guitars for the 1987 album This Year's Model. The song Power of God became a theme song with for Christian bodybuilders The Power Team and much younger fans began to come to Imperials Concerts. The albums "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. David Robertson replaced him but following 1990's Love's Still Changing Hearts he himself opted to go solo with Jason Beddoe and Jonathan Hildreth (later known as Jonathan Pierce) joining the ranks.


In 1991, The Imperials would surprise fans again by bringing Armond’s sister Pam Morales in to the line up. Although she appeared with The Imperials in the early 80s as a backup singer, this would be the first time a female was a front member of the quartet. Long time Imp Armond Morales decided to bring her in when Beddoe left the group while in the midst of recording for Big God. She remained in the lineup through 1993's Stir it Up.


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