Paul Smith returns to Classic Imperials
Several years after leaving the Imperials, Southern Gospel patriarch Armond Morales started a group variously known as the Classic Imperials, Crown, The Artists Formerly Known As The Imperials, and Still Standing. Their website has a number of different names on it, but their Facebook page lists them as the Classic Imperials, so that’s the name I’ll go by for this post.
Until recently, former Old Time Gospel Hour Quartet member / Thomas Road Baptist Church worship leader Robbie Hiner sang tenor for the group. He recently left; yesterday (hat tip, Wes), the Classic Imperials announced that former Imperials member Paul Smith would be rejoining the group. Smith is currently serving as minister of music at a Baptist church in Texas; more information about him is here.
Blame it on whatever you like! Fact is, my reason is simple enough: I have no interest in any secular music. 
(jealous pout)
Comment by Gayla Fooks (July 9, 2009, 10:27 am)
I find this very interesting. I saw the announcement on Facebook. I remember the “Paul Smith Imperial years”, and they had some great songs. I always love to hear Armond sing! I have a question. Will they not have a tenor vocalist now? I do not think any of these gentlemen sing the tenor part. I do not mean anything negative whatsoever. I am simply curious.
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Comment by Wes (July 9, 2009, 12:44 pm)
Gayla, Paul sang lead with the Imperials, but if you’ll go back and listen to some of those albums, particularly the “Let The Wind Blow” album, Smith actually sang over top of Jim Murray pretty frequently. He definitely had the range at that time to sing tenor. I guess in that respect he’s similar to Roy McNeal or Roy Tremble. I would imagine he’ll be singing the tenor part.
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Comment by Gayla Fooks (July 9, 2009, 5:58 pm)
Thanks Wes, I thought it must be something like that! I need to pull out those old albums and listen. I appreciate your input.
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Comment by David Bruce Murray (July 9, 2009, 7:14 pm)
Daniel,
)
How can Paul Smith “return” to the Classic Imperials?
I’d love to hear them, though…the first time I saw the Imps in concert, Paul was singing lead and doing a tremendous job.
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Comment by Daniel J. Mount (July 9, 2009, 10:19 pm)
Good point – poor choice of wording on my part.
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Comment by King's Ransom (July 10, 2009, 8:07 pm)
Rick Evans has a tenor range as well, and in fact, when I first saw the “Place Called Heaven” video, I thought he sounded more like a tenor than a lead.
If I were Armond, Rick would take the tenor spot and Paul Smith would cozy back into the lead position.
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Comment by Daniel J. Mount (July 10, 2009, 8:09 pm)
Alternatively, with two tenors, they now have the range to swap out leads if they want to.
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Comment by David Bruce Murray (July 10, 2009, 8:34 pm)
Daniel,
No worries. It was worded that way in the press release as well.
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Comment by Daniel J. Mount (July 10, 2009, 8:35 pm)
Yeah. But professionals are supposed to notice stuff like that.
)
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Comment by King's Ransom (July 11, 2009, 7:49 pm)
Paul Smith may have a tenor range, but I don’t think he has the timbre.
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