The Emperors
Encyclopedia
The Emperors were an American soul
band from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
, formed in the early 1960s.
The group had its first breakthrough when producer Phil Gabler noticed the group and recorded their first single, "Karate", in 1966. The song was released on Mala Records
and became a hit; the song was a regional smash in the Philadelphia area, reached the Top 30 of the national R&B charts, and peaked at #55 on the Billboard Hot 100
. Their follow-up single was a cover
of Don Gardner
's tune "My Baby Likes to Boogaloo", and another single, "Searchin'", followed in 1967 before the group signed with Brunswick Records
. One single, "Karate Boogaloo", followed on the label before Bobby Fulton left the group to start Soulville Records. The group then renamed itself Emperors Soul 69 and recorded the single "Bring Out Yourself" for Futura Records
before disbanding.
The group's output was reissued on LP and CD in 2002.
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
band from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, formed in the early 1960s.
The group had its first breakthrough when producer Phil Gabler noticed the group and recorded their first single, "Karate", in 1966. The song was released on Mala Records
Mala Records
Mala Records was a small record label founded as a Bell Records subsidiary in 1959. Beginning in 1967, albums by Mala recording artists were issued on the Bell label instead of Mala...
and became a hit; the song was a regional smash in the Philadelphia area, reached the Top 30 of the national R&B charts, and peaked at #55 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. Their follow-up single was a cover
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of Don Gardner
Don Gardner
Don Gardner is an American rhythm and blues drummer and vocalist.Born in Philadelphia, Gardner had formed his own group, the Sonotones, in 1953, but teamed up with Dee Dee Ford in the early 1960s to have his biggest successes. Their biggest hit was "I Need Your Lovin'," a Top 20 hit in 1962...
's tune "My Baby Likes to Boogaloo", and another single, "Searchin'", followed in 1967 before the group signed with Brunswick Records
Brunswick Records
Brunswick Records is a United States based record label. The label is currently distributed by E1 Entertainment.-From 1916:Records under the "Brunswick" label were first produced by the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company...
. One single, "Karate Boogaloo", followed on the label before Bobby Fulton left the group to start Soulville Records. The group then renamed itself Emperors Soul 69 and recorded the single "Bring Out Yourself" for Futura Records
Futura Records
Futura Records are a French record company and Jazz label, founded in 1969. The company also has a number of other labels.-Artists:Artists include:* Richard Accart* Françoise Achard* Pepper Adams* Gene Adler* Irene Aebi* Ricou Albin* Michel Alibo...
before disbanding.
The group's output was reissued on LP and CD in 2002.