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Tim Whitsett 's Imperial Show Band was a popular national live act in the 1960s. They are generally regarded as the first integrated band in the state of Mississippi. FORMATIVE YEARS Jackson, MS , native Whitsett's first record "Jive Harp" b/w "Pipe Dreams" was released on Imperial Records when he was sixteen-years-old. Heavily influenced by the sounds of nearby New Orleans, Tim Whitsett & The Imperials (coincidentally) became the hottest band in their home state of Mississippi, and released dozens of R&B, Pop, and Instrumental records, usually written by Whitsett or co-written with his brother Carson, which were issued on a variety of labels, including Epic , Whitsett's own '''Rim''', and the legendary Jackson based Ace , whose president Johnny Vincent was a sort of mentor on how to (or how not to) function in the music business for the teenage Whitsett. Some of these were sizable local hits throughout the South and became very popular when Pirated in England. These " 45s " are now considered collectables, and Tim Whitsett records sell for very high prices on sites like EBay . SUCCESS On the strength of Carson Whitsett 's B-3 organ playing and the Tim Whitsett led horn section, the group was asked to record for Stax Records (before there was a Booker T. & The MGs and "Green Onions") long before the company was a powerhouse and later, Chips Moman asked the group to be his House Band when he started his American Recording Studio . Tim Whitsett turned down both offers because he had his own label (Rim), publishing company (Gulfway), and the band was having their own success. Moman would hire now legendary session men like guitarist Reggie Young and record everyone from Wilson Pickett to Neil Diamond to Elvis Presley . Whitsett changed the group's name to The Imperial Show Band, and the group began a successful tour of the country, which included stints in L.A., Lake Tahoe, New York, and a home away from home in Erie, Pennsylvania . With the addition of future Southern Soul cult figure Tommy Tate on vocals (and later drums as well), they became '''Tim Whitsett & The Imperial Show Band featuring Tommy Tate'''. This was significant because other than Memphis's renowned 's ''Live at the Apollo'' and Bobby "Blue" Bland 's ''Two Steps From the Blues''. ( Carson Whitsett would later play on several Bland albums, including his great ''Live on Beale Street''.) With the addition of Tate, they were more authentic than ever, and a force to be reckoned with. Also doing a brief stint with the band was Dorothy Moore of "Misty Blue" fame. CONCLUSION Following maybe one too many lineup changes, Whitsett disbanded the group. Soon afterwards, he received a call from , as well as the remaining MGs ( Booker T. Jones had left the company), as another House Band for the label and its recently greatly expanded roster. Tim Whitsett and Tommy Tate signed on as songwriters and within a week, Whitsett was put in charge of publishing. Carson Whitsett would come to Stax three years later and record an album as a member of The MG's , and Tate replaced Ollie Hoskins as lead singer of The Nightingales . NOTABLE MEMBERS
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Bass Players: Ed Clarke, In 1964, Guy Bowering,a fellow Pike Fraternity Brother,took his place. |
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