Singer Jerome “Little Anthony” Gourdine was born on January 8, 1941, to Victoria Stafford and Thomas Elliot Gourdine. He grew up in the Fort Greene Housing Project in Brooklyn, New York, and attended Boys High School. While in high school, Gourdine and his friends created a doo-wop group called, “The Duponts.”

In 1957, Gourdine joined a new group called the, The Chesters, as the lead vocalist. The group recorded, “Tears on My Pillow,” which became an instant success. The Chesters, changed their name to Little Anthony & The Imperials, in 1959, and released their second hit single, “Shimmy, Shimmy, Ko-Ko-Bop,” which sold one million records.

Little Anthony & the Imperials reformed under DCP records in 1964. From 1964 through 1967, Little Anthony & The Imperials achieved success with songs like, “I’m Outside Looking In,” “Goin’ Out of My Head,” and “Hurt So Bad.” They appeared on the “The Ed Sullivan Show,” the “Kraft Music Hall Television Show,” and Dick Clark’s television specials. In 1969, Little Anthony & The Imperials signed with United Artists and recorded several chart singles. Gourdine left the group in 1975 to begin a sixteen year long acting and solo singing career.

Little Anthony & The Imperials performed their first reunion show in 1992, in New York City, New York. Over the years, they have had seventeen pop and twelve R&B chart hits.

Gourdine now resides in Las Vegas, Nevada with his wife, Linda.

Jerome “Little Anthony” Gourdine was interviewed by The HistoryMakers on April 6, 2007.