Little Anthony with
Rocky and The Rollers

The story of Little Anthony is a story of the early days of rock and roll, when our music was new and breathtaking. It not only reached our ears but our hearts in show business. Let’s begin in 1957, when Jerome Anthony Gourdine was singing with a group called the Duponts, and Clarence Collins, Ernest Wright, Tracy Lord, and Glouster Nathaniel “Nate” Rogers formed a group called the Chesters. Anthony and Clarence had known each other as toddlers when their dads worked together at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. After the Duponts broke up, Anthony joined the Chesters. While rehearsing one day, the Chesters were heard by Richard Barrett, director for George Goldner, one of the great champions of doo-wop and owner of the labels Gone, End, Gee, and Rama. Goldner had some of the most influential groups of the time—Barrett auditioned the Chesters, loved what he heard, and immediately brought them to the attention of Goldner.

Richard Barrett renamed the group the Imperials. Into the studio Goldner took them, to record a song he liked called “Tears on My Pillow.” As Anthony said, after the second take of “Tears,” Goldner stopped the session, took Anthony aside, and said, “Don’t sing the lyric; talk the lyric.” The result was the unforgettable opening of the song: “You don’t remember me —but I remember you.” This was the birth of LITTLE ANTHONY as we know him.

Gone is the street corner but what is left standing Little Anthony Gourdine, aged like fine wine, mature in his thinking, his creativity, and his vocal prowess. We know you will enjoy this Anthony as you enjoyed Anthony through the decades. He is the best that he can be, a true American Music Icon. We invite you to enjoy Little Anthony with Rocky and The Rollers!