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ChrirstianityToday.com reports that the current members of the Classic Imperials are suing the co-founder, 75 year-old Armond Morales over who legally owns the name.
The elder Morales, a four-time Grammy Award and thirteen-time Dove Award winner, sold the right to the name to his son, Jason Morals. Jason is one of four members that include Ian Owens, Jeremie Hudson and Shannon Smith.
The young group, lead by Smith, says that Armond is not keeping his word when he signed over the use of the name and the rights, title and interest. The younger group wants the elder to hand over any money he’s earned with the Classic Imperials, since he signed the document.
Armond Morales says the younger group verbally told him he could sing using the name. The younger group also wants the elder to stop claiming to have won the Grammy and Dove Awards that the younger group now claims to have won, even though none of them were members of the group at the time. The younger group also bills itself as a “Gospel Music Hall of Fame Inductee,” even though none of them were with the Imperials at the time of the induction.
Elder Morales issued an open letter to his son that reads in part:
“Jason, this is your dad. I feel that since the story of our dispute is now public I should write you publicly and apologize for all that has happened…My heart is broken as I am sure yours is too, and for that I am truly sorry…When I made the decision to come off the road, I had come through the battle with cancer and truly felt the 40+ years of travel had taken its toll…the beating my body took with the chemo and radiation, and that even though I had beaten the cancer, I was tired and didn’t know what the future would hold…It felt as though I would be able to retire, leave the legacy of the group to you, and all would be well…the business we were working with went into foreclosure, which left your mother and I emotionally and financially drained. When I retuned to the mainland to sing, it wasn’t just to provide financially for your mother and me, it was because I wanted to finish my years serving the Lord in the only ministry I had ever known…Due to the age difference and style of music between our groups, I never anticipated there would be interference, and I believed we could successfully co-exist in ministry…I am no longer using the name of Classic Imperials, only a picture of a crown on our CD covers. I refer to myself as, “one of the artist formerly-known as The Imperials,” and this is a true statement…Love Dad.”
A Nashville judge ordered the two sides to mediate in hopes that they would settle out of court. |
