THE IMPRESSIONS

Inductees into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, The Impressions are best known for their 1960s string of hits, many of which were heavily influenced by gospel music and served as inspirational anthems for the Civil Rights Movement. The group's hit 'People Get Ready' is ranked #24 on the Rollin Stone list of The 500 Greatest Songs of all Time, and their first million-selling hit song "For Your Precious Love": is ranked #327 on that same list. They are also 1998 Grammy Hall of Fame inductees and are winners of the Rhythm and Blues Foundation's Pioneer Award in 2000.

The Impressions originally formed in 1958 in Chicago, founded as The Roosters by Chattanooga, TN, natives Sam Gooden, Richard Brooks and Arthur Brooks, who added Jerry Butler and Curtis Mayfield to their line-up to become Jerry Butler & the Impressions. By 1962 Butler and the Brookses had departed, and after switching to ABC-Paramount Records, Mayfield, Gooden, and new Impression Fred Cash collectively became a top-selling soul act. Mayfield left the group for a solo career in 1970; Reggie Torian, Leroy Hutson, Ralph Johnson,  Sammy Fender and Nate Evans were among the replacements who joined Gooden and Cash.

Today's Impressions consist of Fred Cash, Sam Gooden and Reggie Torian. In 2011, English fans celebrated the first return public shows by the Impressions in Manchester and London, backed by the Curtom Orchestra. Later that year the Impressions performed at the official concert for the dedication of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington, D.C.