For your information, a band called The Imperials, based in Richmond BC was together between 1960 and 1962. I played Bass in the band in 1960/61. Other members included Larry Stevens, Lead Guitar/Bass, Al Wilson (no relation) Guitar, Keith Kemp, Piano , Bill Gialma, Drums and Dave Smith, Saxophone.
We were an instrumental band playing mainly R & B covers. We played at various venues around the Vancouver area including The Hollywood Bowl, Garden Auditorium, Carpenters Hall (NW) etc.
Jim Wilson, April 2004
My name is Bill Giolma. I was the Drummer and the co-founder of the Richmond, B.C./Vancouver Imperials.
We played all of the R & B oriented dancehalls and Nightclubs in Southwestern B.C. and even down into the Bellingham and Oak Harbor WA. area.
We did our last gig as the "Imperials" in the latter part of 1965.
Bill Giolma, March 2006
Sax player Wayne Arnold died at the hands of muggers in Tijuana, Mexico, circa Spring 1962 R.I.P.)
We were the house band every weekend at the Hollywood Bowl for about a year and we used 2 saxophones. One Saturday night we had Paul Revere and the Raiders as headliners on the gig. We had a great time with them.
Bill Giolma, February 2007
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