Armond Morales leaves The Imperials, Ian Owens joins.

AFTER 40 years with The Imperials, bass singer Armond Morales is retiring. Ian Owens, who previously sang with the Cumberland Quartet, becomes the new bass voice for the group. The Imperials were hugely popular in Southern gospel circles (performing regularly with Elvis Presley) before becoming one of the pioneering acts in CCM in the '70s and '80s. Morales was the only remaining original member of The Imperials. He plans to move to Hawaii and sing, on limited dates, with The Classic Voices, an act that comprises other retired members of The Imperials. CR

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