The Impressions

It’s quite incredible how many R&B groups, who were huge in the sixties and seventies, are still going strong today; I’m not sure quite what it is about those bands on the legendary likes of Motown Records or Stax that endows them with such fantastic longevity, but there must be some kind of secret. Granted, The Impressions weren’t on either of those imprints, but their blend of R&B and gospel was hardly a million miles away from them stylistically, and indeed, years after being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, they continue to play live today, primarily as part of tours with other sixties legends like themselves. Fred Cash, Sam Gooden and Reggie Toran tend to comprise their sets of tracks like ‘Keep on Pushing’ and ‘People Get Ready’, which were anthems for the civil rights movement back in the day; the trio evoke that kind of passion and atmosphere at their live shows to this day, delivering stirring vocal performances that put men half their age to shame.