The Salty Peanut Gallery

Proverbs 22:1 says, “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, Loving favor rather than silver and gold.” The name “Imperials” has represented a legacy of excellence, pioneering and impacting the Christian music industry for over 40 years. Accolades include 17 Dove Awards, 4 Grammies, 8 time Group of the Year, 4 time Album of the Year, 4 time Gospel Performance of the Year and 1 time Artist of the Year. The Imperials have truly been one of Christian music’s most popular singing groups. But now it seems that legacy is in grave danger of being tarnished through a legal battle over who owns the name.

Christianity Today has a recent article about The Imperials who are embroiled in a lawsuit that puts father and son on opposing sides. You can read all about it:

Imperials Embroiled in Lawsuit Over Name

The Imperials have posted this response to the Christianity Today article:

An Open Letter from The Imperials

Here’s the rub. In 2005 Armond Morales, owner and cofounder of the group signed an agreement which passed The Imperials name on to a younger group that included his son, Jason Morales. The agreement also stipulated that he would give up his right, title, and interest to the Imperials trademark. According to Armond, he signed the agreement because he had retired from The Imperials in 2003 and “it made sense” at the time to transfer the name to the younger group. He also claims they had a verbal agreement that he could continue to sing using the Classic Imperials name.

At some point, however, all that changed. The younger group began regularly receiving calls and emails from fans and churches confused as to who “The Imperials” really were. While I’m sure that was a source of frustration, a larger issue arose when, according to The Imperials, “several record labels (including one major label)” expressed interest in signing them to a record contract as long as other groups (there are actually three) were not “franchising The Imperials name.” They were told, “Get the name situation fixed and then come back and talk to us.” This to me seems to be the main issue.

Now I’m not about to pass judgment here on who’s right and who’s wrong. I’m not altogether sure that either side is completely innocent. But there is a wise way and a not so wise way to handle every conflict in life and God’s word holds the key. When we choose to either ignore or redefine the wisdom of God as it is expressly stated in His word, we cannot expect to receive the fullness of God’s blessing. In The Imperials open letter statements are made that demonstrate what I mean.

The most obvious example is their rendering of 1 Corinthians 6:1-8 in which Paul sharply rebukes believers for taking their brother to court. After consulting with pastors and other students of the Word, The Imperials have concluded that this verse doesn’t apply to them. They say, “Paul was talking about suing people over ‘trivial’ matters…and not matters that effected one’s livelihood.” What Paul was talking about, gentlemen, was the “shame” and “defeat” that occurs when believers are incapable of resolving their disputes in a spirit of love.

The Imperials claim to have asked God repeatedly to release them from the group. “Every time,” they say, “the answer is the same. God called us to be The Imperials and to steward the legacy and we have to follow His leading.” Far be it from me to question another man’s calling, but God usually doesn’t call people to behave in a way that is contrary to His Word.

The Imperials also assert that pastors from around the country with whom they’ve consulted have all agreed that they had no choice. Well I disagree. I think there’s always a choice. The right choice for believers is to protect their relationship with the Lord and with their fellow believers ahead of protecting their rights and possessions. The real irony is that in the battle to obtain the sole rights to The Imperials name, the public controversy may ultimately render it worthless. “Actually,” Paul says, “it is already a defeat for you.”

Update: Armond Morales, founding member of the Grammy & Dove Award winning group The Imperials, issues public statement in response to the story that broke last week at ChristianityToday.com.