- Impalas Trivia: The group formed in 1958 in Brooklyn, New York, and was composed of lead singer Joe "Speedo" Frazier, Richard Wagner, Lenny Renda and Tony Carlucci.
- Impalas Trivia: Lenny Renda, Richard Wagner, and Tony Carlucci began practicing in the back room of a candy store and on local street corners in the late 1950s; they were often heard by teenager Speedo...
- His offer to help their harmonies turned into a full-fledged front- running spot with the group. Their name idea was inspired by one of the teens dad's new car, a Chevy Impala.
- Impalas Trivia: They were a racially integrated group--Frazier was the only black member.
- Impalas Trivia: They were one of the few white groups with a black lead singer. The distinction was blurred by the fact that Joe "Speedo" Frazier sounded as white as the rest of the group.
- Impalas Trivia: They are best known for their hit, "Sorry (I Ran All the Way Home).
- Impalas Trivia: They were discovered by songwriters Artie Zwirn and Aristides "Gino" Giosasi, who wrote the song "Sorry (I Ran All The Way Home)".
- Impalas Trivia: In 1959 disc jockey Alan Freed heard the group, added his name as a writer of the song, and got them a deal with MGM Records subsidiary label Cub.
- Impalas Trivia: "Sorry (I Ran All The Way Home)" reached #2 on the U.S. pop chart, #14 on the R&B chart and #28 in the UK Singles Chart. The song sold over one million copies, earning gold disc status.
- Impalas Trivia: The “uh-oh” at the beginning of the record evidently was not intended initially, as it was Frazier’s reaction to missing a cue. However, they liked it because it sounded like someone being caught and incorporated it into the song.
- Impalas Trivia: The Impalas recorded follow-up songs including "'Bye Everybody," "Oh What A Fool," an album for Cub, and one further single for the 20th Century label before disbanding in 1961.
- Impalas Trivia: Joe "Speedo" Frazier went on to sing with Love's Own in 1973, and in 1980 resurrected the Impalas as a touring act.
- Impalas Trivia: Joe "Speedo" Frazier died on April 1, 2014, at the age of 70.
- Impalas Trivia: Of the other original group members, Richard Wagner became a phone company lineman in New Mexico, Lenny Renda became a New York City cop, and Tony Carlucci just dropped out of sight,...
- ... but the Impalas can be heard almost any time you turn on oldies radio in America; "Sorry, I Ran All The Way Home" is a rock and roll standard.
