The Classic Imperials’ Lead Singer Rick Evans Tells Family First about His Holiday Traditions

Legendary vocal group The Classic Imperials have been a force for 5 decades, performing as the back-up vocals for Elvis Presley in the late 60s/early 70s and having a very prolific career on their own.

They recently released a new album “Still Standing,” after a decade-long break, and it includes Paul Smith, a member who is back after a 30-year break from the group.

Here, Rick Evans, lead singer of the group, shares with Family First stories of the classic holiday traditions of his youth growing up in California as part of a family of 6 kids.

Where did you grow up? 

Southern California

Any traditions around preparation for holidays?

Christmas has always been a year-round event. I come from a large mid-western family and it would take Mom and Dad a whole year find enough garage sales to get the gifts and of course enough time to repair them for Christmas. As little kids we did not know much about name brands or the difference between new and used, but we certainly knew the joy of opening a gift that was meant especially for us.

I remember sitting with my brothers and sister and sowing the sequences on the cutouts that later became our stockings, which each of us kept for the entire time we lived at home. Going through my mom’s old boxes I found the stocking I had made as a little child. What a treasure.

My traditions are a house filled with the smells of Turkey and all the trimmings, the sounds of family and friends, and the feeling of joy to know that I was loved. It is my most favorite time of the year.
 

For Christmas dinners/celebrations was there a specific place you would go as a family when you were a child?  Have you continued that with your own family or do you have new traditions for these celebrations?

As a large family living in California, we would always go to Candy Cane Lane (every town has one) and see the lights. We would all fight for our position in the camper, often whining that we did not want to go. But as soon as the lights came shinning through the window, all of our faces were pressed against the cold glass, peering at the gleaming Christmas skeptical. My wife and I still go for drives during Christmas and look at all the lights, comparing the extravagant decorations with our own ideas.
 
Were your holiday meals casual with paper plates and plastic cups or was it formal with nice china and sterling silver?

We were not a wealthy family, but Mom would always put out her best dishes and the meal was presented to 6 hungry children waiting to sink their teeth into a well prepared Christmas dinner. It seems like China and Crystal to me, but our reality was far less extravagant.
 
Any unique guests or funny events that occurred at any of these celebrations?

The funniest thing I remember was that Mom and Dad would have five or six gifts for each child. Well, with 6 kids, that was a lot of presents under the tree. One year we almost were unable to sit in the room with the gifts because there was not enough floor space. We did not know until much later that most of the gifts were second hand, or bought in local garage sales throughout the year.
 
What’s your favorite holiday dish? Any dishes you have that are unique/strange/noteworthy?

Egg Nog Ice Cream. Isn’t that funny? Of all the Christmas treats, I still look forward to Egg Nog Ice Cream.
 
Any traditions from childhood you miss either because the things don’t exist, same people are gone, or you live in a different place and can’t continue?

I miss the noise of Christmas sometimes. Coming from a big family, you get use to the confusion and noise of having so many people clamoring for a voice. My life is so wonderfully complete, but sometimes it’s nice to have a little noise sometimes.
 
What’s the most important part of the holidays for you?

Family, friends, giving, and God.

What new projects do you have going on that you would like the readers to know about?

The Imperials have just released a new project “Still Standing” (our first with Paul Smith in more than 30 years). Our project can be found in most Christian bookstores and online at iTunes, Amazon.com and www.theimperials.com. We have also started a new program called “The Crown Club” which is a 5 year membership and backstage pass for all our concerts and media events. You can check it out at www.theimperials.com and click the “Special” button, or click this link.

We are looking to start touring in 2011 and so we ask for your prayers and support as we once again stand up and sing our songs of Faith and hope. God Bless each of you as you celebrate your holidays. We look forward to seeing you on the road.

Evans and his wife Debra have a Christian ministry on their own too – please check out their website at http://www.livinginfaith.com/.