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The Five Emprees
Biography
From Benton Harbor, MI (about 60 miles from Chicago), the Five Emprees had a big hit in Chicago in 1965 with "Little Miss Sad," a cover of a song originally released (and written) by the Addrisi Brothers. Driven by an infectious ascending riff, close British Invasion-influenced harmonies, and the kind of Trini Lopez-influenced rhythm that Neil Diamond would popularize on songs like "Cherry, Cherry," "Little Miss Sad" also had some success in a few other regions, and made number 74 on the national Billboard charts. Most of the Five Emprees' scant recorded repertoire leaned heavily on cover versions, however, and they never repeated the success of "Little Miss Sad," despite recording an album and several follow-up singles through 1968.

The Five Emprees originally formed in high school as "Cook and the Chefs" (named after singer Don Cook), changing their name to the Impressions and then the Five Empressions before getting a contract with the small Chicago indie label Freeport Records. Although "Little Miss Sad" was originally released under the name the Five Empressions, it was quickly changed after the famous soul group the Impressions got an injunction against them.
Selected Discography