Originally formed in 1962 by Steve Watts and high school friends Mike Elam, Brian Cameron, Luiz Fernandez, Randy Seigers, and Phil Piper, The Emperors (later known as Emperor) have become an iconic piece of Long Beach history. In their early days, the band played local high schools' Teen Canteen programs, teen dances, concerts, roller rinks, and various events across southern California. By 1964, they were the house band for the teen nightclub The Marina Palace, performing original songs alongside popular hits from artists like The Coasters, Stevie Wonder, The Olympics, and The Rivingtons. As popularity grew, The Emperors evolved from a band into a full-fledged entertainment group, even inspiring two prominent fan clubs in the Inland Empire and Long Beach, where fans received membership cards and fun memorabilia.

The band’s success caught the attention of John Hodge and Larry Wilson, managers of The Pyramids, who invited them to the studio to record their first singles: “Great Balls of Fire” and “The Breeze and I” for Best Records. For a brief period, they were billed as Steve & The Emperors before returning to their original name.

As the 1960s music scene shifted, so did The Emperors. Influenced by the rise of The Rolling Stones, they incorporated songs like “Little Red Rooster” and “Not Fade Away” into their sets. With the advent of Beatlemania, the band embraced the mod aesthetic, dyeing their hair bright blonde, while their rivals The Pyramids shaved their heads and wore wigs. Their repertoire expanded to include Beatles hits like “This Boy” and “Please Please Me”, showcasing new vocal harmonies.

In the middle of 1964, the band spent countless school nights with Hodge and Wilson The Emperors recorded two more singles, “Laughin’ Linda” (written by Brian Cameron and Steve Watts) and “Blue Day” (a Tony Barber and The Aztecs cover), at United Artists in Hollywood for Hodge and Wilson's new Wickwire Imprint. Both tracks charted on KMEN and KXFM radio stations in San Bernardino, thanks to the William F Williams Show. As the Emperors continued to rise that year, the band's growing reputation led to performances alongside major acts like Peter & Gordon, The Rolling Stones, The Righteous Brothers, and later Steely Dan.

The Emperors' popularity earned them victories in several Battle of the Bands contests, including one televised from The Hollywood Palladium. They also appeared on Sam Riddle’s 9th Street West TV dance show and played gigs at UCLA’s Sproul Hall for students such as Cassius Clay and Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar). Another time they played a concert in Santa Monica where James Brown was in attendance.

By the late 1960s, the band underwent personnel changes due to college, work commitments, and the draft. The next two singles, "I Want My Woman" and "And Then," were released from the Sabra Label under Houston, TX-based Lynn Records. A year later, the band recorded two more singles, The Rivingtons' "Love Pill" and The Zombies' "You Make Me Feel Good," with the Two + Two label.

In the 1970s, the band rebranded as Emperor and continued performing at popular beach venues like Isadore’s, Joshua’s, and Big Daddy’s, earning a reputation as the "band to see" in Southern California. In 1974, Emperor signed with RCA Records, releasing several singles produced by John Ryan (Styx). Seeking artistic freedom, they later joined New York-based Private Stock Records. In 1977, they released their album Emperor, produced by Kenny Kerner and Richie Wise (Kiss, Gladys Knight) and engineered by Warren Dewey (Boston). The album enjoyed moderate national success, and the band toured across the U.S. and Japan.

After two decades of performing, Emperor disbanded in the 1980s. However, their legacy endured, and in 2002, a reunion concert at the Galaxy Theater, the Emperors (formerly known as Emperor) reunited once again. Today, the band features Steve Watts, Dave Quintana, Chip, Randy Budihas, and Jamie Knight. Still considered Southern California's premier classic rock band, The Emperors continue to rock on, leaving an indelible mark on music history.