Love is what makes the world go around. I know it’s a big cliche to use, but it is the absolute truth. There is nothing else like it. I know that is what everybody is striving to feel: in relationships, in brother- and sisterhood, and in all of the things that we aspire to have in our lives. — from American Songwriter.com
Gladys Maria Knight (b. 5/28/44,) known as the “Empress of Soul,” is an American singer. A ten-time Grammy Award-winner, Knight recorded hits through the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s with her family group Gladys Knight & the Pips, which included her brother Merald “Bubba” Knight and cousins William Guest and Edward Patten.
Knight has recorded two number-one Billboard Hot 100 singles (“Midnight Train to Georgia” and “That’s What Friends Are For” which she did with Dionne Warwick, Sir Elton John and Stevie Wonder,) eleven number-one R&B singles and six number-one R&B albums. She has won seven Grammy Awards (four as a solo artist and three with the Pips) and is an inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Vocal Group Hall of Fame along with The Pips. Two of her songs (“I Heard It Through the Grapevine” and “Midnight Train to Georgia”) were inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame for “historical, artistic and significant” value. She also recorded the theme song for the 1989 James Bond film License to Kill.
Rolling Stone magazine ranked Knight among the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time.
Early Life:
Knight was born in Atlanta to Merald Woodlow Knight Sr., a postal worker, and Sarah Elizabeth (née Woods.) She has a sister, Brenda, one living brother, Merald “Bubba” Knight, Jr., and one deceased brother, David “Billy” Knight.
Musical Beginnings:
She won Ted Mack’s The Original Amateur Hour TV show contest on 7/1/52, at the age of eight. That same year, Gladys, her brother Bubba, sister Brenda, and their cousins Eleanor and William Guest began performing together during Bubba’s tenth birthday party after a record player malfunctioned. Soon, the quintet agreed to form a group at the urging of Gladys’ mother. The group settled on the name The Pips, inspired by the nickname of their cousin James “Pip” Woods. Later on, Brenda and Eleanor left.
Discography:
Solo
|
Studio albums |
10 |
|---|---|
|
Singles |
18 |
With the Pips
Studio albums: 24
Live albums: 3
Soundtrack albums: 2
Compilation albums: 22
Filmography:
Movies: 11
Television: 18
Some things to share:
Knight created and directs the Mormon-themed choir Saints Unified Voices. SUV has released a Grammy Award-winning CD titled One Voice, and occasionally performs at LDS church firesides.
Where My Heart Belongs (2014) marked her 30th top-40 R&B album, including work by Gladys Knight & the Pips.
In a 2014 interview, she expressed a hope that women would “Stand Up” and stop selling sex in the music/entertainment industry. She commented that the growing trend saddened her heart and that she had been taught to dress respectfully for her audiences … “not take it off, put it on.”
In 2022, Knight received Kennedy Center Honors, presented by U.S. President Joe Biden.
Official website: here
Most people who ask me what’s my favorite song, expect that it’s ‘Midnight Train’ or ‘Neither One of Us.’ But actually, it’s always kinda been ‘The Need to Be’ because of what it says. I love the way that song was written, I love the melody, I love everything about it. — Gladys Knight
Source: wikipedia
I would encourage you to check out the info at the links, especially the amateur hour one.
Tao Talk 
Always great to learn new things, like where the Pips name came from! Very touching video on the Amateur Hour, well worth the watch. She is one class act.
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Randy, she truly is a class act. A genuinely warm human being. Thanks for reading, listening, and commenting.
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I had to listen to her version of “Grapevine” since Marvin Gaye totally owned the song. It only took a couple of notes to remember it. I love the Ted Mack story. I watched that show as a kid (Sunday afternoon at 4). I was not the target audience. The sponsors were Geritol (an iron supplement marketed to old folks), Serutan (a laxative that was Natures spelled backward) and Sominex (a sleeping pill).
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Steve, I remember the name and Ted’s face but that’s about it. Those products were also pushed on The Lawrence Welk Show, which I do remember very fondly. We always watched it at my grandparents’ house. (I don’t remember Serutan though, but very tricky on it spelling natures backwards!)
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Gladys knight and The Pips first found fame on the Tamla Motown label
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Thanks for sharing that info, Glyn. Motown was *it* back in the day. Living in Michigan, I think we heard more Motown hits than the rest of the country and world in general.
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I actually saw her and The Pips in concert back in the 70’s. Great show, and an even greater singer!
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I can only imagine how much better the experience is to see and hear her live than listen and watch via YouTube.
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“I Heard it Through the Grapevine” will always be my favorite.
She’s so beautiful inside and out. I used to watch Ted Mack all the time. It’s good to know he was as gracious and warm as he appeared. As to those other parents…(K)
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I love that song by her and by Marvin. Cool that you remember Ted Mack. The stories will continue that will remind those parents and those like them. Maybe it will deter a few from harming children in the future. Maybe Gladys didn’t understand as a child but as an adult she now realizes; yet she remains a kind spirit.
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Yes, as we all should try to be.
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Great pick, Lisa. I only know a handful of her songs and songs with the Pips, but what I’ve heard to date I love. Best of all, Knight who is turning 80 in May, is still touring – and pretty busy!
Check out that schedule: https://gladysknight.com/show-dates/
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Christian I saw that she was still touring when I was researching her. Thanks for sharing it for the readers.
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A Motown legend. Hard to find a song from her that I don’t like. She is so good. Her version of Grapevine is so funky.
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Yes, all of that! She’s got the groove going on with her voice.
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Brilliant!
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Yes, she is! Nice to see you, Chris!
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she’s a amazing artist, I loved this! :D
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:)
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