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| − | '''Gladys Maria Knight''' (born May 28, 1944 in Atlanta, Georgia), is an American soul singer and actress. She is best known for the hits she recorded during the 1960s and 1970s., for both the [[Motown]] and [[Buddah Records]] labels, with her group [[Gladys Knight & the Pips]], the most famous incarnation of which also included her brother [[Merald "Bubba" Knight]] and her cousins [[Edward Patten]] and [[William Guest]]. | + | '''Gladys Maria Knight''' (born May 28, 1944 in Atlanta, Georgia), is an American soul singer and actress. She is best known for the hits she recorded during the 1960s and 1970s. |
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| − | == Biography ==
| + | Knight joined [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] in [[1997]]. She has occasionally teased the LDS Prophet, [[Gordon B. Hinckley]], that his flock needs to inject some "pep" into their [[music]]. Ms. Knight created and now directs the [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints|LDS (Mormon)]] choir [[Saints Unified Voices]] [http://www.suvchoir.org]. SUV has released a Grammy Award-winning CD entitled ''One Voice'', and occasionally performs at LDS [[Stake (Mormonism)|stake]] [[Fireside (Mormonism)|fireside]]s. |
| − | === Gladys Knight & the Pips ===
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| − | {{main|Gladys Knight & the Pips}}
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| − | Gladys Knight was born to Merald Woodlow Knight and Sarah Elizabeth Woods. She first achieved minor fame by winning [[Ted Mack (television host)|Ted Mack]]'s ''Original Amateur Hour'' [[TV show]] contest at the age of 7 in [[1952]], due to her powerful singing voice. The following year, she, her brother Merald, sister Brenda, and cousins William and Elenor Guest formed a musical group called [[The Pips]]. By the end of the decade, the act had begun to tour, and had replaced Brenda Knight and Elenor Guest with Gladys Knight's cousins Edward Patten and Langston George.
| + | == Trivia == |
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| − | Gladys Knight discovered she was pregnant in [[1960]], and married her boyfriend Jimmy Newman. After a miscarriage, Knight returned to performing with the Pips. In [[1961]], [[Bobby Robinson (record producer)|Bobby Robinson]] produced the single "Every Beat of My Heart" for the group, which became a #1 R&B and #6 pop hit when released on [[Vee-Jay Records]]. In [[1962]], Langston George left the group, which at that time renamed itself ''Gladys Knight & the Pips'' and continued as a quartet.
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| − | In [[1962]], after scoring a second hit, "Letter Full of Tears", Knight became pregnant again, and gave birth to a son, Jimmy, Jr., that year. She retired from the road to raise a family, and The Pips toured on their own. After giving birth to a daughter, Kenya, in [[1964]], Knight was forced to return to recording and the Pips in order to support her family.
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| − | Gladys Knight & the Pips joined the [[Motown]] roster in [[1966]], and, although regarded as a second-string act, scored several hit singles, including "[[I Heard It Through the Grapevine]]" ([[1967]]), "The Nitty Gritty" ([[1969]]),"Friendship Train" ([[1969]]), "If I Were Your Woman" ([[1970]]), "I Don't Want To Do Wrong" ([[1971]]), the Grammy winner "Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye)" ([[1972]]), and "Daddy Could Swear (I Declare)" ([[1973]]).
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| − | The act left Motown for a better deal with [[Buddah Records]] in [[1973]], and achieved full-fledged success that year with hits such as the Grammy-winning "[[Midnight Train to Georgia]]" (their only #1 pop hit), "I've Got to Use My Imagination", and "[[Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me]]".
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| − | During this period of greater recognition, Gladys Knight made her motion picture acting debut in the film "Pipe Dreams," a romantic drama set in Alaska. The film failed at the box-office, but Knight did receive a Golden Globes Best New Actress nomination.
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| − | Knight and the Pips continued to have hits until the late 1970s, when they were forced to record separately due to legal issues, resulting in Knight's first solo LP recordings--Miss Gladys Knight (1978) on Buddah and Gladys Knight (1979) on Columbia. During this period, Knight divorced Jimmy Newman, and in [[1976]] married record producer [[Barry Hankerson]] (future uncle of R&B singer [[Aaliyah]]). Knight and Hankerson remained married for three years, during which time they had a son, Shanga Ali. Upon their divorce, Hankerson and Knight had a heated custody battle over Shanga Ali.
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| − | In the early [[1980s]], Gladys was invited to record two duets with her friend and superstar [[Johnny Mathis]] who is one of the largest record sellers in the world. The songs were ''When A Child Is Born'' (previously a mega hit for Mathis) and ''The Lord's Prayer'' which have become Christmas chestnuts.
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| − | After a dry spell, they returned to the charts in the [[1980s]] with the #1 R&B hits "Save the Overtime (For Me)" ([[1983]]) and another Grammy winner--"Love Overboard" ([[1987]]). During this period, Knight became addicted to [[gambling]] and the game [[baccarat]]. She finally called [[Gamblers Anonymous]] when she lost $45,000 in one night and was near [[bankruptcy]].
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| − | After a successful [[1988]] tour, the Pips retired and Gladys Knight began a career as a solo artist. Gladys Knight & the Pips were later inducted into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] in [[1996]].
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| − | === Solo career ===
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| − | While still with The Pips, Knight also joined with [[Dionne Warwick]], [[Stevie Wonder]], and [[Elton John]] on the [[1986]] [[AIDS]] benefit single, "That's What Friends Are For" which won a Grammy for Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal. In [[1989]], Gladys Knight recorded the title track for the [[James Bond]] movie ''[[Licence to Kill]],'' a top 10 hit both in the UK and Germany.
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| − | Knight made guest-starring television appearances throughout the eighties and nineties with roles on ''[[Benson (TV series)|Benson]]'', ''[[The Jeffersons]]'', ''[[A Different World (TV series)|A Different World]]'', ''[[Living Single]]'', ''[[The Jamie Foxx Show]]'' and ''[[New York Undercover]]''. In [[1985]], she co-starred on the [[CBS]] sitcom ''[[Charlie and Co.]]'' with comedian [[Flip Wilson]]. It lasted for one season.
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| − | Gladys Knight's third solo LP, ''Good Woman'', was released in [[1991]]. It rose to #1 on the R&B album chart and featured the #2 R&B hit "Men". Her fourth solo LP, ''Just for You'', went [[RIAA certification|gold]] and was nominated for the [[1995]] [[Grammy Award for Best R&B Album]]. During this period, Knight was briefly married to motivational speaker [[Les Brown (motivational speaker)|Les Brown]]. It was also during this period that tragedy struck: in [[1999]], her eldest son, Jimmy, Jr., died in his sleep at the age of 36. [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1355/is_9_96/ai_55398781]
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| − | == Awards ==
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| − | Knight's [[2001]] LP, ''At Last'', won the [[2002]] [[Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance]].
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| − | In [[2005]], Knight won a Grammy for Best Gospel Performance for "Heaven Help Us All," her duet with [[Ray Charles]], taken from Charles' album, ''[[Genius Loves Company]]''. She was also among the 25 [[African-American]] women honored for their accomplishments and influence by daytime television star [[Oprah Winfrey]] at a "Legends Ball." In that same year Knight was the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the [[Black Entertainment Television|BET]] cable network.
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| − | In [[2006]], Knight won her seventh Grammy award in the category of Best Gospel Choir or Gospel Chorus for the "One Voice" CD with the Saints Unified Voices.
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| − | In [[2006]], Knight was honored with a Legendary Award by the [[Las Vegas Music Awards]].
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| − | == Trivia ==
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| − | {{toomuchtrivia}}
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| | *Knight is ranked number eighteen in the 2005 [[Guinness Book of World Records]]' list of the most successful female musical artists of all time. | | *Knight is ranked number eighteen in the 2005 [[Guinness Book of World Records]]' list of the most successful female musical artists of all time. |
| | *Knight is ranked number eighteen on VH1 network's list of the 100 Greatest Women of Rock. | | *Knight is ranked number eighteen on VH1 network's list of the 100 Greatest Women of Rock. |
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| | *Gladys Knight sang "Georgia On My Mind" at the opening ceremony of the [[1996 Summer Olympics]] in Atlanta, GA. | | *Gladys Knight sang "Georgia On My Mind" at the opening ceremony of the [[1996 Summer Olympics]] in Atlanta, GA. |
| | *Knight owns a chain of [[chicken and waffles]] restaurants based in Atlanta.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gladysandron.com/|title=Official Gladys Knight & Ron Winans Chicken and Waffles website}}</ref> The [[Gladys Knight & Ron Winans' Chicken & Waffles]] currently have three locations: two in the Atlanta area and one in [[Largo, Maryland]], near [[Washington, D.C.]], in [[The Boulevard at the Capital Centre]]. | | *Knight owns a chain of [[chicken and waffles]] restaurants based in Atlanta.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gladysandron.com/|title=Official Gladys Knight & Ron Winans Chicken and Waffles website}}</ref> The [[Gladys Knight & Ron Winans' Chicken & Waffles]] currently have three locations: two in the Atlanta area and one in [[Largo, Maryland]], near [[Washington, D.C.]], in [[The Boulevard at the Capital Centre]]. |
| − | *Knight joined [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] in [[1997]]. She has occasionally teased the LDS Prophet, [[Gordon B. Hinckley]], that his flock needs to inject some "pep" into their [[music]]. Ms. Knight created and now directs the [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints|LDS (Mormon)]] choir [[Saints Unified Voices]] [http://www.suvchoir.org]. SUV has released a Grammy Award-winning CD entitled ''One Voice'', and occasionally performs at LDS [[Stake (Mormonism)|stake]] [[Fireside (Mormonism)|fireside]]s.
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| − | *Knight is an honorary member of [[Alpha Kappa Alpha]] Sorority, Incorporated.
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| − | *Following a turn as a celebrity guest-judge on the popular TV talent show ''[[American Idol]]'', Knight served as one of three regular judges on the spin-off ''[[American Juniors]]'' for the [[Fox television network]] in the summer of [[2003]].
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| − | *From [[February 2002]] until [[November 2005]], Knight performed five nights per week as headliner of her own showroom at the Flamingo Hotel in [[Las Vegas, Nevada|Las Vegas]]. The show was voted Best Show on the [[Las Vegas Strip]] in [[2003]] by the ''Las Vegas Review-Journal''.
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| − | *Knight is late singer Aaliyah's aunt by marriage. After Aaliyah died in a plane crash in [[August 2001]], Knight was devastated.
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| − | *In [[2006]], Gladys Knight performed on Fox's TV show Celebrity Duets with Jai Rodriguez and Hal Sparks.
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| − | *In [[2007]], Gladys Knight performed at the [[Orange Bowl (game)|Orange Bowl]] [[halftime show|halftime]] in [[Miami, Florida]] with [[Taylor Hicks]].
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| − | == Solo discography ==
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| − | === Singles ===
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| − | * [[1978]]: "It's A Better Than Good Time"
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| − | * [[1979]]: "Am I Too Late"
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| − | * [[1983]]: "Save The Overtime For Me"
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| − | * [[1985]]: "[[That's What Friends Are For]]" (with [[Dionne Warwick]], [[Elton John]] & [[Stevie Wonder]]) (US #1, UK #16, R&B #1)
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| − | * [[1989]]: "[[License to Kill]]" (#6 UK)
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| − | * [[1990]]: "If I Knew Then What I Knew Now" (with [[Kenny Rogers]]) (US AC #9)
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| − | * [[1991]]: "Meet Me in the Middle"
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| − | * [[1991]]: "Men" (R&B #2)
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| − | * [[1992]]: "Where Would I Be"
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| − | * [[1994]]: "End of the Road" Medley: "If You Don't Know Me by Now"/"Love Don't Love Nobody"
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| − | * [[1994]]: "I Don't Want to Know" (R&B #32)
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| − | * [[1995]]: "Next Time" (R&B #30)
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| − | * [[2003]]: "Feelin' Good (Vacilon)" (Jazz/Salsa/R&B)
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| − | === Albums ===
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| − | * [[1978]]: ''Miss Gladys Knight''
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| − | * [[1979]]: ''Gladys Knight''
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| − | * [[1991]]: ''Good Woman''
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| − | * [[1994]]: ''Just For You''
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| − | * [[1998]]: ''Many Different Roads''
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| − | * [[2001]]: ''At Last''
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| − | * [[2005]]: ''One Voice'' (with Saints Unified Voices)
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| − | * [[2006]]: ''Before Me''
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| − | * [[2006]]: ''A Christmas Celebration'' (with Saints Unified Voices)
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| − | == Filmography ==
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| − | *''[[Save the Children]]'' ([[1973]]) (documentary)
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| − | *''Pipe Dreams'' ([[1976]])
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| − | *''[[Twenty Bucks]]'' ([[1993]])
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| − | *''Hollywood Homicide'' ([[2003]])
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| − | *''Unbeatable Harold'' ([[2005]]) (still without distributor)
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| − | * ''[http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000GNOHDC The Young Messiah - Messiah XXI]'' ([[2006]]) ([[DVD]])
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| − | == References ==
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| − | <references/>
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| − | == External links ==
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| − | * [http://www.mcarecords.com/artistMain.asp?artistid=50 Official website]
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| − | * [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0460912/ Gladys Knight] at the [[Internet Movie Database]]
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| − | * [http://www.suvchoir.org/ Saints Unified Voices]
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| − | * [http://www.suvchoir.org/storyarticle.html Article explaining the creation of Saints Unified Voices]
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| − | * [http://www.meridianmagazine.com/people/050609knight.html Sharing the Gospel Through Music]
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| − | {{sequence|
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| − | prev=[[A-ha|a-ha]]<br><small>[[The Living Daylights]], [[1987]]</small>|
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| − | next=[[Tina Turner]]<br><small>[[GoldenEye]] [[GoldenEye (song)|(song)]], [[1995]]|
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| − | list=''[[James Bond music]]''<br>Gladys Knight<br><small>[[License to Kill]], [[1989]]</small>|
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| − | }}
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| − | {{James Bond themes}}
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| − | {{DEFAULTSORT:Knight, Gladys}}
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| − | [[Category:1944 births]]
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| − | [[Category:African-American actors]]
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| − | [[Category:African-American singers]]
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| − | [[Category:American female singers]]
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| − | [[Category:American Juniors]]
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| − | [[Category:American rhythm and blues singers]]
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| − | [[Category:American soul singers]]
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| − | [[Category:American television actors]]
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| − | [[Category:Gladys Knight & the Pips members]]
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| − | [[Category:Grammy Award winners]]
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| − | [[Category:Latter Day Saint entertainers]]
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| − | [[Category:Living people]]
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| − | [[Category:People from Atlanta]]
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| − | [[Category:Hollywood Walk of Fame]]
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