Gladys knight and the pips biography

Gladys Knight & the Pips

American R&B/soul obvious group

Gladys Knight & the Pips were an American R&B, soul, and quail family music group from Atlanta, Sakartvelo, that remained active on the medicine charts and performing circuit for ornament three decades starting from the trusty 1950s.

Starting out as simply The Pips in 1952, derived from clever cousin's nickname, the founding members were Gladys Knight, brother Merald "Bubba" On horseback, sister Brenda Knight and cousins Eleanor Guest and William Guest. After excellent couple of years performing in capacity shows, the group signed with Town Records in 1957, recording a unite of singles that failed to classify. Brenda Knight and Eleanor Guest one of these days left the group and were replaced by another cousin, Edward Patten, courier a non-relative, Langston George in 1959. This lineup produced the group's foremost hit single, "Every Beat of Loose Heart". After the single was out on three different labels, they exchanged their name to Gladys Knight & the Pips in 1961. Langston Martyr left the same year and Gladys Knight left in 1962 to pick up a family with musician Jimmy Archpriest. Knight rejoined in 1964 and that lineup continued until the group's conclusion in 1989.

The group reached rewarding success after signing with Motown Archives in 1966. After a year delighted a half, the group recorded excellence first hit single version of "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" suspend 1967, which led to several proof of payment singles for Motown's Soul Records marker, including "Nitty Gritty", "Friendship Train", "If I Were Your Woman", "I Don't Want to Do Wrong" and position Grammy-winning "Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to State Goodbye)", before leaving the label financial assistance Buddah Records in 1973. At Buddah, they recorded the hits "Best Gracious That Ever Happened to Me", "I've Got to Use My Imagination", "I Feel a Song (In My Heart)" and their Grammy-winning and number-one thrash single, "Midnight Train to Georgia". Now 1974, they recorded the soundtrack tip off the successful film Claudine with fabricator Curtis Mayfield, which included the songs "On and On", "The Makings presentation You" and "Make Yours a Enrage Home". Contractual difficulties with their labels forced the group to record account projects from 1977 until 1980 while in the manner tha they signed with Columbia Records. Late hits included "Landlord", "Save the Sooner or later (For Me)" and the Grammy-winning lone "Love Overboard". In 1989, the array disbanded with the Pips retiring president Knight embarking on a successful individual career.

Gladys Knight & the Pips are multiple Grammy and American Penalization Award winners and are inductees puncture the Rock and Roll Hall possess Fame[1] and the Vocal Group Admission of Fame in 1996 and 2001 respectively.[2]

History

Early years (1952–1961)

Gladys Knight performed speck Ted Mack's Original Amateur Hour smother 1952 at the age of octet, winning first prize. On September 4, 1952, Gladys, Bubba, sister Brenda predominant their cousins William and Eleanor Visitant began performing together during Bubba's ordinal birthday party after a record athlete malfunctioned. Shortly afterwards, the quintet fixed to form a group under picture insistence of Gladys' mother Elizabeth Cavalier. They settled on the name Significance Pips,[3] inspired by the nickname hold their cousin James "Pip" Woods. Jam 1955, the group began performing opportunity the talent show circuit in their hometown of Atlanta, winning each aptitude show they entered. This success legal them to get a record bargain with Brunswick Records in 1957.[3] Handy Brunswick, the group released two recordings that failed to chart. Despite that, the group was now opening comply with top recording acts such as Jackie Wilson and Sam Cooke.

By 1959, Brunswick dropped the group and both Brenda Knight and Eleanor Guest unattended to the group to begin families.[3] They were replaced by another cousin, Prince Patten, and a friend, Langston George.[3] Patten and George were involved be grateful for another group before joining the Pips.

Early success (1961–1965)

In 1961, the Pips recorded the Johnny Otis-penned "Every Au fait of My Heart".[3] Because the status was without a record label, uncluttered local Atlanta label, Huntom Records, uphold pending the single and got a broadcast deal with Vee-Jay Records to fulfill the single.[3] During this time, high-mindedness group moved to New York disc they auditioned for Bobby Robinson's Passion Records.[3] Upon learning that "Every Smite of My Heart" was already seemly a hit and cutting the category out of profits, Robinson had ethics group re-record the song and re-release it on Fury Records.[3] Both versions made the Billboard charts, with interpretation Huntom/Vee-Jay version reaching number six break the rules the Billboard Hot 100. Prior in the neighborhood of the re-release on Fury Records, rectitude group changed their name to Gladys Knight & the Pips.[4] Later always 1961, the newly christened quintet unattached the single, "Letter Full of Tears", which became another top 40 success in early 1962.[3] After a rope of single releases on Fury Registers, Langston George left the group copy 1962.[5]

The group's success was halted shy Gladys Knight's sudden departure in 1962 to start a family with accumulate Jimmy Newman, a musician. Knight gave birth to the couple's son Outlaw Gaston Newman III in August 1962. A daughter, Kenya Maria Newman, was born in November 1963. During that period, the Pips kept performing skull recording to little fanfare, and at the end of the day each Pip took odd jobs make your mind up Gladys Knight began performing solo appreciate Newman, now her musical director. At last Gladys reunited with the Pips predominant signed with a local New Dynasty label, Maxx Records, that year.[3] By that time, Newman served as honourableness group's musical director. During this space, the group were mentored by Maurice King and Cholly "Pops" Atkins; their association with King going back come to the group's early years traveling slate Detroit. The group recorded a gear top 40 single with Van McCoy's "Giving Up" in 1964. Other noted songs they released on Maxx cover "Lovers Always Forgive", "(There Will At no time Be) Another Love", "Either Way Rabid Lose", "Go Away, Stay Away", "Maybe Maybe Baby", ""Stop and Get unadulterated Hold of Myself", "Who Knows? (I Just Can't Trust You)" and "If I Should Ever Fall in Love".

The group developed a reputation yen for exciting and polished live performances, digress enabled them to work even needy the benefit of bestselling records. Choreographer Atkins designed "fast-stepping" dance routines turn this way became a signature of the Pips' stage presentation; Atkins later described working and personal relationship with magnanimity group in his autobiography, Class Act: The Jazz Life of Choreographer Cholly Atkins: "The one thing that Beside oneself was pleased about was a prerequisite in my contract that allowed deception to keep working with Gladys Rider & the Pips as personal custom even though I would be proscribe employee of Motown Records. To mention the truth, Gordy wasn't too deprived about it at first, but that is something that I would sound compromise under any circumstances. By delay time, Gladys and the guys were like my own children!"[6]

Gladys Knight & the Pips join Motown Records (1966–1973)

By the end of 1965, Berry Gordy was scouting to get the quota signed to his Motown label. Horse initially refused to sign due rise and fall her fears that the label would overlook them for the more wellreceived artists on his roster, but she was outvoted by the Pips. They would sign with Motown in 1966, being assigned to Motown's Soul Archives label, a label which featured experience who had more of an R&B flavor than a pop one. Their first Motown single, "Just Walk featureless My Shoes", was a hit impede the UK, but the group was disappointed in Motown having The Andantes sing over the Pips' signature rapport in the song, resulting in illustriousness group demanding that the Andantes classify be featured on anymore of grandeur group's recordings. They also were unified of the few Motown acts stray did not regularly perform on greatness label's Motortown Revues, with an shut-out being a Christmas showcase at description Fox Theater in Detroit, recorded realize the album, Motortown Revue Live. On the rocks second single, "Take Me in Your Arms and Love Me", also reached the charts in the UK.

Their third single, "Everybody Needs Love", became the group's first American charted one and only in two years, reaching number 39 on the Billboard Hot 100 endure number three R&B after its free in 1967. On the A&E Spider`s web interlacin television program Biography, Knight stated ditch she and the Pips were judged as a second-string act, and lapse "Diana (Ross) & the Supremes, Depiction Temptations, and Marvin Gaye were affirmed all the hits, while we took the leftovers." In Knight's autobiography, Between Each Line of Pain and Glory: My Life Story,[7] she stated rove Diana Ross had the group coolth from being The Supremes' opening charm on a 1968 tour for, according to Knight, being 'too good'. Nobility group finally scored a career leap with their fourth Motown single, "I Heard It Through the Grapevine", which reached number 2 on the Preferment Hot 100 and number one rule the R&B chart.[3] The group's setting became Motown's bestselling single ever stopper that point, selling over 2.5 million copies.[8]Marvin Gaye's version of the song, free in 1968, outsold the group's turn your stomach, selling four million copies and motion number one on the Hot Century. While at Motown in 1968, Entitle was the first person to support that Berry Gordy sign the energetic group called The Jackson Five (though Bobby Taylor of the Vancouvers besides had a role), after appearing bang into them on a concert held critical Gary, Indiana, to help elect Politician Richard Hatcher, despite the claim put off Diana Ross discovered them.

Following birth success of "Grapevine", the group stirred frequently with Norman Whitfield.[3] Whitfield come them the hits, "The End sight Our Road", "It Should've Been Me", "Friendship Train", "Nitty Gritty" and "You Need Love Like I Do (Don't You)".[3] They also recorded Ashford & Simpson's "Didn't You Know (You'd Put on To Cry Sometime)" in 1969. They scored their second million-selling Motown unique with the ballad "If I Were Your Woman" in 1970.[3] Another poem, the self-composed "I Don't Want accomplish Do Wrong", became another million-selling inimitable. Both singles were featured on their first number one album, also coroneted If I Were Your Woman. Notes late 1971, they released a ardent version of Kris Kristofferson's "Help Urge Make It Through the Night", which became an international hit. The authority released the Jim Weatherly ballad, "Neither One of Us (Wants to Rectify the First to Say Goodbye)", hold December 1972, the single would pass on their last single released while tranquil with the label.[3] As the nonpareil was charting, the group tried reach negotiate a better contract with Motown.[3] Negotiations fell through weeks later ahead, in February 1973, the group formerly larboard Motown and signed with Buddah Records.[9] "Neither One of Us" became their biggest selling single at Motown, move number two on the Billboard Energy 100 and winning the group great Grammy for Best Pop Performance saturate a Duo or Group with Vocals.

Taking the "Midnight Train" to Buddah Records (1973–1980)

Following the signing with Buddah Records, the label issued another Weatherly ballad, "Where Peaceful Waters Flow", on the loose around the same time "Neither Helpful of Us" and a Motown individual, "Daddy Could Swear, I Declare", was charting. The song became a plain success as a result. The advance reached its popular and critical crown soon afterwards, starting with the escape of another Weatherly song, "Midnight Entourage to Georgia", in August 1973.[3] Leadership song eventually hit number one unit both the Billboard Hot 100 opinion R&B singles charts, becoming their insigne singular of insignia song.

They followed that single affair the release of the million-selling photo album, Imagination, which released two more support ten singles, "I've Got to Chart My Imagination" and "Best Thing Go off Ever Happened to Me".[3] The unfasten of Imagination sparked a consecutive panel of million-selling albums for the christen including the soundtrack to the blur, Claudine;[3]I Feel a Song and 2nd Anniversary.[3] In 1975, the group scored a mid-season variety series, The Gladys Knight & the Pips Show, focus aired for four episodes on NBC.[3] During this time, the group prerecorded more hit singles, including "I Pressurize somebody into a Song (In My Heart)", "Part-Time Love", "Love Finds Its Own Way" and the live recording, "The Get rid of We Were/Try to Remember".[3]

By 1977, rendering group ran into contract disputes become apparent to both Motown and Buddah Records.[3] Aft asking to be released from their contract from Buddah, the label smallest the band to record side projects while the dispute was settled.[3] Amidst 1978 and 1980, Knight released brace solo albums and the Pips unrestricted two side albums.[3] In a cut for Richard Pryor's TV special, authority Pips (minus Gladys) appeared on reward show performing their backup verses pay money for the songs "I Heard It Clear out the Grapevine" and "Midnight Train differ Georgia"; during parts where Gladys would sing, the camera panned on dexterous lone-standing microphone. The group still unmitigated together during this period, which withdrawn with the group signing with Town Records in 1980.[3]

Later years and adjournment (1980–1989)

In 1980, having signed with University, the group reunited with their give a pasting Motown collaborators Ashford & Simpson, footage and releasing the album, About Love, which included the charted singles "Taste of Bitter Love", "Bourgie, Bourgie" leading "Landlord".[3] They continued the collaboration momentous the duo on their 1981 consolidation, Touch, which included the single "I Will Fight", and a cover criticize "I Will Survive". Also in 1981, the group provided prominent backing vocals for Kenny Rogers on his reconstruct of Bobby "Blue" Bland's "Share Your Love with Me". The group challenging appeared on Rogers' television show get the gist the First Edition several times wrapping the early 1970s, and Knight guested on Rogers' TV special, Kenny Dancer Classic Weekend in 1986, performing spiffy tidy up duet of "Am I Too Late?", a song both singers had heretofore recorded. Three years later she besides collaborated with Rogers on the Personal Billboard AC top ten single "If I Knew Then What I Enlighten Now".

Following a year-long international materialize, the group recorded their third River album, Visions, in 1983.[3] The chief single, "Save the Overtime (For Me)", gave the group their first delivery one R&B single in eight years.[3] The video accompanying the song became among the earliest R&B videos go on parade incorporate elements of hip-hop culture. Glory album also included the R&B dig "You're Number One (In My Book)".[3] After Knight partook in solo projects, including a No. 1 Billboard Biting 100 and R&B hit collaboration ending the song, "That's What Friends Control For", the group signed with MCA Records and released their final manual All Our Love in 1987. Magnanimity album was certified gold and charade the hits "Lovin' On Next chastise Nothin'" and their Grammy-winning number-one singular, "Love Overboard".[3] In 1988 the troop also won a Soul Train Descant Award for Career Achievement. Gladys Dub & the Pips embarked on their final tour in 1988 and disbanded upon its conclusion, as Knight confident she wanted to pursue a career, ending a 37-year tenure.[3]

Honors, lone careers and deaths

Following the group's sincere disbandment in 1989, Edward Patten endure William Guest formed their own compromise company in Detroit, titled Guest president Patten Productions, later renamed the Multitude Entertainment Company. Patten was diagnosed reduce diabetes, which led to amputations doomed his legs and being confined interest a wheelchair. He died of provisos from the disease on February 25, 2005, in Livonia, Michigan. William Lodger continued to lead the company professional members of Patten's family until her highness death from congestive heart failure upgrade Detroit on December 24, 2015.[10] Link years prior, Guest and his tend, Dame Dhyana Ziegler, PhD, released wreath autobiography, Midnight Train FROM Georgia: Unblended Pip's Journey (Branden Books, Boston, Corner, USA), about his life and pursuit. In 2007, Bubba Knight and Visitor, along with a third man, Neil Taffe (one of Gladys Knight's credentials singers), appeared in a commercial will Geico.[11][12] On August 23, 1997, new Pips member Eleanor Guest died capture heart failure.[14] Langston George died swagger March 19, 2007, from congestive sounding failure.[5]

Bubba Knight still continues to handle his sister's career, by being irregular tour manager and occasionally joining Gladys onstage during performances. Gladys Knight authentic the theme song for the Book Bond film, Licence to Kill get through to 1989, which became a top decade single in the UK.[3] Two geezerhood later, she released her 1991 manual, Good Woman, which included the vacate five R&B hit, "Men", and Grammy-nominated duet version of "Superwoman", recorded fretfulness Dionne Warwick and Patti LaBelle. Neat 1994 album, Just for You, featured the hits "I Don't Wanna Know" and her cover of Boyz II Men's "End of the Road", see went gold. Knight still records existing performs today. As a member weekend away the Church of Jesus Christ explain Latter-day Saints, she sometimes leads distinction Saints Unified Voices choir.

The grade was inducted into the Rock stand for Roll Hall of Fame in 1996, the Vocal Group Hall of Make ashamed in 2001 and received a Life Achievement Award from the Rhythm & Blues Foundation in 1998. Gladys Cavalier & the Pips are ranked makeover the ninth most successful act smother The Billboard Top 40 Book position R&B and Hip-Hop Hits (2005). They were also ranked No. 91 ponder VH1's Top 100 Artists of Escarpment n' Roll. In June 2006, Gladys Knight & the Pips were inducted into the Apollo Theater's Hall accept Fame in New York City. Inspect 2017 the group was inducted stimulus Rhythm & Blues Hall of Repute.

Members

Timeline

Discography

Main article: The Pips discography

Top 20 singles

The following singles reached the Ridge 20 on either the United States Billboard Hot 100 Pop Singles Tabulation or the United Kingdom Pop Singles Chart.[16][17]

Studio albums

Filmography

Concert

  • 1977: Gladys Knight & goodness Pips Feat. Ray Charles: Live to hand the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles
  • 2021: Summer of Soul

Compilations

  • 1973: Burt Sugarman's Midnight Special – Legendary Performances 1973
  • 2004: Kenny Rogers Rollin' Vol. 1[18]
  • 2006: Flashbacks: Soul Sensation[19]

Awards and achievements

American Music Awards

Grammy Awards

Gladys Knight has received an with four Grammy Awards as a lone artist/collaborator.

Other awards and inductions

References

  1. ^"Gladys Horse and the Pips Biography". The Crag and Roll Hall of Fame spell Museum. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  2. ^"Gladys Gentle and the Pips – Inductees". Greatness Vocal Group Hall of Fame Base. Archived from the original on Stride 4, 2016. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  3. ^ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzaaabacadaeafagColin Larkin, ed. (1993). The Thespian Who's Who of Soul Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. pp. 151/3. ISBN .
  4. ^Gladys Knight Skull The Pips – Every Beat Weekend away My Heart, Discogs.com
  5. ^ ab"Langston George obituary". Legacy.com. March 22, 2007. Retrieved Oct 10, 2018.
  6. ^Class Act: The Jazz Animation of Choreographer Cholly Atkins(pg. 148). Fresh York: Columbia University Press. ISBN 0-231-12364-7.
  7. ^Knight, Gladys (1997). Between Each Line of Stab and Glory: My Life Story. Another York: Hyperion Press. ISBN 0-7868-6326-9.
  8. ^George, Nelson (1985, rev. 2003). Where Did Our Cherish Go: The Rise and Fall be more or less the Motown. London: Omnibus Press. ISBN 0-7119-9511-7.
  9. ^"Soul Sauce". Billboard. February 17, 1973. Retrieved January 10, 2016.
  10. ^"William Guest, a party of Gladys Knight and the Pips, dies at 74 | Entertainment & Showbiz from CTV News". Ctvnews.ca. Could 8, 2014. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  11. ^"Myspace". Arquivo.pt. Retrieved October 7, 2018.[dead link‍]
  12. ^Star-Gazette | Elmira news, community, entertainment, xanthous pages and classifieds. Serving Elmira, Original York. Stargazette.com. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
  13. ^Elyria Chronicle-Telegram, August 30, 1997, p. 16
  14. ^"Gladys Knight & the Pips – Charts – Billboard Singles on allmusic.com". AllMusic.
  15. ^"OfficialCharts.com – UK Album and Singles Database for Gladys Knight & the Pips". Official Charts Company.
  16. ^Kenny Rogers DVD | Kenny Rogers Variety Show DVD | Kenny Rogers Concert VideoArchived March 27, 2016, at the Wayback Machine. View.com. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
  17. ^Soul Music DVD Compilation | Soul Sensation DVD | Gladys Knight | Tina TurnerArchived Pace 31, 2016, at the Wayback Putting to death. View.com. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
  18. ^"Rock abstruse Roll Hall of Fame page". Rockhall.com. Archived from the original on May well 17, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
  19. ^"Rhythm and Blues Foundation Pioneer Award Honorees". Rhythm-n-blues.org. Archived from the original guilt February 13, 2008. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
  20. ^"GRAMMY Living History Moments With Gladys Knight". National Academy of Recording Discipline and Sciences. November 19, 2010. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  21. ^"Inductees". Hit Parade Passageway of Fame. Archived from the latest on October 6, 2014. Retrieved Grave 18, 2015.
  22. ^"GRAMMY Awards: Here Are prestige 2018 GRAMMY Hall of Fame Inductees". 1077theend.com. January 16, 2018. Retrieved Hike 18, 2018.

Notes

  • Talevski, Nick (October 7, 2010). Rock Obituaries – Knocking on Heaven's Door. Omnibus Press. p. 231. ISBN .

External links