did gladys knight sing in a group

When did Gladys Knight start singing?

Born in Georgia in 1944, Gladys Knight began singing with her siblings at age 8, calling themselves "the Pips." The group opened for R&B legends in the 1950s, then headed to Motown and crossed over to pop music. As Gladys Knight and the Pips, they recorded their signature song, "Midnight Train to Georgia."

Who is Gladys Knight and what is she famous for?

Singer Gladys Knight has given voice to multiple R&B hits (with and without her Pips), including "Midnight Train to Georgia." Who Is Gladys Knight? Gladys Knight began singing with her siblings at age 8, calling themselves "the Pips." The group opened for R&B legends in the 1950s, then headed to Motown and crossed over to pop music.

When did Gladys Knight and Bubba the Clown start singing together?

On September 4, 1952, Gladys, Bubba, sister Brenda and their cousins William and Eleanor Guest began performing together during Bubba's tenth birthday party after a record player malfunctioned. Shortly afterwards, the quintet agreed to form a group under the insistence of Gladys' mother Elizabeth Knight.

What song did Bubba Knight Sing with Gladys Knight?

Bubba Knight, an original member of Gladys Knight and The Pips, sang Al Green's "Love and Happiness" and The Beatles' "Yesterday" Wednesday and Friday night during a segment of his sister's set on the "Soul Train Cruise."

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How old was Gladys Knight when she started singing with the Pips?

Early Years In 1952, an 8-year-old Knight formed "the Pips" with her brother and sister, Merald ("Bubba") and Brenda, and two cousins, Elenor and William Guest (another cousin, Edward Patten, and Langston George later joined the group, after Brenda and Elenor left to get married; George left by 1960).

What disease does Gladys Knight have?

While in attendance for Aretha Franklin's funeral, Gladys Knight revealed that she suffers from the same illness that ultimately took Franklin's life. While speaking with WDIV (Channel 4), Knight said that she has pancreatic cancer.

Who was in the original group the Pips?

After the single was released on three different labels, they changed their name to Gladys Knight & the Pips in 1961....Gladys Knight & The PipsAlso known asThe Pips (1952–1961)OriginAtlanta, Georgia, U.S.GenresR&B soul funkYears active1952–19895 more rows

What happened to the Pips that sang with Gladys Knight?

Gladys Knight and the Pips disbanded in 1989; seven years later, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The group were also enshrined into the Grammy Hall of Fame for “Midnight Train to Georgia” and recipients of the Rhythm and Blues Foundation's Lifetime Achievement Award.

How Old Is Gladys Knight and what is her net worth?

Gladys Knight Net WorthNet Worth:$28 MillionDate of Birth:May 28, 1944 (78 years old)Gender:FemaleHeight:5 ft 3 in (1.613 m)Profession:Singer-songwriter, Actor, Author, Businessperson, Humanitarian1 more row

Was Gladys Knight married to the Pips?

1. Is her husband a Pip? Gladys Knight has been married four times. None of her husbands were members of her R&B group Gladys Knight and the Pips.

Was Denzel Washington in Gladys Knight and the Pips?

Could be. Or maybe, just maybe, it was the dancing. Washington's smooth Gladys Knight and The Pips moves were on display in The Equalizer trailer and now we know how Denzel mastered them.

What is Gladys Knight's most famous song?

# 1 – Midnight Train To Georgia Gladys Knight & The Pips song “Midnight Train To Georgia,” was the biggest hit of the groups career. It stands as their signature song. The song went straight to number on on the Billboard Hot 100 making it the groups only number one record on the Billboard Pop carts.

How many pips were with Gladys Knight?

Gladys Knight and the Pips, were actually a family group. The Pips included her brother Merald "Bubba" Knight and cousins Edward Patten and William Guest. At one time the group also included Knight's sister Brenda and cousin Eleanor Guest. The Pips took the name of cousin James “Pip” Woods.

Why did the Pips retire?

Gladys Knight & the Pips embarked on their final tour in 1988 and disbanded upon its conclusion, as Gladys Knight decided she wanted to pursue a solo career. The Pips retired while Gladys Knight began scoring hits of her own with singles such as "Men" (1991) and "I Don't Want to Know" (1994).

Are any Pips living?

Gladys Knight & the Pips member Edward Patten died early this morning (Feb. 25) at a suburban Detroit hospital, according to his cousin William Guest, another member of the group. He was 65. Patten, an Atlanta native who lived in Detroit, died at a hospital in Michigan from a stroke he suffered a few days before.

How long did Gladys Knight in the Pips stay together?

When Motown legend Gladys Knight decided to disband Gladys Knight & the Pips after 40 years together, she wasn't just leaving her group; she was leaving her family. "I told my brother, 'I have to go,'" Gladys says, looking back on how she broke the news to her bandmate and brother, Merald Knight.

Which one of The Pips died?

Gladys Knight & the Pips member Edward Patten died early this morning (Feb. 25) at a suburban Detroit hospital, according to his cousin William Guest, another member of the group. He was 65. Patten, an Atlanta native who lived in Detroit, died at a hospital in Michigan from a stroke he suffered a few days before.

Who are Gladys Knight backup singers?

The longest-lived incarnation of the act featured Gladys Knight on lead vocals, with The Pips, who included her brother Merald "Bubba" Knight and their cousins Edward Patten and William Guest, as backup singers.

Why did The Pips retire?

Gladys Knight & the Pips embarked on their final tour in 1988 and disbanded upon its conclusion, as Gladys Knight decided she wanted to pursue a solo career. The Pips retired while Gladys Knight began scoring hits of her own with singles such as "Men" (1991) and "I Don't Want to Know" (1994).

Who sang with Gladys Knight?

Gladys Knight and the PipsGladys Knight and the Pips, American vocal group that was among the most popular rhythm-and-blues and soul groups of the 1960s and '70s and that was unique in having a female lead singer and male backup singers.

What group did Gladys Knight play in?

Gladys Knight made her acting debut in Pipe Dreams in 1976, for which the group recorded a soundtrack album. Legal problems then dogged their career until the end of the decade, forcing Knight & the Pips to record separately until they could sign a new recording contract with CBS Records. Knight enjoyed minor R&B hits at the end of the decade with the solo singles "I'm Coming Home Again" and "Am I Too Late," and during this period released her first two solo albums, Miss Gladys Knight and Gladys Knight. About Love in 1980 teamed the reunited group with the Ashford & Simpson writing/production partnership, and resulted in strident pieces of R&B social commentary in "Landlord" and "Bourgie Bourgie." Subsequent releases alternated between the group's R&B and MOR modes, generating hits such as the R&B chart-topper "Save the Overtime (For Me)" and "You're Number One in My Book" (both 1983). In 1985, Knight appeared on the chart-topping and Grammy-winning pop hit "That’s What Friends Are For," alongside Elton John, Dionne Warwick, and Stevie Wonder. After a move to MCA Records in 1986, "Love Overboard" demonstrated that Gladys Knight & the Pips could work equally well in both R&B and pop genres, taking the group back to the top of the R&B chart and into the pop Top 20 at the end of 1987. The latter song earned them a Grammy Award for the Best R&B Performance in early 1989, the year the group enjoyed two final R&B hits with "Lovin' on Next to Nothin'" and "It's Gonna Take All Our Love."

When did Gladys Knight start acting?

Gladys Knight made her acting debut in Pipe Dreams in 1976, for which the group recorded a soundtrack album. Legal problems then dogged their career until the end of the decade, forcing Knight & the Pips to record separately until they could sign a new recording contract with CBS Records.

What album did Knight and the Pips play together?

The group doubled its quantity of Top Ten R&B hits with the Buddah label through 1978, with second Grammy winner "Midnight Train to Georgia," "I've Got to Use My Imagination," and "Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me" accounting for a streak of chart-toppers off the gold-selling album Imagination. Knight & the Pips remained together through ...

What was the name of the group that recorded every beat of my heart?

By this time, the group, now credited as Gladys Knight & the Pips, had signed a long-term recording contract with Fury Records, where they issued a re-recording of "Every Beat of My Heart" that competed for sales with the original release. Subsequent singles such as "Letter Full of Tears" and "Operator" sealed the group's R&B credentials.

When did Gladys Knight and the Pips leave Motown?

Langston George retired from the group in 1962, leaving the four-strong lineup that survived into the '80s. In 1966 , Gladys Knight & the Pips signed to Motown Records' Soul subsidiary, where they were teamed up with producer/songwriter Norman Whitfield. Knight 's tough vocals distinguished them from Motown's pop-soul roster.

When did Knight and the Pips get together?

Knight & the Pips remained together through the '80s, a period that entailed the additional R&B Top Ten entries "Landlord," "Save the Overtime (For Me)," and the Grammy-winning "Love Overboard," and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame the following decade.

Who were Gladys Knight's cousins?

She remains an active performer. Gladys Knight, her brother Merald "Bubba," sister Brenda, and cousins Eleanor Guest and William Guest formed their first vocal group in their native Atlanta, Georgia in 1952. Calling themselves the Pips, after their cousin James "Pips" Woods, the youngsters sang supper-club material from Monday through Saturday ...

Who Is Gladys Knight?

Gladys Knight began singing with her siblings at age 8, calling themselves "the Pips." The group opened for R&B legends in the 1950s, then headed to Motown and crossed over to pop music. As Gladys Knight and the Pips, they recorded their signature song, "Midnight Train to Georgia." Knight left the Pips behind in 1989, and continued to perform and record as a solo artist. Today, she's known fondly as the "Empress of Soul."

Where was Gladys Knight born?

Singer and actress Gladys Knight was born Gladys Maria Knight on May 28, 1944, in Atlanta, Georgia, and started out on the road to success at an early age. She made her solo debut at the age of 4, singing at the Mount Mariah Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia. Not long after, she won a prize for her performance on the televised Ted Mack Amateur Hour.

What was the name of the group that sang "I've Got to Use My Imagination"?

The group — now known officially as Gladys Knight and the Pips — was riding higher than ever during the mid-1970s with a smoother, more accessible sound, a hit album, Imagination (1973) and three gold singles: "I've Got to Use My Imagination," "Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me" and the Grammy Award-winning No. 1 hit "Midnight Train to Georgia" (Best R&B Vocal Performance).

When did Knight and the Pips leave Motown?

Knight and the Pips left Motown in 1973 for Buddah Records, a subsidiary of Arista (the group later took Motown to court for unpaid royalties). Ironically, their last Motown single, "Neither One of Us Wants to be the First to Say Goodbye," became the Pips' first No. 1 crossover hit and a Grammy winner for Best Pop Vocal Performance in 1973.

What song did the Pips sing in 1967?

In 1967, the Pips' version of Whitfield's "I Heard it Through the Grapevine" —later a huge hit for Marvin Gaye—crossed over from the rhythm and blues charts to the pop charts.

When did the Pips first hit?

The Pips. While their first single, "Whistle My Love," was released by Brunswick in 1957, the Pips didn't score a bona fide hit until 1961 when they released "Every Beat of My Heart.”.

Who is the singer who married William McDowell?

In April 2001, Knight married William McDowell, a corporate consultant she had reportedly met 10 years earlier, but had only begun dating the previous January.

Who did Gladys Knight perform with?

During this period, the Pips kept performing and recording to little fanfare, and eventually each Pip took odd jobs while Gladys Knight began performing solo with Newman, now her musical director. Eventually Gladys reunited with the Pips and signed with a local New York label, Maxx Records, that year.

What was the first song that Gladys Knight sang with the Pips?

They would sign with Motown in 1966, being assigned to Motown's Soul Records label, a label which featured acts who had more of an R&B flavor than a pop flavor. Their first Motown single, "Just Walk in My Shoes ", was a hit in England, but the group was disappointed in Motown having The Andantes sing over the Pips' signature harmony in the song, resulting in the group demanding that the Andantes not be featured on any more of the group's recordings. They also were one of the few Motown acts that didn't regularly perform on the label's Motortown Revues, with an exception being a Christmas showcase at the Fox Theater in Detroit, recorded for the album, Motortown Revue Live. A second single, "Take Me in Your Arms and Love Me", also reached the charts in England.

What year did Gladys Knight leave the Pips?

The group's success was halted by Gladys Knight's sudden departure in 1962 to start a family with husband Jimmy Newman, a musician. Knight gave birth to the couple's son James Gaston Newman III in August 1962 . A daughter, Kenya Maria Newman, was born in November 1963. During this period, the Pips kept performing and recording to little fanfare, and eventually each Pip took odd jobs while Gladys Knight began performing solo with Newman, now her musical director. Eventually Gladys reunited with the Pips and signed with a local New York label, Maxx Records, that year. During that time, Newman served as the group's musical director. During this period, the group were mentored by Maurice King and Cholly "Pops" Atkins; their association with King going back to the group's early years traveling to Detroit. The group recorded a third top 40 single with Van McCoy 's " Giving Up ". Other notable songs they released on Maxx include "Lovers Always Forgive", " (There Will Never Be) Another Love", "Either Way I Lose", "Go Away, Stay Away", "Maybe Maybe Baby", ""Stop and Get a Hold of Myself", "Who Knows? (I Just Can't Trust You)" and "If I Should Ever Fall in Love".

What was the name of the group that changed their name to Gladys Knight and the Pips?

Prior to the re-release on Fury Records, the group changed their name to Gladys Knight & the Pips. Later in 1961, the newly christened quintet released the single, "Letter Full of Tears", which became another top 40 hit in early 1962.

What was the song that the Pips sang in 1989?

Later hits included "Landlord", " Save the Overtime (For Me) " and the Grammy-winning single " Love Overboard ". In 1989, the group disbanded with the Pips retiring and Knight embarking on a successful solo career.

When did Gladys Knight and the Pips change their name?

After the single was released on three different labels, they changed their name to Gladys Knight & the Pips in 1961. Langston George left the same year and Gladys Knight left in 1962 to start a family with musician Jimmy Newman. Knight rejoined in 1964 and this lineup continued until the group's disbandment in 1989.

Where are Gladys Knight and the Pips from?

Langston George. Gladys Knight & the Pips were an American R&B / soul / funk family music group from Atlanta, Georgia, that remained active on the music charts and performing circuit for over three decades. Starting out as simply The Pips in 1952, derived from a cousin's nickname, the founding members were Gladys Knight, ...

When did Gladys Knight leave the Pips?

Though Gladys Knight and The Pips released their last album in 1987 and Gladys left the group in 1988 , Bubba remained an instrumental part of his sister's career, helping her determine which songs to perform during concerts and helping her select songs for her albums.

How old is Bubba from Gladys Knight?

Bubba, 71, said he is finally ready to pursue a solo career. "I feel that I've done as much as I could do to get Gladys' career off the ground," he said with a laugh. "Now, it's time for her to stand on her own two feet."

How old was Gladys when she won the Ted Mack show?

After a seven year old Gladys won the televised singing competition Ted Mack's Original Amateur Hour TV show in 1952, she later formed a singing group with her siblings and cousins.

Who sang "Love and Happiness"?

Bubba Knight, an original member of Gladys Knight and The Pips, sang Al Green's "Love and Happiness" and The Beatles' "Yesterday" Wednesday and Friday night during a segment of his sister's set on the "Soul Train Cruise.".

Who told her husband to get into bed with a beautiful and talented woman?

Just before Maggie Gyllenhaal told her husband to get into bed with a beautiful and talented woman 13 years her junior, she found herself wondering if it was such a good idea.

Why does Bubba want to record solo?

Bubba wants his solo material to reach the masses. He wants to record "music that will appeal to a broad variety of people, like young and old," he said. "I don't want to lose my senior citizens because I'm a representative of the senior citizens."

What is the best backing vocal for Gladys Knight?

As well as providing the energetic dance moves on stage, The Pips were integral to the sound of Gladys Knight. Take their signature classic, the poignant ‘Midnight Train To Georgia’: the backing vocals provided by The Pips are perhaps the best backing vocals ever recorded.

How long did Gladys Knight and the Pips perform together?

Gladys Knight & the Pips were one of the most successful groups in soul, performing on hits for nearly 40 years together. But while Knight is a household name who continues to excite, The Pips have faded into musical history.

What album did Gladys Knight and the Pips release?

By 1980 the contractual disputes that had split the group were resolved, and the four reunited to record and release the excellent album About Love. The group worked with the legendary husband-and-wife duo Ashford & Simpson, and it resulted in one of the best albums Gladys Knight & The Pips recorded. It contained smashes such as ‘ Landlord ‘, ‘ Taste of Bitter Love ‘ and ‘ Bourgie, Bourgie ‘. They followed it up a year later with the album Touch, which contained the disco-banger ‘I Will Fight’ and a fairly decent cover of ‘I Will Survive’.

Did the Pips play second fiddle?

Motown decided to then release the Gaye version, and it became the definitive version of the song, and would outsell The Pips’s version. Knight and The Pips continued to play second-fiddle at Motown, but did, despite a lack of support release some great records, including ‘ The Nitty Gritty ‘, ‘ Friendship Train ‘, ...

Did Gladys Knight and the Pips ever become household names?

While Gladys Knight & The Pips became household names, it was only Knight that anyone really ever knew.

Who were the first members of Gladys Knight and the Pips?

The changed line-up scored their first hit with a song called ‘ Every Beat of My Heart ‘, before George left and Gladys herself temporarily left to start a family, but rejoined the group in 1964 and the group became Gladys Knight & The Pips, with Bubba Knight, William Guest and Edward Patten forming the classic line-up of The Pips.

Did Casablanca Records promote Gladys Knight?

Sadly, although the album was surprisinly strong, Casablanca Records (who owned the rights to the album) made no effort to promote it. The label at at the time was the prime manuafacturer of disco records, including Donna Summer’s, so it’s likely the album got lost somewhere in the internal politics of the label. But, it’s also likely that the public, used to seeing Gladys Knight sing with three other blokes, were unreceptive to an album by The Pips without Gladys Knight and her voice. As a result, The Pips’s solo career was somewhat short lived.

Overview

History

Members

Discography

Filmography

Awards and achievements

Notes

External links