Gladys Knight & the Pips
Gladys Knight & the Pips | |
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Background information | |
Also known as | The Pips (1952–1961) |
Origin | Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
Genres | |
Years active | 1952–1989 |
Labels | |
Past members | Gladys Knight Bubba Knight William Guest Edward Patten Brenda Knight Eleanor Guest Langston George |
Gladys Knight & the Pips were an American R&B, soul, and funk family music group from Atlanta, Georgia, that remained active on the music charts and performing circuit for over three decades starting from the early 1950s.
Starting out as simply The Pips in 1952, derived from a cousin's nickname, the founding members were Gladys Knight, brother Merald "Bubba" Knight, sister Brenda Knight and cousins Eleanor Guest and William Guest. After a couple of years performing in talent shows, the group signed with Brunswick Records in 1957, recording a couple of singles that failed to chart. Brenda Knight and Eleanor Guest eventually left the group and were replaced by another cousin, Edward Patten, and a non-relative, Langston George in 1959. This lineup produced the group's first hit single, "Every Beat of My Heart". 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.
The group reached commercial success after signing with
Gladys Knight & the Pips are multiple
History
Early years (1952–1961)
Gladys Knight performed on
By 1959, Brunswick dropped the group and both Brenda Knight and Eleanor Guest left the group to begin families.[3] They were replaced by another cousin, Edward Patten, and a friend, Langston George.[3] Patten and George were involved in another group before joining the Pips.
Early success (1961–1965)
In 1961, the Pips recorded the Johnny Otis-penned "Every Beat of My Heart".[3] Because the group was without a record label, a local Atlanta label, Huntom Records, pushed the single and got a distribution deal with Vee-Jay Records to release the single.[3] During this time, the group moved to New York where they auditioned for Bobby Robinson's Fury Records.[3] Upon learning that "Every Beat of My Heart" was already becoming a hit and cutting the group out of profits, Robinson had the group re-record the song and re-release it on Fury Records.[3] Both versions made the Billboard charts, with the Huntom/Vee-Jay version reaching number six on the Billboard Hot 100. Prior to the re-release on Fury Records, the group changed their name to Gladys Knight & the Pips.[4] Later in 1961, the newly christened quintet released the single, "Letter Full of Tears", which became another top 40 hit in early 1962.[3] After a string of single releases on Fury Records, Langston George left the group in 1962.[5]
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.[3] 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" in 1964. 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".
The group developed a reputation for exciting and polished live performances, that enabled them to work even without the benefit of bestselling records. Choreographer Atkins designed "fast-stepping" dance routines that became a signature of the Pips' stage presentation; Atkins later described his working and personal relationship with the group in his autobiography, Class Act: The Jazz Life of Choreographer Cholly Atkins: "The one thing that I was pleased about was a stipulation in my contract that allowed me to keep working with Gladys Knight & the Pips as personal clients even though I would be an employee of Motown Records. To tell the truth, Gordy wasn't too happy about it at first, but this is something that I would not compromise under any circumstances. By that 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 group signed to his Motown label. Knight initially refused to sign due to her fears that the label would overlook them for the more popular artists on his roster, but she was outvoted by 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 one. Their first Motown single, "Just Walk in My Shoes", was a hit in the UK, 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 anymore of the group's recordings. They also were one of the few Motown acts that did not 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 the UK.
Their third single, "
Following the success of "Grapevine", the group worked frequently with
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", released around the same time "Neither One of Us" and a Motown single, "Daddy Could Swear, I Declare", was charting. The song became a modest success as a result. The group reached its popular and critical peak soon afterwards, starting with the release of another Weatherly song, "
They followed that single with the release of the million-selling album, Imagination, which released two more top ten singles, "I've Got to Use My Imagination" and "Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me".[3] The release of Imagination sparked a consecutive series of million-selling albums for the label including the soundtrack to the movie, 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, that aired for four episodes on NBC.[3] During this time, the group recorded more hit singles, including "I Feel a Song (In My Heart)", "Part-Time Love", "Love Finds Its Own Way" and the live recording, "The Way We Were/Try to Remember".[3]
By 1977, the group ran into contract disputes with both Motown and Buddah Records.[3] After asking to be released from their contract from Buddah, the label forced the band to record side projects while the dispute was settled.[3] Between 1978 and 1980, Knight released two solo albums and the Pips released two side albums.[3] In a segment for Richard Pryor's TV special, the Pips (minus Gladys) appeared on his show performing their backup verses for the songs "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" and "Midnight Train to Georgia"; during parts where Gladys would sing, the camera panned on a lone-standing microphone. The group still performed together during this period, which ended with the group signing with Columbia Records in 1980.[3]
Later years and disbandment (1980–1989)
In 1980, having signed with Columbia, the group reunited with their old Motown collaborators Ashford & Simpson, recording and releasing the album, About Love, which included the charted singles "Taste of Bitter Love", "Bourgie, Bourgie" and "Landlord".[3] They continued the collaboration with the duo on their 1981 follow-up, Touch, which included the single "I Will Fight", and a cover of "I Will Survive". Also in 1981, the group provided prominent backing vocals for Kenny Rogers on his remake of Bobby "Blue" Bland's "Share Your Love with Me". The group had appeared on Rogers' television show with the First Edition several times in the early 1970s, and Knight guested on Rogers' TV special, Kenny Rogers Classic Weekend in 1986, performing a duet of "Am I Too Late?", a song both singers had previously recorded. Three years later she also collaborated with Rogers on the US Billboard AC top ten single "If I Knew Then What I Know Now".
Following a year-long international tour, the group recorded their third Columbia album,
Honors, solo careers and deaths
Following the group's amicable disbandment in 1989, Edward Patten and William Guest formed their own production company in Detroit, titled Guest and Patten Productions, later renamed the Crew Entertainment Company. Patten was diagnosed with
Bubba Knight still continues to oversee his sister's career, by being her tour manager and occasionally joining Gladys onstage during performances. Gladys Knight recorded the theme song for the James Bond film, Licence to Kill in 1989, which became a top ten single in the UK.[3] Two years later, she released her 1991 album, Good Woman, which included the top five R&B hit, "Men", and Grammy-nominated duet version of "Superwoman", recorded with Dionne Warwick and Patti LaBelle. A 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", and went gold. Knight still records and performs today. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she sometimes leads the Saints Unified Voices choir.
The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996, the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2001 and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Rhythm & Blues Foundation in 1998. Gladys Knight & the Pips are ranked as the ninth most successful act in The Billboard Top 40 Book of R&B and Hip-Hop Hits (2005). They were also ranked No. 91 on VH1's Top 100 Artists of Rock n' Roll. In June 2006, Gladys Knight & the Pips were inducted into the Apollo Theater's Hall of Fame in New York City. In 2017 the group was inducted into Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame.
Members
- Gladys Knight (1952–1962, 1964–1989)
- Merald "Bubba" Knight (1952–1989)
- William Guest (1952–1989; died 2015)
- Edward Patten (1959–1989; died 2005)
- Brenda Knight (1952–1959)
- Eleanor Guest (1952–1959; died 1997)
- Langston George (1959–1962; died 2007)
Timeline
Discography
Top 20 singles
The following singles reached the Top 20 on either the United States
Studio albums
- Letter Full of Tears (1962)
- Gladys Knight and the Pips (1965)
- Everybody Needs Love (1967)
- Feelin' Bluesy (1968)
- Silk 'n' Soul (1968)
- All In A Knight's Work (1968)
- Nitty Gritty (1969)
- All The Greatest Hits (1970)
- If I Were Your Woman (1971)
- Standing Ovation (1971)
- Neither One of Us (1973)
- Anthology (1973)
- Imagination (1973)
- Claudine (1974)
- I Feel a Song (1974)
- Presenting Gladys Knight and the Pips (1974)
- Bless This House (1975)
- 2nd Anniversary (1975)
- Original Soundtrack for the Motion Picture Pipe Dreams (1976)
- Still Together (1977)
- The One and Only (1978)
- About Love (1980)
- Touch (1981)
- That Special Time of Year (1982)
- Visions (1983)
- Life (1985)
- All Our Love (1987)
Filmography
Concert
- 1977: Gladys Knight & the Pips Feat. Ray Charles: Live at 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
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
1975 | Gladys Knight & the Pips | Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group | Won |
Favorite Soul/R&B Band/Duo/Group | Won | ||
"Midnight Train to Georgia" | Favorite Soul/R&B Single | Won | |
Imagination | Favorite Soul/R&B Album | Won | |
1976 | Gladys Knight & the Pips | Favorite Soul/R&B Band/Duo/Group | Won |
1984 | Gladys Knight & the Pips | Favorite Soul/R&B Band/Duo/Group | Won |
1989 | Gladys Knight & the Pips | Favorite Soul/R&B Band/Duo/Group | Won |
Grammy Awards
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
1969
|
"Friendship Train" | Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group | Nominated |
1971
|
"If I Were Your Woman" | Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Group | Nominated |
1972
|
"Help Me Make It Through the Night" | Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus | Nominated |
1973
|
"Midnight Train to Georgia" | Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus | Won |
"Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye)" | Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus | Won | |
1974
|
"I Feel a Song (In My Heart)" | Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus | Nominated |
1975
|
"The Way We Were"/"Try to Remember" | Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus | Nominated |
1977
|
"Baby Don't Change Your Mind" | Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus | Nominated |
1980
|
"About Love" | Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal | Nominated |
1988
|
"Love Overboard" | Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal | Won |
Gladys Knight has received an additional four Grammy Awards as a solo artist/collaborator.
Other awards and inductions
- 1988 Gladys Knight & the Pips received the Heritage Award (Later renamed the Quincy Jones Award for Career Achievement) at the Soul Train Music Awards.
- 1989 Gladys Knight & the Pips inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame.
- 1996 Gladys Knight & the Pips inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.[20]
- 1998 Gladys Knight & the Pips received Lifetime Achievement Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation.[21]
- 1999 Gladys Knight & the Pips inducted into the GRAMMY Hall of Fame ("Midnight Train to Georgia").[22]
- 2001 Gladys Knight & the Pips inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.
- 2006 Gladys Knight & the Pips inducted into the Apollo Theater's Hall of Fame.
- 2009 Gladys Knight & the Pips inducted into the Hit Parade Hall of Fame.[23]
- 2018 Gladys Knight & The Pips are again inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame ("I Heard It Through The Grapevine")[24]
References
- ^ "Gladys Knight and the Pips Biography". The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
- ^ "Gladys Knight and the Pips – Inductees". The Vocal Group Hall of Fame Foundation. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
- ^ ISBN 0-85112-733-9.
- ^ Gladys Knight And The Pips – Every Beat Of My Heart, Discogs.com
- ^ a b "Langston George obituary". Legacy.com. March 22, 2007. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
- ISBN 0-231-12364-7.
- ISBN 0-7868-6326-9.
- ISBN 0-7119-9511-7.
- ^ "Soul Sauce". Billboard. February 17, 1973. Retrieved January 10, 2016.
- ^ "William Guest, a member of Gladys Knight and the Pips, dies at 74 | Entertainment & Showbiz from CTV News". Ctvnews.ca. May 8, 2014. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
- ^ "Myspace". Arquivo.pt. Retrieved October 7, 2018.[dead link]
- ^ Star-Gazette | Elmira news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Elmira, New York. Stargazette.com. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
- ^ Talevski 2010, p. 253.
- ^ Elyria Chronicle-Telegram, August 30, 1997, p. 16
- ISBN 978-0-85712-117-2.
- ^ "Gladys Knight & the Pips – Charts – Billboard Singles on allmusic.com". AllMusic.
- ^ "OfficialCharts.com – UK Album and Singles Database for Gladys Knight & the Pips". Official Charts Company.
- ^ Kenny Rogers DVD | Kenny Rogers Variety Show DVD | Kenny Rogers Concert Video Archived March 27, 2016, at the Wayback Machine. View.com. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
- ^ Soul Music DVD Compilation | Soul Sensation DVD | Gladys Knight | Tina Turner Archived March 31, 2016, at the Wayback Machine. View.com. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
- ^ "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame page". Rockhall.com. Archived from the original on May 17, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
- ^ "Rhythm and Blues Foundation Pioneer Award Honorees". Rhythm-n-blues.org. Archived from the original on February 13, 2008. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
- ^ "GRAMMY Living History Moments With Gladys Knight". National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. November 19, 2010. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
- ^ "Inductees". Hit Parade Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
- ^ "GRAMMY Awards: Here Are the 2018 GRAMMY Hall of Fame Inductees". 1077theend.com. January 16, 2018. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
Notes
- Talevski, Nick (October 7, 2010). Rock Obituaries – Knocking on Heaven's Door. Omnibus Press. p. 231. ISBN 978-1-84609-091-2.