Gladys Knight Biography

From The Pips to an amazing solo career, the reigning Empress of Soul Gladys Knight continues to rule the R&B/Soul world.

Gladys Knight: Early Years
Growing up in Alabama, Gladys Knight got her first taste of fame at age seven when she won a contest on Ted Mack’s Original Amateur Hour TV Show. Just one year later in 1952, Gladys Knight along with brother Merald, sister Brenda, and two cousins formed the group dubbed as “The Pips.” The Pips experienced a few personnel changes and began touring toward the end of decade.

By 1961, The Pips released the single “Every Beat of My Heart” which soared to the top of the R&B charts and reached Top 10 status on the Pop charts to boot. When The Pips became a quartet in 1962, the group would continue on as Gladys Knight & The Pips. Gladys Knight would take a break from touring with The Pips in order to raise her two children, Jimmy III and Kenya. In an effort to support her family, Gladys Knight returned to recording with The Pips in 1963.

Gladys Knight: Hitting it Big
After joining Motown Records in 1966, Gladys Knight & The Pips notched several hits, including “I Heard it Through the Grapevine” – made popular by Marvin Gaye – along with “If I Were Your Woman,” and the Grammy-winning “Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye),” among others. While with Motown Records, Gladys Knight & The Pips were opening for the likes of Diana Ross and The Supremes.

In 1973, Gladys Knight & The Pips parted ways with Motown and joined Buddah Records label. The label change did not hinder the group’s continued success as they scored hits with the Grammy-winning “Midnight Train to Georgia,” “You’re the Best Thing that Ever Happened to Me,” along with “I’ve Got to Use My Imagination.” During the early to mid-1970s, Gladys Knight & The Pips were one of the hottest tickets on both sides of the Pond.

Gladys Knight: Solo & Back Again
While Gladys Knight & The Pips continued to chart hit songs late in the decade, legal issues forced the group to split and record separately. Consequently, Gladys Knight ventured into a solo career, releasing Miss Gladys Knight in 1978 and Gladys Knight in 1979. Gladys & The Pips would soon sign with the Columbia Records label in 1980 and began to record new material in About Love and Touch, which followed in 1981.

Gladys Knight: Late ‘80s
By 1987, Gladys Knight & The Pips would record All Our Love, their last LP as a group. After enjoying Grammy-winning success with the single “Love Overboard” and a successful 1988 tour, Gladys Knight & The Pips parted ways. Gladys Knight would then focus on a solo career, releasing her third solo LP Good Woman in 1991. The album topped the R&B Album chart and featured the single “Men” – a No. 2 R&B hit. Gladys Knight followed up with the Grammy-nominated Gold solo album Just for You.

Gladys Knight: Duets & Other Work

• Johnny Mathis and Gladys Knight teamed up to record the duets “When a Child is Born” and “The Lord’s Prayer” in the early 1980s.
• Gladys Knight, Dionne Warwick, Stevie Wonder, and Elton John collaborated on the Grammy-winning single "That's What Friends Are For” in 1985.
• In 1989, Gladys Knight recorded “License to Kill,” which was featured on the soundtrack of the James Bond film of the same name.
• Gladys Knight and Patti LaBelle joined forces on the song “I Don’t Do Duets” in 1991.
• In 1990, Kenny Rogers and Gladys Knight recorded “If I Knew Then What I Know Now,” which became a Top 10 Adult Contemporary hit.

Gladys Knight: Acting History & More

• During her time with The Pips, Gladys Knight made her film debut with Pipe Dreams. Although the film was not a huge tickets seller, Gladys Knight received a Golden Globe nomination for “Best New Actress.”
• Gladys Knight could be seen making guest appearances on TV series such as Benson, The Jeffersons, Living Single, A Different World, New York Undercover, and The Jamie Foxx Show.
• Gladys Knight directs the Saints Unified Voices choir, which released a Grammy-winning CD One Voice.

Gladys Knight: Performing Live
To date, Gladys Knight continues to perform in support of charities and causes, appearing at the Divas with Heart concert and on American Idol Gives Back in 2008. With a limited number of tour dates scheduled in 2009, fans are clamoring to buy any Gladys Knight tickets they can get their hands on. One of the biggest shows for Gladys Knight this year will be deep in the heart of Texas when she headlines Black Heritage Day at the Houston Rodeo along with Beyonce’s younger sister Solange. Order your premium Gladys Knight tickets from OnlineTickets.com today!

Gladys Knight: Hits with The Pips

• “Midnight Train to Georgia” (with The Pips)
• “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” (with The Pips)
• “If I Were Your Woman” (with The Pips)
• “I’ve Got to Use My Imagination” (with The Pips)
• “Help Me Make It Through the Night” (with The Pips)
• “The Nitty Gritty” (with The Pips)
• “Neither One of Us (Wants to be the First to Say Goodbye)” (with The Pips)
• “Best Thing that Ever Happened to Me” (with The Pips)
• “Love Overboard” (with The Pips)

Gladys Knight: Solo Hits

• “Men”
• “I Just Want to Be With You”
• “License to Kill”
• “Am I Too Late”
• “Meet Me in the Middle”
• “It’s a Better Than Good Time”
• “Superwoman”
• “I Don’t Want to Know”
• “Where Would I Be”
• “Next Time”