Gladys Knight - Help Me Make It Through the Night

Gladys Knight was born in Atlanta Georgia in 1944 and like many Soul music artists first sang in a church choir. She won a talent contest at 8 years old and when in her teens formed a group with her brother and sister and some cousins. The accompanying group called themselves The Pips after cousin James "Pip" Woods. The complete list of Pips members at one time or another is Brenda Knight ( sister), Bubba Knight (brother), cousins Eleanor and William Guest, cousin Edward Pattern and friend Langston George. The group had an early hit with Every Beat Of My Heart (Gladys at 17) and they were opening for big names like Jackie Wilson and Sam Cooke. After a contract with Brunswick Records ended they were managed by Vee-Jay Records. In 1966 they signed with Motown and had some major successes like I Heard It Through The Grapevine and If I Were Your Woman. Gladys opened for Diana Ross on a 1973 tour but was dropped after Diana complained that Gladys was overshadowing her as far as fan ratings went. I would call her style Gentle Soul, and this would be my preference too. After Motown came a very fruitful period with Buddah Records, with hits like Midnight Train To Georgia . Gladys rejoined the Pips after some time as a solo artist and signed with Columbia Records and were produced by Motown husband and wife team of Ashford and Simpson. !n 1988 the Pips resigned finally. This latter part of Gladys' career included some good collaborations like Patti LaBelle and Dionne Warwick. In 1989 she was chosen to do the theme for the 007 movie License To Kill. 2005 saw her duet with Ray Charles. In 2009 she sang His Eye Is On The Sparrow and The Lord's Prayer at Michael Jackson's funeral. in 1997 she and the Pips gave a concert in The White House at which Bill Clinton gave a short but very well informed speech about the role that African American music played in music in general in the USA. Gladys Knight has long been a favourite of mine and that opinion is shared by many. She is the recipient of many awards like 7 Grammies (23 nominations) an honorary Doctorate, induction into the Rock and Roll hall of Fame (1996), Society of Singers ELLA award and the title Empress of Soul and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame plus many more.Gl