As “The Empress of Soul,” Gladys Knight has a career spanning over six decades (which is made more impressive when you realize she’s only in her mid-70s). From beginnings in Atlanta, Georgia, Gladys had talent, which was recognized on a amateur singing competition when she was just seven. The year was 1952, and young Gladys Knight was just getting started. That was the year that saw the formation of The Pips, a group consisting of Gladys, her brother, sister, and two cousins.
The group toured talent shows and in 1957 was signed with Brunswick Records. After several singles that failed to chart, The Pips first hit, “Every Beat of My Heart” was released by three different labels. They changed their name to Gladys Knight & the Pips in 1961.
Motown came a calling in 1966 and in 1967, the group hit their stride releasing hit versions of “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” “Take Me in Your Arms and Love Me,” “If I Were Your Woman” and “Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye),” among others. That latter one the group their first Grammy. A label switch to Buddah Records in 1973 led to major success, including their #1 hit (and Grammy winner), “Midnight Train to Georgia.”
Throughout the 70s and 80s, Gladys Knight & the Pips continued to achieve success, and saw the first of Knight’s solo albums (Miss Gladys Knight in 1978 and Gladys Knight in 1979). “Save the Overtime for Me,” released in 1983, became the group’s first number one single since 1974. By the late 80s, Knight was ready for a solo career and the Pips recorded their final album, All Our Love, which produced another Grammy Award-winning #1 single, “Love Overboard.”
Now on a solo path, Gladys Knight continued to achieve critical success. Her third album, Good Woman, dropped in 1991 and hit number one on the R&B chart. Over the past 20 years, she has released six more albums, including a Christmas album with the Saints Unified Voices gospel choir, and, her most recent, Where My Heart Belongs marked her 30th album to chart in the top 40 R&B album charts.
In addition to her recording career, Gladys Knight has flexed her artistic muscle in film and television, most recently appearing in an episode of Hawaii Five-O in 2018. Though not officially retired, she and her fourth husband, William McDowell, now live in North Carolina where they own and operate a community center.
Gladys Knight has had a varied and storied career that has taken her to the heights of the recording charts (and the Super Bowl). The Pips were a household name, in part because it was fun to say “Pips,” but mostly because they brought their rhythmic, soulful sound into the mainstream and exposed whole generations to the power of R&B.
Now, to our favorite clips:
And let’s not forget her performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” at this year’s Super Bowl in her hometown (looking FLAWLESS):
