Gladys Maria Knight (born May 28, 1944) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress.
Most of her music career was her being part of and frontwoman of the group Gladys Knight and The Pips (the Pips consisting of Knight's brother Merald "Bubba" Knight, cousins William Guest and Edward Patten, and friend Langston George in the most well-known lineup). They scored a hit in recording the Johnny Otis-penned "Every Beat of My Heart" in 1961 which raised the group's profile and eventually they ended up as part of Motown's roster for a time. She began acting in films along with recording with the Pips; her solo career started off proper in 1987 with her third solo album (she recorded two previously while with the Pips and dealing with legal issues that kept them from recording together) and record "Licence to Kill," the Title Theme Tune from the James Bond film Licence to Kill.
Was former aunt/close friend to late R&B singer Aaliyah, after she married Barry Hankerson in 1974 (they would later divorce in 1979).
Discography
Gladys Knight and the Pips Discography
- 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)
- Original Soundtrack for the Motion Picture Claudine (1974)
- I Feel a Song (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)
Solo Albums
- Miss Gladys Knight (1978)
- Gladys Knight (1979)
- Good Woman (1991)
- Just for You (1994)
- Many Different Roads (1998)
- At Last (2000)
- One Voice (with Saints Unified Voices) (2005)
- Before Me (2006)
- Another Journey (2013)
- Where My Heart Belongs (2014)
Selected Filmography
Film
- Pipe Dreams (1976) - Maria Wilson
- Licence to Kill (1989) - Performed the title song
- Twenty Bucks (1993) - Mrs. McCormic
- Hollywood Homicide (2003) - Olivia Robidoux
- Unbeatable Harold (2006) - Phyllis
- Holidaze: The Christmas That Almost Didn't Happen (2006) - Candie (voice)
- I Can Do Bad All by Myself (2009) - Wilma
- Seasons Of Love (2014) - Ms. Angie
- Almost Christmas (2016) - Dorothy, Shelter Director
Television
- Charlie & Co (1985–1986) - Diana Richmond
- New York Undercover (1994) - Natalie, 2 episodes
- Living Single (1997) - Odelle Jones, 2 episodes
- The Jamie Foxx Show (1997–2001) - Janice King, 2 episodes
- American Juniors (2003) - Herself, judge
- The First Family (2012–2013) - Grandma Carolyn, 9 episodes
- Lee Daniels Star (2017) - Herself, 2 episodes
- The Masked Singer (2019) - Herself
Tropes
- Artist and the Band: Gladys Knight & the Pips was named this way in reference to a cousin nicknamed "Pip".
- Better Partner Assertion: "If I Were Your Woman" is about this, the subject is asserting that she would be a better partner than who the man is currently seeing.
- Break Up Song: "I Don't Want To Know", "Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye)"
- Cover Version: "I Heard It Through the Grapevine", first recorded by The Miracles and then most famously, Marvin Gaye. Gladys and the Pips version is more upbeat and has funk elements.
- The Diva: One of Soul's biggest divas.
- Horrible Hollywood: "Midnight Train to Georgia" is about a man who tried to make it in show business, but the business was too hard to break into and became too much, and is headed back home to Georgia.
- National Anthem: Performed it several times, including Super Bowl LIII.
- Obsession Song: "Love Overboard" is about this, the subject is enamored with their man.
- Silly Love Songs: "Midnight Train to Georgia", "If I Were Your Woman", "Love Overboard"
- Soul/R&B: Of the genres' most respected and well-known singers.
- Title Theme Tune: Recorded one for the James Bond film Licence to Kill.
