Happy Birthday to Gladys Knight, who turns 77 today (May 28th)!!! Born in Atlanta, Knight got her start performing gospel music in her local church choir, and by the age of seven she won first prize on the TV show Ted Mack's Original Amateur Hour. Shortly thereafter, Knight helped form the Pips with her brother Merald — better known as “Bubba” — and two cousins, Edward Patten and William Guest. Sadly, Guest died at age 74 on December 24th, 2015 from congestive heart failure in Detroit.
The group signed to Motown Records in 1966, where they scored major hits such as “I Heard It Through The Grapevine,” “If I Were Your Woman,” and “Neither One Of Us (Wants To Be The First To Say Goodbye).” After leaving Motown in the mid-'70s, Knight and the Pips moved to Buddha Records and recorded a string of smashes, including “Midnight Train To Georgia” and “Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me.” Gladys Knight & The Pips parted ways in 1989 and Knight continues to record as a solo artist. In 1996, Gladys Night & The Pips were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Back on September 13th, 2020, Gladys Knight and Patti LaBelle came together for a legendary VERZUZ battle. The two went hit-for-hit on Instagram Live and Apple Music, tackling LaBelle's “Somebody Loves You Baby (You Know Who It Is),” Gladys Knight & The Pips' “Midnight Train To Georgia,” and more.