Gladys Knight Biography (1944-)

Full name, Gladys Maria Knight; born May 28, 1944, in Atlanta, GA; daughter of Merald (a gospel singer) and Elizabeth (maiden name, Woods) Knight; marriedJames Newman, 1960 (divorced, 1964); married Barry Handerson, October, 1974(divorced, 1979); married Les Brown (a motivational speaker), August 29, 1995(divorced, 1997); married William McDowell, April 12, 2001; children: (firstmarriage) Kenya, Jimmy; (second marriage) Shanga-Ali. Addresses: Office: Smakeji Inc., 2801 Yorkshire Ave., Henderson, NV 89014-2837.; Manager: Jimmy Newman Management, 2110 East Flamingo, Suite 300, Las Vegas, NV 89119.

Nationality
American
Gender
Female
Occupation
Actress, singer, producer
Birth Details
May 28, 1944
Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Famous Works

  • CREDITS
  • Film Appearances
  • Herself, Save the Children, Paramount, 1973
  • Maria Wilson, Pipe Dreams, 1976
  • Herself, Wrestlemania IV, 1988
  • Mrs. McCormac, Twenty Bucks, Triton Pictures, 1993
  • Soloist, The Messiah XXI, 2000
  • Television Appearances
  • Series
  • Guest panelist, Celebrity Sweepstakes, 1974
  • Herself, The Gladys Knight & the Pips Show, NBC, 1975
  • Diane Richmond, Charlie & Co., CBS, 1985
  • Movies
  • Mona Lisa, Desperado, 1987
  • Dr. Donna Robinson, An Enemy among Us, CBS, 1987
  • Miniseries
  • Herself, Say It Loud: A Celebration of Black Music in America, VH1, 2001
  • Specials
  • The George Burns One-Man Show, 1977
  • Uptown: A Tribute to the Apollo Theatre, 1980
  • 100 Years of Golden Hits, 1981
  • The Suzanne Somers Special, CBS, 1982
  • Guest, Mac Davis Special: The Music of Christmas, NBC, 1983
  • CBS' Happy New Year America 1984, CBS, 1984
  • Host, CBS' Happy New Year America 1986, CBS, 1985
  • Walt Disney World's 15th Birthday Celebration, ABC, 1986
  • Sisters in the Name of Love, HBO, 1986
  • Super Night at the Super Bowl, CBS, 1987
  • The Mrs. America Pageant, syndicated, 1987
  • Gladys Knight and the Pips with Ray Charles, syndicated, 1987
  • A Blues Session: B.B. King & Friends, Cinemax, 1987
  • That's What Friends Are For: AIDs Concert, Showtime, 1988
  • Herself, Sesame Street Special (also known as Put Down the Duckie), PBS, 1988
  • Kenny Rogers Classic Weekend, ABC, 1988
  • Host, CBS' Happy New Year America 1988, CBS, 1988
  • Detroit host, CBS All-American Thanksgiving Day Parade, CBS, 1988
  • Diet America Challenge, CBS, 1989
  • All-Star Tribute to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, NBC, 1989
  • Walt Disney World's 4th of July Spectacular, syndicated, 1990
  • Night of 100 Stars III, NBC, 1990
  • Herself, Motown 30: What's Goin' On!, CBS, 1990
  • Herself, Ray Charles: 50 Years in Music, Uh-huh!, Fox, 1991
  • Host, Gladys Knight's Holiday Family Reunion Concert, syndicated,1991
  • Today at 40, NBC, 1992
  • Cast, "The Hallelujah Chorus: A Soulful Celebration," Great Performances' 20th Anniversary Special, PBS, 1992
  • Family Night, syndicated, 1992
  • National Memorial Day Concert, PBS, 1993
  • More of the Best of the Hollywood Palace, ABC, 1993
  • The American Music Awards 20th Anniversary Special, ABC, 1993
  • Rhythm, Country & Blues: An "In the Spotlight" Special, PBS, 1994
  • Ralph Emery: On the Record with Vince, TNN, 1994
  • Herself, The Jackson Family Honors, NBC, 1994
  • Herself, The History of Rock 'N' Roll, Vol. 3 (also known as Britain Invades, America Fights Back), 1995
  • Herself, The History of Rock 'N' Roll, Vol. 5 (also known as The Sounds of Soul), syndicated, 1995
  • Sinbad's Summer Jam: 70's Soul Music Festival, 1995
  • Merv Griffin's Fourth Annual New Year's Eve Live TV Special, syndicated, 1995
  • Christmas in Rockefeller Center, CNBC, 1996
  • The 1996 Summer Olympics, NBC, 1996
  • Soul Train Music Awards: 11th Anniversary, The WB, 1997
  • Gladys Knight, PBS, 1997
  • AMC in Concert at the Rainbow Room, AMC, 1997
  • Herself, League of Legends, 1998
  • Intimate Portrait: Della Reese, Lifetime, 1999
  • The BET 20th Anniversary Celebration, Black Entertainment Television, 2000
  • Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration, CBS, 2001
  • Herself, An Evening of Stars: A Celebration of Educational Excellence, syndicated, 2001
  • Aaliyah: The E! True Hollywood Story, E! Entertainment Television,2001
  • Aaliyah: A Life Cut Short, E! Entertainment Television, 2001
  • Gladys Knight: A Knight's Tale, Arts and Entertainment, 2002
  • Awards Presentations
  • The 19th Annual Grammy Awards, 1977
  • Herself, The 25th Annual Grammy Awards, 1983
  • The 12th Annual People's Choice Awards, CBS, 1986
  • The American Music Awards, ABC, 1987
  • The 29th Annual Grammy Awards, CBS, 1987
  • The Second Annual Soul Train Music Awards, syndicated, 1988
  • The 14th Annual People's Choice Awards, CBS, 1988
  • The American Music Awards, ABC, 1989
  • The American Music Awards, ABC, 1990
  • The Essence Awards, CBS, 1992
  • The American Music Awards, ABC, 1992
  • The 24th Annual NAACP Image Awards, NBC, 1992
  • The American Music Awards, ABC, 1993
  • The American Music Awards, ABC, 1994
  • The 8th Annual Soul Train Music Awards, syndicated, 1994
  • The 26th Annual NAACP Image Awards, NBC, 1994
  • Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards, syndicated, 1995
  • The Fifth Annual Trumpet Awards, TBS, 1997
  • Host, The Sixth Annual Trumpet Awards, TBS, 1998
  • The 2000 Trumpet Awards, TBS, 2000
  • The 15th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards, syndicated, 2000
  • The Essence Awards 2001, Fox, 2001
  • The 10th Annual Trumpet Awards, TBS, 2002
  • Episodic
  • The Andy Williams Show, NBC, 1970
  • Host, "Ailey Celebrates Ellington," The CBS Festival of Lively Arts for Young People, CBS, 1974
  • The Midnight Special, 1975
  • Herself, The Muppet Show, syndicated, 1980
  • Herself, "The Good Life," The Jeffersons, CBS, 1983
  • Herself, "Too Pooped to Pip," Benson, ABC, 1984
  • Herself, Soul Train, 1988
  • Herself, "Three Girls Three," A Different World, NBC, 1988
  • Herself, "That's What Friends Are For," Out All Night, NBC, 1992
  • Natalie, "School Ties," New York Undercover, Fox, 1994
  • Natalie, "To Protect and Serve," New York Undercover, Fox, 1994
  • Natalie, "Garbage," New York Undercover, Fox, 1994
  • Herself, "The Runaways," Baywatch, NBC, 1995
  • Voice of Chocolate the Donkey, "The Bremen Town Musicians," Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child (animated), HBO, 1995
  • Guest host, The Vicki Lawrence Show, 1996
  • Odelle Jones, "One Degree of Separation," Living Single, Fox, 1997
  • Odelle Jones, "Never Can Say Goodbye," Living Single, Fox, 1997
  • Janice King, Jamie's mother, "Save the Drama for Your Mama," The JamieFoxx Show, The WB, 1997
  • Herself, The Roseanne Show, syndicated, 1998
  • Herself, "Seeing Green," Ally McBeal, Fox, 1999
  • Janice King, Jamie's mother, "Always and Forever," The Jamie Foxx Show, The WB, 2001
  • Herself, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, 2001
  • Also appeared in Sesame Street, PBS; Dionne and Friends; Behind the Music; At Home With ... , HGTV; as contestant, "GrammyFamily Feud," Family Feud.
  • Television Work
  • Specials
  • Executive producer and creator, Sisters in the Name of Love, HBO,1986
  • Coproducer, Gladys Knight's Holiday Family Reunion Concert, syndicated, 1991
  • RECORDINGS
  • Albums; with the Pips
  • Letter Full of Tears, Collectables, 1961
  • Gladys Knight & the Pips, Sphere Sound, 1964
  • Everybody Needs Love, Motown, 1967
  • Gladys Knight, Columbia, 1967
  • Feelin' Bluesy, Motown, 1968
  • Silk & Soul, Motown, 1968
  • Nitty Gritty, Motown, 1969
  • All in a Knights Work, Soul, 1970
  • If I Were Your Woman, Motown, 1971
  • Standing Ovation, Motown, 1971
  • That Special Time of the Year, Columbia, 1971
  • Help Me Make It through the Night, Motown, 1973
  • Gladys Knight & the Pips, Trip, 1973
  • Imagination, Pair, 1973
  • Neither One of Us, Motown, 1973
  • All I Need Is Time, Motown, 1973
  • Gladys Knight & the Pips, Hallmark, 1974
  • Knight Time, Soul, 1974
  • Claudine, Buddah, 1974
  • I Feel a Song, Buddah, 1974
  • A Little Knight Music, Soul, 1975
  • How Do You Say Goodbye, Springboard, 1975
  • I Heard It Through the Grapevine, Pickwick, 1975
  • Pow, Pickwick, 1975
  • Pipe Dreams, Buddah, 1976
  • Take Me in Your Arms, MFP, 1976
  • Bless This House, Buddah, 1976
  • Still Together, Buddah, 1976
  • Love Is Always on Your Mind, Buddah, 1977
  • The One and Only, Buddah, 1978
  • Gladys Knight, Columbia, 1979
  • Miss Gladys Knight, Buddah, 1979
  • Memories, Buddah, 1979
  • Gladys Knight & the Pips, Up Front, 1979
  • Spotlight, PRT, 1980
  • About Love, Columbia, 1980
  • Take Me Back, Manhattan, 1980
  • Nightful, Manhattan, 1980
  • First Shot, Manhattan, 1980
  • Funky, Manhattan, 1980
  • Touch, Columbia, 1981
  • Visions, Columbia, 1983
  • Life, Collectibles, 1985
  • All Our Love, MCA, 1988
  • Every Beat of My Heart, Chameleon, 1989
  • Christmas Album, Special Music, 1989
  • Good Woman, MCA, 1991
  • Just for You, MCA, 1994
  • Room in Your Heart, Drive Archive, 1995
  • Lost Live Album, Buddah, 1996
  • Many Different Roads, 1998
  • Also recorded Gladys Knights & the Pips, Maxx; Better Fullof Tears, Accord; Glad to Be, Allegiance; Teen Anguish, Topline; and Teen Anguish, Vol. 3, Charley.
  • WRITINGS
  • Autobiography
  • Gladys Knight: Between Each Line of Pain and Glory, Hyperion, 1997

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

    Books
    • Contemporary Black Biography, Volume 16, Gale, 1997
    • Contemporary Musicians, Volume 1, Gale, 1989
    • Notable Black American Women, Book 2, Gale, 1996