Gladys Knight earned her four Grammy Awards with the help of her band, called Gladys Knight & The Pips. She recorded some of the best songs during the 1960s and 1970s and beyond as a solo artist, and with her band Gladys Knight and the Pips.
We look back at the 6 Songs From The ‘Empress of Soul’:
6. Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me (1974)
When Gladys Knight & The Pips’ recorded their own version of Ray Price’s song, it peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100, and even topped the Hot Soul Singles for two-week straights.
Later then, it was certified gold by the RIAA for having to sell one million copies and reaching the top 10 in the UK.
5. Midnight Train To Georgia (1973)
The number one hit single that the group recorded — it won the 1974 Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance By A Duo, Group Or Chorus.
Midnight Train To Georgia would later become the group’s signature song that gave them one of the biggest hits in the UK.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4KZs0mLJiQ
4. Licence To Kill (1989)
When Gladys was selected to sing the soundtrack for Timothy Dalton’s second and final James Bond movie of the same title, Gladys had the chance to sing the song written by Narada Michael and Jeffrey Cohen. She recorded the song in 1989.
3. Love Overboard (1987)
A Grammy-award-winning single by the group that reached the Top 40 hit for Gladys’ group and it was the first one in over a decade. However, it was also Gladys Knight & The Pips’ final Pop Top 40 release.
2. Neither One Of Us (Wants To Be The First To Say Goodbye) (1973)
Released from their album Neither One of Us in 1973 — it went on at number one for four weeks straight on the US Soul Singles chart. Peaking at number two on the Billboard Hot 100, and the very last hits they ever released with Motown before going to Buddah Records.
1. I Heard It Through The Grapevine (1967)
Smokey Robinson & the Miracles recorded the song in 1966, but their version was turned down by Motown owner Berry Gordy because he wanted it to be a stronger song. So the writers, Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong went on to ask Marvin Gaye in 1967 to record the song, but Gordy also rejected.
Whitfield then produced a version with Gladys Knight & the Pips, Gordy was pleased and agreed to release it as a single in September 1967.