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Gladys Knight was busy in the '80s with a sitcom and as part of Dionne and Friends. Source: https://www.pinterest.com (May be subject to copyright) |
Then, in the span of just over a year in the mid 1980s she was everywhere. She was in a TV show with a comedic legend, then part of a group that went all the way to the top of the charts while raising money and awareness for a very important cause.
I hadn’t thought of Gladys Knight in a long time. When I saw on the Grammys she was awarded a lifetime achievement award, it took me back to that time when I was just getting into music.
By reputation
Initially, my entire experience with her was in reference to “Gladys Knight and the Pips”. It was just by reputation. Only through research right now, did I discover that I knew some of their songs, including “I Heard it Through the Grapevine”; and “Midnight Train to Georgia”, which hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in 1973.
Initially, my entire experience with her was in reference to “Gladys Knight and the Pips”. It was just by reputation. Only through research right now, did I discover that I knew some of their songs, including “I Heard it Through the Grapevine”; and “Midnight Train to Georgia”, which hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in 1973.
Flipping out
The first time I really saw Gladys Knight was in the Fall of 1985, when I was just starting Grade 11. I always looked forward to the fall preview issue of “TV Guide” which was devoted to profiling all the new shows debuting that Fall.
The first time I really saw Gladys Knight was in the Fall of 1985, when I was just starting Grade 11. I always looked forward to the fall preview issue of “TV Guide” which was devoted to profiling all the new shows debuting that Fall.
The previous year “The Cosby Show” burst onto the scene and was a ratings smash. So, like most other hits, competing networks tried to capitalize on the popularity of the show by producing their own knock-offs. In this case, they tried to emulate comedy centred on a family with two working parents and a group of too-smart-for-their-own-good children. ABC released a show that would quickly eclipse that initial motivation, called “Growing Pains”.
CBS released a show that more closely resembled “The Cosby Show”. It had caught my eye because Channel 7 had been advertising it for weeks in advance and I read the preview in “TV Guide”.
“Charlie and Company” also starred a comedian turned actor. This time it was Flip Wilson playing the title character of Charlie, who worked for the department of highways. Playing his wife, who was a school teacher, was Gladys Knight in her first regular television role. The children were played by Kristoff St. John, Fran Robinson and Jaleel White.
St. John would go on to play Neil Winters on “The Young and the Restless”, from 1991 until his death in 2019, earning 11 Daytime Emmy nominations and two wins.
White went on to one of the most iconic comedic roles of the 1990s – Steve Urkel in “Family Matters” from 1989 to 1998.
“Charlie and Company” proved not to be the ratings hit “The Cosby Show” was, lasting one season for a total of 18 episodes. I do recall watching the first few episodes and not finding it that funny, so I never went back.
Grandfather of the blog
Another odd note. In 1990, I started doing research on TV, movies and music from 1985. I was attending the University of Alberta at the time and started reading the old entertainment sections of “The Edmonton Journal” on microfiche. I started again after I left the university, in the Fall of 1996. I had intended to write some sort of memoir or incorporate this material in a play I wrote on my high school years. Ironically, that project has morphed into this blog.
Grandfather of the blog
Another odd note. In 1990, I started doing research on TV, movies and music from 1985. I was attending the University of Alberta at the time and started reading the old entertainment sections of “The Edmonton Journal” on microfiche. I started again after I left the university, in the Fall of 1996. I had intended to write some sort of memoir or incorporate this material in a play I wrote on my high school years. Ironically, that project has morphed into this blog.
The first newspaper I looked at had a preview of a new show – “Charlie and Company”.
Getting friendly
It wouldn’t be that long until I saw Gladys Knight again. A year later, in 1986, she released “That’s What Friends Are For” as part of Dionne and Friends, made up of Knight, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, and of course Dionne Warwick. The song went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, and was the top single of 1986.
It wouldn’t be that long until I saw Gladys Knight again. A year later, in 1986, she released “That’s What Friends Are For” as part of Dionne and Friends, made up of Knight, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, and of course Dionne Warwick. The song went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, and was the top single of 1986.
“That’s What Friends Are For” was a fundraiser for AIDS and AIDS research, and ended up raising more than $3 million. It also won the Grammy for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, and for Song of the Year.
The years after
Gladys Knight continues to record and perform, as well as act to this day. She has had guest starring roles in “A Different World”; “JAG”; “30 Rock”; “Hot in Cleveland”; “Hawaii Five-O”; and much more. She also took third place in Season 1 of “The Masked Singer”.
Gladys Knight continues to record and perform, as well as act to this day. She has had guest starring roles in “A Different World”; “JAG”; “30 Rock”; “Hot in Cleveland”; “Hawaii Five-O”; and much more. She also took third place in Season 1 of “The Masked Singer”.
Parting thoughts
Growing up I heard of “Gladys Knight and the Pips”, yet had never seen nor heard them. Then in the span of a little over a year, Gladys Knight had been a regular on a network television situation comedy, which did not fare too well. She was also part of a fundraising single that was a monster hit, both raising millions for AIDS awareness and research, and topping the charts.
Growing up I heard of “Gladys Knight and the Pips”, yet had never seen nor heard them. Then in the span of a little over a year, Gladys Knight had been a regular on a network television situation comedy, which did not fare too well. She was also part of a fundraising single that was a monster hit, both raising millions for AIDS awareness and research, and topping the charts.
She certainly is a versatile performer.
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