GLADYS KNIGHT 

              STILL REIGNS SUPREME                                        

                THE LEGEND LIVES ON

BY: ROBIN ROTH

There she was, April 26th, on stage, Ms. Gladys Knight...I can only say...Brava, electrifying, mesmerizing, amazing, stunning, breathtaking, sensational and emotional… Do I have to go on, because I can!

I went to the new Gladys Knight show at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas expecting to see a legend in concert. However, I did not expect her to be as amazing as she was years ago and to find out she is at the top of her game. What a game she performed indeed. She did two hours and ten minutes of non-stop greatness!

Ms. Knight does more than perform! She takes her audience on a magical, musical, journey. Her show is a true music experience not to be missed. Gladys is not only a superstar and legend but a music Icon in every sense of the word. Her stage presence and smile lit up the stage and her mind-boggling voice lit up our hearts.

Gladys sang all of her mega hits (Grammy and American Music Award winning songs), performed various songs from the past and new songs she recorded coming out in May. She sang all of her phenomenal movie hits (Including the “Theme from Claudine”, “Theme from License to Kill”, “I’ve Got to Use My Imagination” from Forrest Gump, and “I Hope You Dance” from Tyler Perry’s film). She performed classics like “Someone to Watch Over Me" and her hit,“The Way We Were", bringing the house down and pleasing the crowd who gave her 4 standing ovations!  I gave her 6! I would be remiss if I did not mention that Gladys had some help from her 6 brilliant and ultra talented musicians and 5 backup singers. She took one break to change outfits and her brother Bubba took the stage with his talent and wit.

One thing really cool was she expressed words of wisdom and feelings of hope and encouragement for the future in between her songs. Her show flowed and was brilliantly paced. It was flawless. Gladys Knight, without a doubt, opened up the audience’s hearts and souls. We were at all times, laughing, crying, feeling or just diggin’ the music. 

I felt honored and humbled to be a part of her audience. This is a very special person and how lucky are we to have her music. She is truly an American treasure.

FYI: Gladys Knight was born May 28, 1944 in Atlanta, Georgia. At the age of seven in 1952, she won Ted Mack's Original Amateur Hour television show contest. The following year, she, her brother Bubba, sister Brenda, and their cousins William and Eleanor Guest started a singing group called "The Pips" (named after another cousin, James "Pip" Woods). The Pips began to perform and tour, eventually replacing Brenda Knight and Eleanor Guest with cousins Langston George and Edward Patten in 1959.

The group was best known for their succession of hit singles on Motown's "Soul" record label and Buddah Records from 1967 to 1975, including "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" (1967) and "Midnight Train to Georgia" (1973). The longest-lived incarnation of the act featured Gladys Knight on lead vocals, with The Pips, who included her brother Merald "Bubba" Knight and their cousins Edward Patten and William Guest, as backup singers.

Special Thanks to Carly for the photo.