There is only one Gladys Knight, and a surefire way for area residents to find that out would be to attend the Motown legend’s upcoming concert at the Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, October 25, 2014 at 8 p.m.
At 70, Knight proves that greatness endures and her fans as well as famed record label, Motown Records and anyone who simply love music are in for a treat.
“She’s nothing but fun. Great, great music and a timeless voice,” said Sabrina Matthews, 59 of Temple Hills, Maryland, who said she is forgoing her daughter’s fifth wedding anniversary party to attend Knight’s show. “You never know if this could be the last time she comes to our area.”
During a September show in Pennsylvania, Knight dazzled for more than 90 minutes. Unlike her record label mate, Diana Ross, the “Midnight Train to Georgia,” singer never left the stage for a wardrobe change, something Ross, the pre-eminent Diva, does several times throughout her concerts.
Accompanied by a nine-piece band and three background singers, Knight walked onto the stage at the Sands Bethlehem Event Center with the grace of a beauty queen. She appeared to survey the excited audience and understand their desire, and then she proceeded to deliver hit after hit as a true tour de force and one of the greatest vocalists to ever grace a record or a CD.
At one point, she was joined on stage by her brother and former Pip, Merald “Bubba” Knight, who helped to lead the band into a medley of hits by Motown alums like Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, and Ross.
“I will forgive my mom this time for not coming to my anniversary party,” said Crystal Wilkinson, 37, of Landover, Sabrina Matthews’ daughter. “Gladys Knight is special, and my mom is right— it’s not like she’s always here. I’m sure my mother will make it up to me and my husband in a big way.”
A seven-time Grammy winner, Knight began her stellar career as the lead singer of “Gladys Knight and the Pips,” a group that, in addition to brother Merald Knight, included their cousins Edward Patten and William Guest.
The foursome, who has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, released such hit records as “I Heard It through the Grapevine” and “Neither One of Us.”
After the group split in 1989, Knight went on to record numerous solo
albums, and she’s starred or appeared in several television series and big-screen movies, including “The Jeffersons,” “The Jamie Foxx Show” and Tyler Perry’s “I Can Do Bad All By Myself.”
Currently, she stars as the president’s mother in BET/CENTRIC’s “The First Family,” a show that chronicles the fictitious life of the nation’s second black president and his adjustment to living in the White House.
Also, she recently wrapped up filming in New York for the Lifetime television movie “Seasons of Love,” which stars Taraji P. Henson.
“Acting has come natural to me; it’s something that I love to do,” Knight said in a previously published interview.
A humanitarian and philanthropist, Knight continues to be devoted to various causes, including the American Diabetes Association, for which she’s a national spokesperson; the American Cancer Society; the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the Minority AIDS Project; amFAR; and Crisis Intervention.
Knight released a new solo gospel album on September 9 titled, “Where My Heart Belongs.” She told Billboard magazine that she’s on top of the world.
“This album hit me last year,” Knight said. “Because of my work schedule, thank God, I had to grab a week here and there to record. Collecting the music takes the most time.”
For tickets and information about the concert, visit:www.warnertheatredc.com