James “Pip” Woods, a relative of the group, served as inspiration for their choice of the name The Pips. In 1955, they began competing in talent shows in Atlanta, where they were raised, and they have since won all of them. Their continued success caught the attention of Brunswick Records, which led to a record deal in 1957.
However, the two albums they released under Brunswick had little of an effect on the charts. The Pips were given the chance to open for prominent R&B artists like Jackie Wilson and Sam Cooke despite this setback. After Brunswick abandoned the group, Brenda Knight and Eleanor Guest both left The Pips in order to focus on starting families.
They were soon replaced by Edward Patten, another cousin, and Langston George, a close friend of the group.
Gladys Knight & the Pips recorded “Every Beat of My Heart,” a song by Johnny Otis, in 1961. A small Atlanta label by the name of Huntom Records took on the single’s promotion because they lacked a record label to support them, and they secured a distribution deal with Vee-Jay Records for its release.
The trio relocated to New York, where they performed for Fury Records. But they quickly discovered that “Every Beat of My Heart” was already becoming famous while depriving them of their rightful income.
Does Gladys Knight have any children?
Yes, the American singer-songwriter Gladys Knight is a parent. James Newman, Kenya Newman, and Shanga Hankerson are her three children. She has James Newman as a child from her first union with Barry Hankerson. She has two children from her second marriage to Les Brown: Kenya Newman and Shanga Hankerson.
How old was Gladys Knight when she had her first child?
Gladys Knight has had four marriages and three children overall. She got pregnant at age 16 and wed guitarist James ‘Jimmy’ Newman in 1960.