GLADYS KNIGHT / THE ARCADA THEATRE / Thursday, November 13th, 2025
Gladys Knight got her start in show business at the ripe old age 8 of when she appeared on … and then won … Ted Mack’s Amateur Hour (sort of the American Idol of its day) back in 1952 by performing Nat “King” Cole's #1 hit “Too Young.”
Later, teaming with her brother Bubba and her cousins William Guest and Edward Patten (dubbed “The Pips” after the nickname of another cousin, William “Pips” Woods, who became their manager), the group signed their first recording contract five years later with Brunswick Records, recording their first album and chart single in 1960, “Every Beat Of My Heart,” which was also picked up by Vee Jay Records (from right here in Chicago), peaking at #6 the following year.
The group took a short break when Gladys got married and started a family, but by 1966 they were back in full swing, signing a new record deal with Motown Records where they enjoyed their first wave of success with hit records like “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” (#1, 1968 … their version preceded Marvin Gaye’s top charter by a year), “The End Of Our Road (#11, 1968), my personal favorite “If I Were Your Woman” (#5, 1971) and “Neither One Of Us” (#1, 1973), at which point they jumped ship to Buddah Records, enjoying even greater popularity and chart success with Top Ten smashes like “Midnight Train To Georgia” (#1, 1973), “I’ve Got To Use My Imagination” (#4, 1974), “Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me” (#2, 1974), “On And On” (#5, 1974) and their version of “The Way We Were” (coupled with “Try To Remember” and reaching #9 in 1975.)
We saw 81 year old Gladys Knight perform at The Arcada Theatre last Thursday night (11/13) and, all cards on the table, approached the concert with a little bit of apprehension after hearing stories about Knight appearing frail and disoriented on stage, sometimes losing her place and forgetting the words mid-song, even with the aid of a teleprompter. (Almost immediately after purchasing our tickets, stories began circulating about her son filing an elder abuse case against her current husband, stating that Gladys was being carted around the country and put out on stage solely for the profit of her management team, despite the potential of additional damage to both her mental and physical health.) Knight herself issued a statement at the time stating that "I'm sorry that my health and performances have been misrepresented. I want my fans and those concerned to rest assured I am doing very well for someone who has been on stage for three quarters of a century ... hard to believe, right? I'm healthy and happy and I'm excited to get back on the road and on stage - see you soon."
We can report that the show WE saw featured Gladys Knight in strong voice despite looking very frail and delicate on stage. The Arcada Theatre was a full house Thursday night, filled with loving fans who had come to see a true legend perform.
Helped out on stage by her three female back-up singers and backed by a young, uptown-funky sounding band, they launched into a series of up-tempo tunes that even featured a few side moves by Gladys (although I will admit that they did look a little forced and out of character for an 81 year old woman, even if she IS a diva!)
The reason why her all-male backup trio of The Pips has been replaced by an all-female trio became evident and obvious several times during the show …
If Gladys found herself unable to sing a few lines here and there, these ladies were ready with precision timing to step in and cover those lead vocals until Gladys could regroup and take over again.
The love between Gladys Knight and her audience were evident throughout the show. We were blessed to be seeing a true legend perform that night, knowing that there probably aren’t too many more live shows in her future. Gladys reciprocated the love by waving and blowing kisses to the crowd all night long. (At one point an older female fan from the audience made her way up on stage and gave Gladys a loving hug. While security did eventually help this woman back to her seat, it was clear to the crowd that this was simply a showing of love and admiration and no threat to the performer.)
Knight performed her entire one hour show on her feet … all the more ironic because her three background singers … and even her bass player … had chairs on stage that they used, periodically sitting down throughout the concert ... despite all of them likely being around half her age!
To my ears, the best two songs she performed Thursday Night were two of my least favorites … “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” and “That’s What Friends Are For” ... but they both sounded great! (Sadly, my all-time favorite Gladys Knight song, “If I Were Your Woman,” was one of the ones that she had to bow out of, losing her place as well as the lyrics, allowing the trio to perform a very brief rendition instead.)
While she may be one, Gladys did not take on the appearance of a diva on stage, dressed somewhat casually and comfortably in a pants suit. (Truth be told, she looked more like teacher Barbara Howard from “Abbott Elementary” than she did Gladys Knight! Her opening act, Harold Dawson, who was VERY good by the way, had more glitter on his jacket than Gladys' entire stage entourage combined!) Frannie was able to snap a few pictures that are shared throughout this posting, as is The Gladys Knight and the Pips HIT LIST, featuring all of her Top 40 entries on both the Pop and the R&B Charts, which you'll find listed below.
I’m glad we had the chance to see her … as the owner of the very crowded restaurant doing booming business across the street told us during dinner, “It isn’t every night you have Gladys Knight playing across the street!” The audience was moved to tears several times during her one hour performance … yes, saddened by the state of her current performing abilities, but also so appreciative of all the joy and great music she has given us over the years.
Life on stage is all Gladys Knight has ever known. We've all heard the old cliché, “from 8 to 80” … but Gladys has LIVED it … and taken us all along for the ride every step of the way.
Kent Kotal
Forgotten Hits
THE GLADYS KNIGHT AND THE PIPS HIT LIST |
POP |
R&B |
|
|
1961 |
Every Beat Of My
Heart (shown as The Pips) |
45 |
1 |
|
1961 |
Every Beat Of My Heart |
6 |
15 |
|
1962 |
Letter Full Of Tears |
17 |
3 |
|
1964 |
Giving Up |
38 |
6 |
|
1967 |
Everybody Needs Love |
38 |
3 |
|
1967 |
I Heard It Through The Grapevine |
1 |
1 |
|
1968 |
The End Of Our Road |
11 |
5 |
|
1968 |
It Should Have Been Me |
38 |
9 |
|
1968 |
I Wish It Would Rain |
37 |
15 |
|
1969 |
Didn't You Know (You'd Have To Cry Sometime) |
57 |
11 |
|
1969 |
The Nitty Gritty |
19 |
2 |
|
1969 |
Friendship Train |
17 |
2 |
|
1970 |
You Need Love Like I Do (Don't You) |
25 |
3 |
|
1970 |
If I Were Your Woman |
5 |
1 |
|
1971 |
I Don't Want To Do Wrong |
9 |
2 |
|
1972 |
Make Me The Woman That You Go Home To |
22 |
3 |
|
1972 |
Help Me Make It Through The Night |
31 |
13 |
|
1973 |
Neither One Of Us (Wants To Be The First To Say Goodbye) |
1 |
1 |
|
1973 |
Daddy Could Swear, I Declare |
15 |
2 |
|
1973 |
Where Peaceful Waters Flow |
23 |
6 |
|
1973 |
All I Need Is Time |
61 |
28 |
|
1973 |
Midnight Train To Georgia |
1 |
1 |
|
1973 |
I've Got To Use My Imagination |
4 |
1 |
|
1974 |
Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me |
2 |
1 |
|
1974 |
On And On |
5 |
2 |
|
1974 |
I Feel A Song (In My Heart) |
11 |
1 |
|
1975 |
Don't Burn Down The Bridge |
21 |
-- |
|
1975 |
Love Finds It's Own Way |
33 |
3 |
|
1975 |
The Way We Were/Try To Remember (Medley) |
9 |
6 |
|
1975 |
Money |
40 |
4 |
|
1975 |
Part Time Love |
22 |
4 |
|
1976 |
Make Yours A Happy Home |
-- |
13 |
|
1976 |
So Sad The Song |
47 |
12 |
|
1977 |
Baby Don't Change Your Mind |
51 |
10 |
|
1978 |
Sorry Doesn't Make It Right |
-- |
24 |
|
1978 |
The One And Only |
143 |
40 |
|
1978 |
It's A Better Than Good Time |
59 |
16 |
|
1980 |
Landlord |
46 |
3 |
|
1980 |
Taste Of Bitter Love |
137 |
38 |
|
1981 |
If That'll Make You Happy |
-- |
37 |
|
1981 |
I Will Fight |
103 |
21 |
|
1983 |
Save The Overtime (For Me) |
61 |
1 |
|
1983 |
You're Number One (In My Book) |
-- |
5 |
|
1985 |
My Time |
102 |
16 |
|
1985 |
Keep Givin' Me Love |
-- |
31 |
|
1985 |
Send It To Me |
-- |
14 |
|
1985 |
Love Overboard |
13 |
1 |
|
1986 |
That's What Friends Are For (shown as Dionne Warwick and Friends: Elton John, Gladys Knight and Stevie Wonder) |
1 |
1 |
|
1988 |
Lovin' On Next To Nothin' |
-- |
3 |
|
1988 |
It's Gonna Take All Our Love |
-- |
29 |
|
1989 |
License To Kill
(James Bond movie theme song) |
-- |
69 |
|
1991 |
Men shown as Gladys Knight |
-- |
2 |
|
1991 |
Superwoman (shown as Gladys Knight) |
-- |
19 |
|
1994 |
I Don't Want To Know (shown as Gladys Knight) |
113 |
32 |
|
1995 |
Next Time (shown as Gladys Knight) |
-- |
30 |
|
1996 |
Missing You (shown as Brandy, Tamia, Gladys Knight and Chaka Khan) |
15 |
10 |
