Sept. 4: Merald “Bubba” Knight of Gladys Knight & The Pips is 78 today.

"Bubba" Knight, Jr. , from Atlanta, Georgia, is the older brother of lead singer R&B and Soul singer Gladys Knight. Bubba was the unofficial leader of the group, and was instrumental in handling the Pips' business matters.


The musical careers of Gladys Knight & The Pips spanned from 1953 to 1989. The group was best known for their string of hit singles 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 Bubba, and their cousins Edward Patten and William Guest, as backup singers.


Gladys Knight & the Pips embarked on their final tour in 1988. The Pips retired, while Gladys Knight began scoring hits of her own with singles such as "Men" (1991) and "I Don't Want to Know" (1994).

The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996, the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2001 and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Rhythm & Blues Foundation in 1998. Ms. Knight, continues to tour and record occasionally. Edward Patten died in February 2005, of complications from his long bout with diabetes.


Gladys Knight & the Pips are ranked as the ninth most successful act in The Billboard Top 40 Book of R&B and Hip-Hop Hits (2005). They were also ranked #91 on VH1's Top 100 Artists of Rock n' Roll. In June 2006,


Gladys Knight & the Pips were inducted into the Apollo Theater's Hall Of Fame in New York City.

Press links below to view You Tube videos:
-- "Midnight Train to Georgia"
-- "I Heard It Through The Grapevine"
-- "I've Got To Use My Imagination"