The road to Gladys Knight’s storied five decades of Grammy Award winning and platinum success was grounded in family and her humble beginnings in Atlanta, Georgia. The daughter of a postal worker and his wife, young Gladys began her singing pursuits at the age of 7 alongside her siblings, Merald and Brenda Knight; and cousins Elenor and William Guest. Together the family members formed The Pips---named after another cousin, James "Pip" Woods.  Boasting unbeatable talent and vocal ability---marked by a slew of amateur show wins---helped them become local celebrities in their native Atlanta.

While their success was relatively “big,” both Elenor and Brenda left the group to pursue married lives, and were soon replaced by cousin, Edward Patten and family friend, Langston George (who would depart the group before they scored their Motown record deal). With a teenage Gladys as the rich voiced leader of the group and the Pips behind her dancing and harmonizing, they were a solid set--opening for more popular acts like Jackie Wilson and Sam Cooke on the “Chitlin’ Circuit.”

They found earlier success on Vee Jay Records with two R&B hit singles--- "Every Beat of My Heart," and "Letter Full of Tears"---but the group unfortunately didn’t benefit financially from them. 

In 1962, after a few years on the road, Gladys decided to leave the group to start a family with her first husband, James Newman. The couple had two kids together-- James Gaston Newman III and Kenya Maria Newman. Away for two years, Gladys rejoined The Pips---who maintained touring on their own---as a means to support her family.

After releasing a slew of moderate R&B hits, the group caught the attention of famed Motown CEO, Berry Gordy. In 1966, the group was signed to the label---home of The Supremes, The Temptations and Smokie Robinson---and landed their first crossover hit records with 1967’s “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” which peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. That would be followed by “If I Were Your Woman” and “Friendship Train.”

Before severing ties with Motown, Gladys Knight and the Pips recorded one more single, “Neither One of Us,” which earned them a Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Performance in 1973. After signing with new label, Buddah Records, The Pips saw released a string of #1 R&B hits--- "Midnight Train to Georgia," "I've Got to Use My Imagination," "Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me."

Later signed to Columbia Records in the early 80’s, Gladys and the Pips recorded three albums--About Love, Touch, Visions and All Our Love (which included their Grammy-winning hit “Love Overboard”) before disbanding, making way for Gladys’ solo career.

As a solo act, Gladys has scored four Grammy Awards, a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction, the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Rhythm & Blues Foundation, BET’s Lifetime Achievement Award, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and now the 2011 Soul Train Legend Award.