Happy birthday, Gladys!

Arts and Culture

Happy birthday, Gladys!

Springfield native Pete Johnson played bass for more than a year in the '60s for Gladys Knight.

Famous singer Gladys Knight (second from left) joined l-r:)Meredith Vieira, Star Jones, Joy Behar and Debbie Matenopoulos on "THE VIEW".

Singer Gladys Knight arrives at Clive Davis & The Recording Academy's 2013 Pre-GRAMMY Gala and Salute to Industry Icons honoring Antonio "L.A." Reid at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on February 9, 2013 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

Comedian Tony Rock and recording artist Gladys Knight attend the BET Networks' 2013 Los Angeles Upfront at Montage Beverly Hills on April 2, 2013 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for BET)

Singer Gladys Knight performs onstage at the 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards Pre-GRAMMY Gala and Salute to Industry Icons honoring L.A. Reid held at The Beverly Hilton on February 9, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for NARAS)

Gladys Knight attends the Broadway opening night for "Motown: The Musical" at Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on April 14, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)

Singer Gladys Knight and actress Halle Berry attend the 44th NAACP Image Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on February 1, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Mark Davis/Getty Images for NAACP Image Awards)

Singer Gladys Knight and actor Dennis Haysbert attend the 44th NAACP Image Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on February 1, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Mark Davis/Getty Images for NAACP Image Awards)

Recording artist Gladys Knight and comedian Tony Rock speak onstage at the BET Networks 2013 New York Upfront on April 16, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Brad Barket/Getty Images for BET)

Singers Jennifer Hudson (L) and Gladys Knight perform onstage at Clive Davis & The Recording Academy's 2013 Pre-GRAMMY Gala and Salute to Industry Icons honoring Antonio "L.A." Reid at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on February 9, 2013 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Musician Gladys Knight(L) and Selita Ebanks attend the The Moet & Chandon Suite at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 8, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Brad Barket/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)

Singer Gladys Knight attends LEE DANIELS' THE BUTLER Los Angeles premiere, hosted by TWC, Budweiser and FIJI Water, Purity Vodka and Stack Wines, held at Regal Cinemas L.A. Live on August 12, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for TWC)

Singer Gladys Knight attends the Soul Train Awards 2013 at the Orleans Arena on November 8, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

(L-R) Actor Tom Hanks, actress Rita Wilson, singer Gladys Knight, William McDowell and singer/songwriter Carole King attend Clive Davis and the Recording Academy's 2012 Pre-GRAMMY Gala and Salute to Industry Icons Honoring Richard Branson held at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on February 11, 2012 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images For The Recording Academy)

In this April 23, 2012 photo released by ABC, singer Gladys Knight, right, and her partner Tristan MacManus perform on the celebrity dance competetion series, "Dancing with the Stars," in Los Angeles.

Interior photo at Gladys Knight & Ron Winans Chicken & Waffles restaurant in Lithonia on Monday Jan. 23, 2012. The Peach State? Maybe we oughta rethink that. From Waffle House's popularity among hungover college students and elderly homegrown terrorists alike to Gladys Knight's Chicken & Waffles, waffles are Georgia's unappreciated power meal. For Go Guide story on the best waffle-rys to enjoy our own version of nooks and crannies.

Gladys Knight, the Atlanta native and R&B legend, was cut by "Dancing with the Stars" on April 24, 2012, finishing eighth during the 14th season of the program. Here she is with her dance partner Tristan MacManus.

Singer Gladys Knight during the Indianapolis 500 Festival Parade part of the 96th running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 26, 2012 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)

Singers Rod Stewart and Gladys Knight arrives at the 32nd Anniversary Carousel Of Hope Gala at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on October 23, 2010 in Beverly Hills, California.

Stevie Wonder and Gladys Knight perform "That's What Friends Are For" at the amfAR New York Gala to kick off Fall 2011 Fashion Week at Cipriani Wall Street on February 9, 2011 in New York City.

(L-R) Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, Elton John and Dionne Warwick pose backstage the amfAR New York Gala to kick off Fall 2011 Fashion Week at Cipriani Wall Street on February 9, 2011 in New York City.

Gladys Knight speaks on stage in celebration of National Train Day at Union Station on May 7, 2011 in Washington, DC.

Smokey Robinson (L) and Gladys Knight perform at the 'Michael Forever Tribute Concert' at Millennium Stadium on October 8, 2011 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Tim Alban/Getty Images)

Gladys Knight accepts SoulTrain Legend Award at the 2011 Soul Train Awards at The Fox Theatre on November 17, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images)

Model Beverly Johnson (L), singer Gladys Knight, and Natalie Fuller (R) arrive at the inaugural Global Down Syndrome Foundation's Be Beautiful Be Yourself Gala on November 16, 2011 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images)

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Springfield native Pete Johnson played bass for more than a year in the '60s for Gladys Knight.

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