Gladys Knight's Glory Days

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Photos of native Atlantan legend and the Pips

Gladys Knight and the Pips were originally formed in 1952, when Gladys was just eight years old. They had their first hit record for Motown, "I Heard It Through the Grapevine", in 1967.

After 36 years of touring and recording together, Gladys Knight and the Pips amassed five Grammy Awards, induction into the Grammy Hall of Fame (1973), the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1996) and a plaque for Gladys on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

As a group, Gladys Knight and the Pips recorded nine No. 1 singles, including: "Midnight Train to Georgia", "I've Got to Use My Imagination", "Love Overboard" and "If I Were Your Woman."

In 1997, Gladys filmed the PBS special, "In Performance at the White House" with Bill and Hillary Clinton as honored guests.

Gladys Knight and the Pips (from left, Edward Patten, in wheelchair, Merald 'Bubba' Knight and William Guest) were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996. They released their final joint album ("All Our Love") in 1988.

In 2002, Gladys and two original members of the Pips (her brother Merald "Bubba" Knight, far right, and William Guest) returned to the site of their start as performers; the Royal Peacocke Lounge on Atlanta's Auburn Avenue

In 1997, Gladys Knight and gospel singer Ron Winans jointly opened the first of what would be several chicken and waffles restaurants in metro Atlanta across from City Hall East on Ponce de Leon Ave.

In January 2006, Gladys performed a musical tribute at the funeral for Coretta Scott King at Ebenezer Baptist Church.

Since launching her solo career in 1989, Gladys Knight has toured and recorded frequently and is currently a featured performer in the "Divas With Heart" benefit tour.

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Gladys Knight and the Pips were originally formed in 1952, when Gladys was just eight years old. They had their first hit record for Motown, "I Heard It Through the Grapevine", in 1967.

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