Gladys Knight and The Pips

Gladys began winning talent contests at the age of four and offers for a showbiz career were frequent, though her mother insisted that Gladys finish her education first.

Gladys Knight and The Pips were comparatively late arrivals at the Motown party, already well established when signed to the soul subsidiary in 1966. Like every woman on the label who wasn't called Diana Ross, Knight found herself some way down the pecking order when the songs were being handed out. Yet with the Pips' subtle promptings and an initial helping hand from producer Norman Whitfield she cut some glorious 45's.

Gritty and intense, Knight was arguably the best female voice Berry Gordy ever signed, equally at home with up-tempo tracks (I Heard It Through The Grapevine) or on mighty ballads such as If I Were Your Woman.