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marie knight

Biography

Marie Knight (née Roach), born around 1920-1925 (sources vary on exact year and place, possibly Attapulgus, Georgia, Sanford, Florida, or Brooklyn, NY), grew up in Newark, New Jersey, in a Church of God in Christ family. She began singing in church at age 5, became a youth choir soloist by 9, and taught herself piano. Starting in 1939, she toured the gospel circuit with evangelist Frances Robinson, made her first recordings in 1946 with the Sunset Four, and soon joined Sister Rosetta Tharpe after being spotted at Harlem's Golden Gate Auditorium. With Tharpe, she performed as the 'sinner' to Tharpe's 'saint,' scoring hits like 'Up Above My Head' (#6 R&B, 1948) and her solo 'Gospel Train' (#9 R&B, 1949).[1][2]

Transitioning solo around 1951, Knight formed the backing group The Millionaires and recorded the 1956 gospel album Songs of the Gospel. She shifted to secular R&B in the late 1950s, releasing on labels like Decca, Mercury, and Okeh, with hits including 'I Can't Sit Down' with Rex Garvin (#94 pop, 1959), 'Come Tomorrow' (1961, later covered by Manfred Mann), and 'Cry Me a River' (#35 R&B, 1965). She toured with Brook Benton, the Drifters, Clyde McPhatter, and in Britain with Humphrey Lyttelton. Tragedy struck in 1949 when her two children and mother died in a Newark fire during a Tharpe tour.[1][2]

In the 1970s, Knight returned to gospel, becoming a minister at Gates of Prayer Church in New York City, and recorded albums like Marie Knight: Today (1975) and Lord, I’ve Tried (1979). She contributed to a 2002 Tharpe tribute and released Let Us Get Together (2007), featuring Rev. Gary Davis songs with guitarist Larry Campbell. Known for her powerful contralto blending gospel fire with R&B soul—genres including northern soul—Knight died August 30, 2009, in Harlem from pneumonia complications, aged 89.[1][2]

Fun Facts

  • Married preacher Albert Knight on December 25, 1941, after a four-day romance, but divorced eight years later to pursue music over being a preacher's wife.[1]
  • Performed dramatic 'Saint and Sinner' routines with Sister Rosetta Tharpe, portraying the sinner to Tharpe's saint during 1940s tours.[1][2]
  • Toured Britain in the late 1950s as guest of jazz bandleader Humphrey Lyttelton and appeared on TV shows like Music 55 (1955) and Six-Five Special (1957).[2][5]
  • Her 1961 single 'Come Tomorrow' was later a hit for Manfred Mann.[1][2]

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

  • Sister Rosetta Tharpe - Discovered her singing and invited her to tour and record as duo partner ('Up Above My Head', 'Didn't It Rain', 'Beams of Heaven') [1946-1951]
  • Frances Robinson - Evangelist with whom she first toured the national gospel circuit (Early gospel tours) [1939]

Key Collaborators

  • Sister Rosetta Tharpe - Touring and recording partner, performing 'Saint and Sinner' routines; later reunited onstage and Knight arranged her funeral (Decca singles including 'Up Above My Head', 'Gospel Train'; 2002 tribute album) [1940s, 1950s-1973]
  • Rex Garvin - Duet partner as Marie & Rex ('I Can't Sit Down' (Carlton label)) [1959]
  • The Millionaires (Thomasina Stewart, Eleonore King, Roberta Jones) - Backing vocal group (Songs of the Gospel album) [1950s]
  • Sunset Four - Gospel group for debut recordings (Signature Records singles like 'I'll Let Nothin' Separate Me from the Lord') [1946]
  • Larry Campbell - Guitarist on late-career album (Let Us Get Together (Rev. Gary Davis songs)) [2007]

Connection Network

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Discography

Albums

Title Release Date Type
Blue Soul Belles - Volume 4 1984 Album
Sister Acts on the Gospel Train 2020-11-06 Album
My Journey To The Sky 2022-09-12 Album
The Gospel Truth Live 2018-03-23 Album
Today 2013 Album
The One And Only Queen Of Hot Gospel 2012-07-09 Album
Electro Swing & Gospel Breaks 2012-06-18 Album
Let Us Get Together 2007-06-26 Album
Let Us Get Together: A Tribute To Reverend Gary Davis 2007-06-26 Album
Let Us Get Together 2007-06-26 Album
Late In The Night 2007 Album

Top Tracks

  1. My Journey To The Sky (Gospel Train (Expanded Edition))
  2. Didn't It Rain (Gospel Train (Expanded Edition))
  3. Up Above My Head I Hear Music In The Air (Gospel Train (Expanded Edition))
  4. When I Take My Vacation In Heaven (The Decca Singles, Vol. 3)
  5. Didn't It Rain (The Decca Singles, Vol. 3)
  6. I Thought I Told You Not to Tell Them - Remastered
  7. Up Above My Head I Hear Music In The Air (The Gospel Of The Blues)
  8. That's No Way To Treat A Girl (Blue Soul Belles - Volume 4)
  9. Didn't It Rain (The Gospel Of The Blues)
  10. I Thought I Told You Not to Tell Them

References

  1. fromthevaults-boppinbob.blogspot.com

Heard on WWOZ

marie knight has been played 1 time on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.

DateTimeTitleShowSpotify
Dec 11, 202520:52i was born againR&Bw/ Your Cousin Dimitri