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Summarized by Kent Larsen
Gladys Knight Opens in Boston Following Grammy Nomination For 'Many Different Roads'
Boston Globe pgF1 22Feb00 A2
By Steve Morse: Globe Staff
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS -- LDS popular music singer Gladys Knight,
whose album "Many Different Roads" was nominated for a grammy
recently, will open tomorrow in the Boston production of "Smokey
Joe's Cafe," the musical review based on the songs of Jerry Leiber
and Mike Stoller, who wrote hits like "Hound Dog" (sang by Elvis
Presley), "Jailhouse Rock" (Presley), "Charlie Brown" (the Coasters)
and many others. Knight was recruited for the Broadway production of
the show last year.
Knight loves the show and is happy to be performing it, ''It's a
wonderful feel-good musical show,'' she says. ''Even if you weren't
born during the time when this music was popular, you'd still have a
sense of recognition because the things they have written about are
still so relevant today. Everybody knows a Charlie Brown - you know,
that person who creates havoc and makes mischief and keeps something
going all the time. We've still got those kind of people. And it
makes for a really fun show. The music is great and the way they've
opted to present it is unique, fresh, and uplifting.''
Knight joined the LDS Church two years ago, and says that her faith
helps her handle the challenges of life, ''Whoever is not treating
someone fairly, they're going to have to answer for that. I don't
even have to worry about it. I don't have to spin my wheels dealing
with it. I just need to still make my music and he will grant me a
way to do that.''
But she is not sitting on her laurels either. She has a new pop album
that she hopes to get out this year through MCA Records and is about
to release a physical fitness book, "Body Temples," written with her
fitness guru, Al Claiborne. Knight, who is a spokeswoman for the
American Diabetes Foundation, works out five times a week and is
careful with her sugar intake. She reports losing 40 pounds and says
she feels terrific, ''I'm just trying to get this body temple to feel
right.''
The Deseret News' Jerry Johnston called her a 'pioneer' last week,
echoing the endorsement of the New York-based Rhythm and Blues
Foundation, which honored her with a 'Pioneer Award' two years ago.
However, Johnston called Knight a pioneer for becoming the first LDS
artist to get the attention of the Christian music market, hopefully
opening the way for other LDS artists to follow.
See also:
Jerry Johnston: Knight is winner -- as pioneer in LDS faith
Deseret News 19Feb00 A2
By Jerry Johnston
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More about "Many Different Roads" at Amazon.com