GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS

Gladys Knight & The Pips conjured up one of the most distinctive sounds of soul. Centered on the big, passionate voice of Gladys, with older brother Bubba and cousins Ed Patten and William Guest framing her with sweet harmony, the Atlanta-bred group became one of the most popular groups in the world. They had hits before (“Every Beat of My Heart,” “Letter Full of Tears”) and after (“Midnight Train to Georgia,” “I’ve Got to Use My Imagination”) their time at Motown, but their defining, unforgettable hits with the company—including “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” “Everybody Needs Love,” “Friendship Train,” “Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye)”—make them forever part of the Motown family of stars. Today a still-vital Gladys is recognized as one of the greatest singers of all time; she and the group were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996.