Gladys Knight

Gladys Knight had plenty of R&B hits during the first half of the '60s. Accompanied by her brother Bubba and cousins William and Edward, Gladys Knight took the reins with her husky voice, leading the way through the group's 1960s and '70s hits, and belting out lyrics while the Pips subtly harmonized and occasionally provided sound effects (woo! woo!). Her powerful, Gospel-enriched vocals meshed perfectly with the Pips' sophisticated soul-rock sound, but it wasn't until they signed with Motown that they crossed over to pop superstardom. Their '70s work on Buddha is just as rewarding, with "Midnight Train to Georgia" being the first in a string of big hits. Some of that magic was lost when she became a solo Adult Contemporary singer, but Knight has been re-energized recently. Whether singing her new politically-charged Gospel material or "I Heard it Through the Grapevine," her voice still sizzles.