Marie Knight (née Roach; June 1, 1920 – August 30, 2009) was an American gospel and rhythm and blues (R&B) singer.
Personal life She was born Marie Roach'Seamus McGarvey, "Marie Knight: I Hear Music In the Air", interview and article in Juke Blues magazine, #68, 2009 in 1920,Obituary, nytimes.com, September 3, 2009; accessed December 13, 2015. though she claimed to have been born in 1925.1940s Gospel Legend Marie Knight Dies in NYC at 84, Associated Press via Yahoo! News, August 31, 2009. Sources differ as to her place of birth – either Attapulgus, Georgia, or Sanford, Florida W. K. McNeil, "Madame Marie Knight", Encyclopedia of American Gospel Music, Psychology Press, 2005, pp.221-223 – but she grew up in Newark, New Jersey. Her father was a construction worker and her family were members of the Church of God in Christ. She first toured as a singer in 1939 with Frances Robinson, an evangelist. She married preacher Albert Knight in 1941, but the union ended in divorce. While she was touring with Sister Rosetta in the 1940s, her two children died in a fire at her mother's house in New Jersey. Knight died in Harlem of complications from pneumonia, on August 30, 2009, aged 89. She was survived by a sister, Bernice Henry.
Musical career In 1946, Knight made her first recordings, for Haven Records, with the masters soon purchased by Signature Records, as a member of the Sunset Four (or the Sunset Jubilee Singers). Shortly afterwards, Sister Rosetta Tharpe saw her singing at the Golden Gate Auditorium in Harlem, on a bill with Mahalia Jackson, and invited Knight to join her on tour. Tharpe recognized "something special" in Marie's contralto voice.
She continued to record and perform with Tharpe through the 1940s, sometimes acting out the parts of "the Saint and the Sinner", with Tharpe as the saint and Knight as the sinner. Among their successes were the songs "Beams of Heaven", "Didn't It Rain", and "Up Above My Head", recorded for Decca Records. "Up Above My Head", credited jointly to both singers, reached number six on the US R&B chart at the end of 1948, and Knight's solo version of "Gospel Train" reached number nine on the R&B chart in 1949.Joel Whitburn,
She left Tharpe to go solo around 1951, and put together a backing group, the Millionaires (Thomasina Stewart, Eleonore King and Roberta Jones), with whom she recorded the 1956 album Songs of the Gospel. She began recording secular R&B music in the late 1950s, for various labels, including Decca, Mercury, and Okeh. Her duet with Rex Garvin, credited as Marie and Rex, "I Can't Sit Down" released on the Carlton label, reached number 94 on the pop chart in 1959.Whitburn, Top Pop Singles 1955-2002, Billboard, 2003; , p. 440Rex Garvin profile, rockabilly.nl; accessed December 13, 2015. In the late 1950s, she also toured Britain as a guest of Humphrey Lyttelton.
In 1961, she recorded the single "Come Tomorrow", which was later a hit for Manfred Mann.Richie Unterberger, [ Marie Knight] at Allmusic Knight's version of "Cry Me a River" reached number 35 on the U.S. Billboard R&B charts in 1965.[ Charts], Allmusic; accessed December 13, 2015.
She toured with Brook Benton, the Drifters, and Clyde McPhatter, and regularly reunited onstage with Tharpe. She remained friends with Tharpe, and helped arrange her funeral in 1973. In 1975, having given up performing secular music, she recorded another gospel album, Marie Knight: Today. In 2002, Knight made a comeback in the gospel world, recording for a tribute album to Tharpe. She released a full-length album, Let Us Get Together, on her manager's label in 2007.
Discography As a solo artist YearSongPublisher & Number1946Just a closer walk with thee / The land beyond the river (as Sister Marie Knight)Signature 32008 When I get to the end of my journey / What could I do (as Sister Marie Knight)Signature 320091947Just a closer walk with Thee / The land beyond the riverHaven 516The end of my journey / What could I doHaven 517ca. 1947Misery bluesRCA Victor 22-0073Rock with itRCA Victor 22-00731949I'll let nothing separate me... / Where could I go bu to the Lord (as Sister Marie Knight)Candy 4001I'll never turn back no more / The Lord will make a wayCandy 4002Today / Something within me banishes painCandy 4003Just a closer walk with Thee / The land beyond the riverCandy 4004The end of my journey / What could I doCandy 40101950Jesus loves me / Whispering hopeDecca 481281951I heard my mother pray / Don't miss that trainDecca 48198 Satisfied with Jesus / The old rugged crossDecca 48219 Every day every hour / My expectationsDecca 48233 On the battlefield / I'll fly awayDecca 48253 Adeste fideles (O, come all ye faithful) / It came upon the midnight clearDecca 48262 1952Sit down servant / Does Jesus careDecca 48285 1953Jesus walk with me / Get away JordanDecca 28545I just can't keep from cryin' / On my appointed timeDecca 48298 Let go his hand / Let's go onDecca 48301 1954Calvary / God spoke to meDecca 48308 This old soul of mine / I tell it wherever I goDecca 48320I'm troubled / Stop now, it's praying timeDecca 48326 Trouble in mind / What more can I doDecca 48327 1955Who rolled the stone away / Easter bellsDecca 48333 The battle of Jericho / A traveler's tuneDecca 48334 I must tell Jesus / The storm is passing overDecca 48336 1956Stand by me / Blessed be the LordMercury 70904 Grasshopper baby / Look at meMercury 70969 1960Hope you won't hold it against me / To be loved by youAddit 1016 Sylvia / Come tomorrowCDKEND 212 (2002) 1961Come tomorrow / Nothing in the worldOkeh 4-71411962Come on naby (Hold my hand) / What kind of fool (do you think I am)Okeh 4-7147 1963I was born again / I don't wanna walk aloneDiamond 136 The nearness of you / Walk awayDiamond 149 1964Make yourself at home / I was born againDiamond 171 Comes the night / Cry me a riverMusicor 1076That's no way to treat a girl / Say it againMusicor 1106That's no way to treat a girlKent 024 (2002)A little too lonely / You lie so wellMusicor 1128 1965Come tomorrow / Nothing in the worldOkeh 4-7218
With other artists ArtistYearSongPublisher & No.The Sunset Four (aka Sunset Jubilee Singers) 1946If I could just make it in / Where shall I goSignature 32004I'll let nothing separate me... / I just couldn't keep it to myselfSignature 32005I just couldn't keep it to myself / The Negro national anthemHaven 501Negro national anthem / Where could I go but to the LordSignature 32006I'll let nothing separate me... / Where could I goHaven 502The Lord will make a way / I'll never turn back no moreSignature 32007I'll never turn back no more / The Lord will make a way Haven 503Today / Something within me banishes painHaven 5041949The Negro national anthem / I just couldn't keep it to myselfCandy 4000Sam Price Trio1948What could I do / I must see JesusDecca 48072The land beyond the river / My heavenly father watches over meDecca 480841949I can't forget it, can you / Up in my heavenly homeDecca 48102I must have Jesus all the time / I thank you JesusDecca 481201950Live the life / Seal of heavenDecca 48147Lord search my heart / In shaded green pasturesDecca 48173The Florida storm / Hallelujah what a stormDecca 48189Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Sam Price Trio1947Oh when I come to the end of my journey / This trainDecca 48043Stretch out / Didn't it rainDecca 480541948Beams of heaven / Precious memoriesDecca 48070Up above my head I hear music in the air / My journey to the skyDecca 480901951Milky white way / His eye is on the sparrowDecca 48227Sister Rosetta Tharpe1949He watches me / He's all I needDecca 480981950I shall know him / I was healedDecca 481941952There is a highway to heaven / I'm bound for higher groundsDecca 28509Old landmark / Pressing onDecca 9-286251954Nobody's fault but mine / ShadrackDecca 48309Georgia Peach1946I just rose to tell you / TodaySignature 32024The Dependable Boys, Sam Price Trio1949Gospel train / Behold his faceDecca 48092Vivian Cooper, Sam Price Trio1949Out of the depth / Touch me Lord JesusDecca 48111 "Jersey Joe" Walcott1950Have faith / Say a little prayerDecca 14594The Anita Kerr Sisters1952Wildwood / He's my lightDecca 28128The Nightingales1953The old rugged cross / Satisfied with JesusBrunswick 05071Leroy Kirkland and his Orchestra1954You got a way of making love / I know every move you makeDecca 48315The Griffins1956As long as I love / Tell me whyWing 90069The Millionaires1956Sings the gospel (LP)Billboard December 22, 1956, p. 30Mercury MG 20196The Howard Biggs Orchestra1957I'm a little fooler / Am I reaching for the moonMercury 71055Teacho Wiltshire Orchestra1958I thought I told you not to tell them / September songBaton 253Rex Garvin1959I can't sit down / MiraclesCarlton 502Junior Lewis1960Better Wait And See CDKEND 212 (2002)
1975 Blues Alliance 257004 - Today LP 2001 Westside - Bluesoul Belles Vol. 4: Scepter & Musicor Recordings (Compilation; Judy Clay, Marie Knight) 2002 Gospel Friend - Hallelujah What a Song (Compilation) 2007 M. C. Records MC-0058 - Let Us Get Together LP
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