Robert Knight (born Robert Henry Peebles;[1] April 21, 1940[2] – November 5, 2017) was an American singer, best known for his 1967 recording of the song "Everlasting Love".
Robert Knight | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Robert Henry Peebles |
| Born | April 21, 1940 Franklin, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Died | November 5, 2017 (aged 77) Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Genres | Soul, pop |
| Occupations | Singer |
| Years active | 1961–2017 |
| Labels | Dot, Monument |
Career
editRobert Peebles was born in Franklin, Tennessee, United States, in 1940 according to family and official records,[2] though some sources give the year 1945.[3] As Robert Knight, he made his professional vocal debut with the Paramounts, a quintet consisting of school friends.[3] Signed to Dot Records in 1960, they recorded "Free Me" in 1961, a US R&B hit single that outsold a rival version by Johnny Preston.
After this initial success, their subsequent releases flopped, resulting in a breakup of the group. They also broke their recording contract with Dot and were prevented from recording for 4+1⁄2 years.[3] Knight attended Tennessee State University, where he studied chemistry and sang with the Fairlanes, a vocal trio.[3]
In 1967, after Knight was seen performing with the Fairlanes in Nashville at a Vanderbilt University fraternity, he was offered a contract as a solo artist by the Rising Sons label.[3] His first recording, "Everlasting Love", written by label owners Buzz Cason and Mac Gayden, was a success, reaching number 14 on the US R&B chart and number 13 on the Hot 100 on 18-25 November 1967. This enduring song was an even bigger success in the UK the following year when a version by Love Affair reached number 1, preventing Knight's version from progressing further than No. 40.[4]
Knight scored two further pop hits at home, "Blessed Are the Lonely" and "Isn't It Lonely Together".[3] In 1973/1974, thanks to heavy rotation by Northern soul music admiring deejays he hit the UK Singles Chart again with the re-issue of his late 1968 recording "Love on a Mountain Top", reaching number 10 in early 1974 in the UK Singles Chart.[4] The song was also written by Cason and Gayden. The re-issued "Everlasting Love" went even higher in the UK in 1974, reaching the Top 20,[4] and Carl Carlton's version peaked at number 6 on the Hot 100 on 23-30 November 1974, seven years to the week after Knight's version peaked. His final UK chart record was "Better Get Ready for Love" which reached number 53 in May 1974.[5]
He also worked for Vanderbilt University as a chemical lab technician,[6] a chemistry teacher, and a member of the grounds crew.[7]
Knight died at home in Nashville, Tennessee, aged 77,[8][9] 13 days before the 50-year anniversary of the first week of the Hot 100 peak date of his version of "Everlasting Love".
Discography
editStudio albums
edit| Year | Album | US Pop [10] | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | Everlasting Love | 196 | |
| 1971 | Love on a Mountain Top (UK only) | — | |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. | |||
Singles
edit| Year | Single | Chart positions | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Pop [11] |
US R&B [12] |
UK [13] |
CAN | ||
| 1967 | "Everlasting Love" | 13 | 14 | 40 | 26 |
| 1968 | "Blessed Are the Lonely" | 97 | — | — | — |
| "Isn't It Lonely Together" | 97 | — | — | 85 | |
| 1970 | "I Only Have Eyes for You" | — | — | — | — |
| 1973 | "Love on a Mountain Top" | — | — | 10 | — |
| 1974 | "Everlasting Love" (reissue) | — | — | 19 | — |
| "Better Get Ready for Love" | — | — | 53[A] | — | |
| "The Outsider" | — | — | — | — | |
| 1975 | "I'm Coming Home to You" | — | — | — | — |
| 1976 | "I've Got News for You" | — | — | — | — |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. | |||||
See also
editNotes
edit- ^ Chart position is from the official UK "Breakers List".
References
edit- ^ Simmons, Rick (July 4, 2016). "The Story Behind: Robert Knight, "Everlasting Love"". Rebeat. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
- ^ a b "Obituary: Robert Peebles". The Tennessean. November 11, 2017. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f Ankeny, Jason. "Artist Biography". AllMusic.
- ^ a b c Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 306. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ BMRB Chart 1970-1976 Top 50 plus Top 10 Breakers.
- ^ Simmons, Rick (2013). Carolina Beach Music from the '60s to the '80s. History Press. ISBN 9781609497507. Retrieved April 17, 2016.
- ^ "Robert Knight - Free Internet Radio - Music Search Engine - DJ Playlist Generator". Myplaylist.club. Retrieved April 17, 2016.
- ^ "11 Nov 2017, A15 - The Tennessean at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com.
- ^ "'Everlasting Love' Singer Robert Knight Dead at 72". Tmz.com. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
- ^ "Robert Knight - Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on September 25, 2013. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2003). Top Pop Singles 1955-2002 (1st ed.). Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 389. ISBN 0-89820-155-1.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (1996). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-1995. Record Research. p. 253. ISBN 0-89820-115-2.
- ^ Betts, Graham (2004). Complete UK Hit Singles 1952-2004 (1st ed.). London: Collins. p. 430. ISBN 0-00-717931-6.