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Topic: Artist of the day(5/26/04)- Jerry Knight
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DJ Timmy Richardson
Administrator
Member # 60
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posted
Bassist Jerry Knight was a founding member of Raydio and remained with them until 1980. Knight had previously played with Bill Withers before being invited by Ray Parker, Jr. to join Raydio. It was Knight's lead vocal on the group's first hit "Jack and Jill." Knight left for a solo deal with A&M in 1980. But while "Overnight Sensation" and "Perfect Fit" each made the R&B Top 20, none of his LPs generated consistent sales, and Knight departed the label in 1983. He recorded with Polydor in 1984 as half of a duo billed as Ollie And Jerry. Knight also enjoyed some success as a composer, writing "Tonight" for The Whispers and "Desire" for Phillip Bailey in 1983. He produced Howard Hewitt's "Challenge," and has done bass work on many sessions. (Ron Wynn)
When Jerry Knight was with Raydio, he was paid to help Ray Parker, Jr. carry out his musical ideas. But when the singer/bassist went solo with 1980's Jerry Knight, his goal was to share some musical ideas of his own. Like Parker, Knight wasn't afraid to bring rock and pop influences to his soul/funk foundation. But that's where the similarity ends; no one would mistake this self-titled solo debut for a Raydio album. If anything, Knight was a lot more rock-minded than Parker — perhaps too rock — influenced for a lot of program directors at R&B radio. The irresistible "Overnight Sensation" was a Top 20 R&B hit, although black stations seemed to feel that soul/rock gems like "Monopoly," "Let Me Be the Reason," and "Sweetest Love" were too rock for their purposes. And at the same time, this LP was too funky for rock stations. So Knight found himself facing the very problem that the Black Rock Coalition has often complained about, he was too rock for R&B stations and too R&B for rock stations. But from a creative standpoint, this excellent album has a lot to offer and is easily recommended to those who like their soul and funk laced with a lot of rock and pop. — Alex Henderson
     
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cyberJAMZ 4/24/07
"When you
knew what you knew you did what you did...but when you knew better..you did better" Winfrey
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tommytom
Member
Member # 478
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posted
Wow..I did know that Jerry Knight was the lead for Raydio's Jack and Jill..Man!.."Perfect Fit" was my cut!
"Taylor made..especial-ly
You were designed..just for me...yeah"
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"You should do me, like I do you, but never do me, no favors, don't do it, oh baby, no no"
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Sam The Man Burns
Star Member +
Member # 1828
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posted
The young lady in the picture with Jerry Knight is Ola Ray (Thriller)(48 Hours)
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Andrew Osborne
Super Star Member +
Member # 37
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posted
I never caught on that he was half of Ollie and Jerry.
Overnight Sensation is great. I just heard a nice album track by him which I think was called Fire.
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kelvy
Platinum Member
Member # 969
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posted
quote:
Originally posted by Andrew Osborne:
I just heard a nice album track by him which I think was called Fire.
YESSSS! that's from his 1982 "Love's On Our Side", album which is my Jerry Knight all-time favorite. here's a brief write-up i did on Mr. Knight from my old webpages:
Jerry Knight
A former member of Ray Parker Jr.'s group "Raydio", Mr. Knight embarked on a solo career at the dawn of the eighties. His efforts were recieved with overnight success with his timeless "Overnight Sensation", which reached #17 on the Billboard Rhythm & Blues Chars, #103 in the pop charts. Jerry recorded for the defunct A&M label during the former part of the eighties and followed it up in 1981 with his "Perfect Fit" lp. On his 1982 offering (Love's On Our Side), production duties were held by Leon Haywood (who had just had chart success behind Carl Carlton's "She's A Bad Mama Jama") and F. Bryon Clark. Other noted musicians on this 1982 effort include Rene Moore, Ollie Brown, James Ingram, & Phillip Ingram. This album has some super cold mid-tempo numbers intersped with love songs. "She's Got To Be (A Dancer)" definetly has that signature Leon Haywood style. "Nothing Can Hold Us Back" is my favorite of the whole album, an uplifting, positive tune blessed with thee services of David N. Crawford as string & horn arranger. "Fire" is another cold dancefloor tune. Now the keyboard arrangements on "Do It All For You" sound identical to Leon Haywood's "Desire" from his 1983 "It's Me Again" album.....Hmmmm! It seems that even close friends in the music business liberally pilfer ideas from each other.
by the way, i have a spare 12-inch of "Perfect Fit" for trade if anyone is interested.
[ May 26, 2004, 12:10 PM: Message edited by: kelvy ]
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with well tidings and kind regards,
kelvy
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