Gladys Knight & the Pips

Gladys Knight & the Pips were an American soul and R&B vocal group formed in 1953 and active through 1989, featuring Gladys Knight as lead singer with the Pips providing close, gospel-rooted harmonies and choreographed backing. Their sound combined emotive, church-influenced lead vocals with smooth group harmonies and polished pop and R&B arrangements. The group is noted for its role in bringing gospel vocal techniques into mainstream soul and for its long career spanning the 1960s and 1970s into the 1980s.