Terry Knight

Terry Knight (born Richard Terrence Knapp on April 9, 1943, died November 1, 2004), was an American rock and roll music producer, promoter, singer, songwriter and radio personality.

Related Topics:
April 9 - 1943 - November 1 - 2004 - American - Rock and roll

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Born in Flint, Michigan, Knight's career began as a Detroit DJ in 1964. Arguably the first American DJ to air the Rolling Stones, he hosted a legendary late night show from high-powered CKLW, bringing the British Invasion to the Northern states. He was awarded the honorary title of "The Sixth Stone" for his early support of the Stones.

Related Topics:
Flint, Michigan - Rolling Stones - British Invasion

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Around 1965, Knight fashioned his own songwriting and performing career as the front man for Terry Knight and the Pack. With his band, Knight recorded a handful of regional hits, including his self-penned generation gap anthem "A Change On The Way," as well as scoring two national hits, a tasteful cover of the Yardbirds' "Mister, You're A Better Man Than I" and his ultra-lounge reading of Ben E. King's "I (Who Have Nothing)." TK&TP left behind two long-playing garage classics before breaking up in 1967. (Brownsville Station honored TK&TP with a cover of the Knight-pennned "Love, Love, Love, Love, Love" on their '73 album Yeah!)

Related Topics:
Terry Knight and the Pack - The Yardbirds - Ben E. King - Brownsville Station

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In '67, Knight attempted a solo career with the terminal Cameo-Parkway label, with limited success. He produced an obscure easy listening album for The International Pop Orchestra and wrote or produced a handful of tracks covered by other minor artists. He also scored music for the 20th Century Fox noir classic The Incident. In '69, Knight secured a contract with Capitol Records where he released a 45, "Saint Paul," which jump-started the "Paul Is Dead" hoax. Although his version failed to rise above Billboards Hot 100, the song provided New Zealand singer Shane the best-selling single of the 1960s in his native land.

Related Topics:
20th Century Fox - Capitol Records - Paul Is Dead - ''Billboard'''s Hot 100

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From there, Capitol retained Knight as the manager and producer of Grand Funk Railroad, the largest-selling rock band of 1970. His Beatlesque production on GFR's "Closer To Home" transformed the raucous concert attraction into an acclaimed recording group and radio staple. He also discovered and produced Bloodrock, who hit the Top 40 in 1971 with the unlikely death anthem "DOA."

Related Topics:
Grand Funk Railroad - Bloodrock

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Between 1970-72, Knight was the most successful - and controversial - promoter in the rock business, racking up an unprecedented eight "Gold" albums while simultaneously waging a war of words with Rolling Stone magazine.

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In 1972, both Grand Funk Railroad and Bloodrock severed their professional relations with Knight, the former quite acrimoniously.

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Dropped from Capitol, Knight then began his own label, Brown Bag Records, releasing albums and singles by Mom's Apple Pie, John Hambrick, Wild Cherry and Faith. None of them found commercial success and, in late 1973, Knight retired permanently from show business. He briefly raced cars with film star Paul Newman before succumbing to cocaine addiction which claimed his later years.

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Terry Knight was murdered at the age of 61, found stabbed to death in his apartment in Killeen, Texas. On May 26, 2005, his killer was sentenced to life in prison. Terry's daughter, Danielle, survives him.

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