TRADITIONAL GOSPEL

Marie Knight vocals

Marie Knight has had one of the most important careers in the history of gospel music, one that has brought her to an enviable level of fame, respect and popularity. This was not so obvious when, still only in her twenties, she recorded her first songs though they did bring her some attention. It was when she met one of the women who changed the development of gospel and of black music in general, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, that success came her way. Two dynamic, exciting duets, “Up Above My Head” and “Didn’t It Rain” were bestselling records and the two singers went on extensive tours throughout the States, appearing before tens of thousands of fans. After years with Tharpe, Marie Knight decided to go solo in the sixties, when she toured the world and had numerous concerts in Europe.In 2003, a compilation disc in honour of Sister Rosetta would not have been complete without her so she re-recorded “Didn’t It Rain”, this time accompanied by the Holmes Brothers who accompanied her at Blues to Bop last year.This year Marie has with her the musician she relies on the most for her tours, both in the States and in Europe, Dave Keyes.