EXCLUSIVE: Gladys Knight, the Empress of Soul who recorded hits reminiscent of “Midnight Practice to Georgia” and “I Heard It Via The Grapevine,” is gearing up for a scripted mini-series about her life.
Knight has teamed up with Cineflix Productions to develop the collection and she is going to exec produce by way of her Empress of Soul Productions banner.
It’s urged that the venture may run much like The Crown, taking up completely different intervals of Knight’s life.
If the venture progresses, Knight would develop into the newest soul legend to have a collection set round her; Cynthia Erivo starred as Aretha Franklin within the third iteration of Nat Geo’s Genius anthology final yr.
Cineflix Productions is coming off the success of function doc Determined Souls, Darkish Metropolis and the Legend of Midnight Cowboy, from Nancy Buirski, which premiered on the Venice Movie Pageant.
The corporate beforehand labored with one other Motown legend, Smokey Robinson, on Lifetime telemovie Miracle in Motor Metropolis.
Gladys Knight and The Pips, which she fashioned along with her brother Bubba, sister Brenda, and two cousins, signed with Berry Gordy’s label in 1966 and had hits with the likes of “I Heard It Via The Grapevine,” later recorded by Marvin Gaye, “The Nitty Gritty” and “Neither One Of Us (Needs To Be The First To Say Goodbye)”.
The group later signed with Buddah Data, the place they recorded “Midnight Practice to Georgia” and “I’ve Acquired To Use My Creativeness”.
A member of the Rock & Roll Corridor of Fame, she has recorded greater than 38 albums over her profession.
Her private life can even present wealthy tales; Knight has been married 4 occasions and has three youngsters. Her husbands have included Atlanta musician James Newman, Barry Hankerson, uncle of Aaliyah, former Ohio Congressman Les Brown, and William McDowell. She had a playing dependancy through the Eighties and one in all her sons, was kidnapped, main her to spend over 1,000,000 {dollars} to have him returned.
She has additionally acted in movie and tv. She was nominated for a Golden Globe in 1976 for her position in romantic drama Pipe Goals and has had small roles in collection together with JAG, Tyler Perry’s Home of Payne, Star and Hawaii 5-0 in addition to actuality collection Dancing with the Stars and The Masked Singer.
Earlier this yr, she starred in and produced the Nice American Household movie I’m Glad It’s Christmas.
She is going to exec produce the scripted collection alongside McDowell, Joyce Miller Roy, William Bickley, Carl Buehl, Brian Fowl, and Camille Tucker for Empress of Soul Productions in addition to J.C. Mills, Sherri Rufh, and Jeff Vanderwal for Cineflix Productions.
Knight mentioned, “On the age of 78, most individuals in my business have retired, however I’m simply getting began. All my life I’ve been in a position to sing my tales. I can now use this chance to indicate the which means behind the phrases. Our partnership with Cineflix, sharing my life story, will enable me to go away a legacy of exhausting work and dedication. That alone is bigger than any award I may ever obtain. It’s vital to go away massive footprints that go in the correct course. That’s why Empress of Soul Productions was based.”
J.C. Mills, President and Head of Content material at Cineflix Productions, added, “Gladys is a legend and true icon; her artistic ambition and artistry is unmatched. With over 5 a long time throughout music, movie, TV, and humanitarian efforts, her life is a ravishing mosaic that we’re honored to inform.”
