Gladys Knight & the Pips and the guys were like my own children!" The group was a touring standout during this period with Knight's contralto lead vocals and the Pips' impeccable choreography and characteristic background vocals becoming highlights. By the end of 1965, Berry Gordy was scouting to get the group signed to his fabled Motown Records label. Though the three Pips wanted to sign with the label, Gladys Knight initially refused, due to her fears that the label would overlook them over the more popular artists on his roster. They would sign with Motown in 1966, being assigned to Motown's Soul Records label, a
Tommy Graham (singer) Tommy Graham (singer) Tommy Graham is a singer and record producer from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Graham joined his first band in 1958. He worked his way through the Toronto club scene with Kay Taylor And The Regents. He moved to Los Angeles in 1960 and returned to Canada three years later. He formed the group Big Town Boys, which gained prominence as backing musicians for vocalist Shirley Matthews. Big Town Boys split in 1968 and Graham went to journey around the world. In India, he met and studied under Ali Akbar Khan, Ravi Shankar's sarode player. In 1970, Graham returned