Published: 12:00 AM, Fri Nov 09, 2012
Gladys Knight opens 2012-13 Community Concerts Series
When Gladys Knight steps into the spotlight at the Crown Theatre tonight to kick off the 2012-13 Community Concerts series, it'll be like stepping back in time for local trumpet player and composer Ray Codrington.
"She still looks and sounds the same," said Codrington, who briefly toured with Knight in the early 1960s.
"It was 1963 or 1964 - it was a long time ago," said Codrington. "And I was actually playing with Little Richard on what they used to call the 'Chitlin' Circuit' when Gladys joined the tour during a performance at the Howard Theatre in (Washington), D.C."
Codrington, father of local saxophone player Reggie Codrington, said he was performing as part of the house band at the Howard Theatre when Little Richard recruited him for a 52-night tour that included stops in Baltimore and at the famed Apollo in New York City.
"It was an East Coast tour, and there were a lot of stars from Motown Records and Stax Records back then," said Codrington. "It was a great tour - a lot of fun. I remember sending my money home every week because there were so many temptations to spend it on when we were on the road."
Codrington said he made a "pretty penny" on that tour, but found his exposure to future soul music superstars such as Knight, Richard and Patti LaBelle even more valuable. Although he never got to perform with Knight, Codrington said he got to know her a little.
"Everyone knew who she was. She had a lot of hits that we would play as the house band," he said. "But she was always very nice to everyone and smiling. It was just great to be part of this tour that was full of stars. I was performing with people whose songs were on the radio. I looked up to them - it took some getting used to."
That tour was part of Knight's formative years, helping her go on to win seven Grammy Awards - four solo and three with her band, the Pips.
Among Knight's most notable hits are "That's What Friends Are For" (with Dionne Warwick, Elton John and Stevie Wonder), "Midnight Train to Georgia," and the title track for the James Bond film "License to Kill."
Knight's no stranger to film. She made her movie debut in "Pipe Dreams" (1976), for which she received a Golden Globe Best New Actress nomination.
She also has had roles on "Benson," "The Jeffersons," "A Different World," "The Jamie Foxx Show," "New York Undercover," "Tyler Perry's House of Payne," "Tyler Perry's I Can Do Bad All by Myself," and cameos on "Las Vegas" and "30 Rock."
Earlier this year, Knight competed on "Dancing With the Stars" with dance partner Tristan MacManus.
The rest of the 2012-13 Community Concerts Series lineup features Martina McBride, Dec. 17; STYX, Jan. 19; Kool & the Gang, Feb. 23; and Ricky Skaggs, April 12.
Staff writer Brian Dukes can be reached at dukesb@fayobserver.com or 486-3523.