We have such a musical treat coming to the Motorpoint Arena this month. GLADYS KNIGHT has long been one of the greatest, in fact very few singers over the last 50 years have matched her unassailable artistry.
The Empress Of Soul and seven time Grammy winner is playing a series of special UK dates this month, concluding with two nights at London’s Royal Albert Hall on June 29th and 30th. Before that, we get to see her in the capital on Saturday 25th, the absolute perfect way to start your weekend.
Gladys said…….
“UK I have missed you! I can’t wait to be back and very much look forward to seeing you all soon!’
To be a special guest on a Gladys Knight tour you have to be something very special and thats precisely what MARK KINGSWOOD is.
Mark has a passion for music driven by his modern take on Big Band jazz infused with pop sensibilities, combining energy with elegance for a classy, ultra-cool style that harkens back to the days of crisp suits and the sexy sheen of The Rat Pack.
But he is so much more than a talented crooner trotting out the classic songbook, he is a gifted songwriter with an unrivalled flair for taking traditional Big Band music and injecting a 21st century tone and lyricism. Before finding his place in Big Band jazz, his varied career had taken him from winning childhood talent contests, numerous writing and production credits, as well as platinum and gold albums in countries as far apart as Japan, USA and Ireland.
We put a call in to Mark before he sets off on the Gladys Knight tour to have a chat about his music, the strange days of lockdown and to find out what we can expect when we see him live. We also feature a couple of Mark’s performances, and if you haven’t seen or heard him, you are in for a real treat.
It’s easy to see why Gladys would choose Mark to be her special guest. You can also tell this is something very special for him too, especially with his passion for the recordings of singers from the 60’s to the 90’s many of them under the wing of producers such as Quincy Jones, Smokey Robinson & David Foster.
Mark soon became fascinated not only with the voices but how the songs were written, recorded and produced. For many years, while honing his musical and compositional chops, he also worked in studios learning the craft of engineering, producing, mixing and mastering from the ground up.
You can find out more about Mark and listen to more of his music on his website HERE.
As for Ms Knight, since she began her career in the 1950s performing with The Pips, the award-winning singer has recorded more than 40 albums and enjoyed No.1 hits on the Pop, Gospel, R&B and Contemporary charts.Known for her collection of classic hits such as Midnight Train To Georgia (which remains one of the most famous Motown records to date and was honoured as one of ‘The Greatest Songs Of All Time’ by Rolling Stone Magazine), Help Me Make It Through The Night, Licence To Kill (the official theme song to the James Bond film), The Way We Were, Baby Don’t’ Change Your Mind, and You’re The Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me, Gladys Knight is one of music’s icons, and her contribution to pop culture unparalleled.
Gladys has been honoured with the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame; a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and has dozens of TV, film and theatre credits.
GLADYS KNIGHT with special guest MARK KINGSWOOD gets to the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff on Saturday 25th June, doors open at 6:30pm. To find out more, and get tickets, go HERE.
