Robert Knight (musician)

Robert Knight (born Robert Henry Peebles,[1] April 24, 1940[2] – November 5, 2017) was an American singer, best known for his 1967 recording of the song "Everlasting Love".

Robert Knight
Birth nameRobert Henry Peebles
Born(1940-04-21)April 21, 1940
Franklin, Tennessee, U.S.
DiedNovember 5, 2017(2017-11-05) (aged 77)
Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
GenresSoul, pop
Occupation(s)Singer
Years active1961–2017
LabelsDot, Monument

Career

Robert Peebles was born in Franklin, Tennessee, United States, in 1940 according to family and official records,[2] though some sources give the year 1945.[3] As Robert Knight, he made his professional vocal debut with the Paramounts, a quintet consisting of school friends.[3] Signed to Dot Records in 1960, they recorded "Free Me" in 1961, a US R&B hit single that outsold a rival version by Johnny Preston.

After this initial success, their subsequent releases flopped, resulting in a breakup of the group. They also broke their recording contract with Dot and were prevented from recording for ​4 1⁄2 years.[3] Knight attended Tennessee State University, where he studied chemistry and sang with the Fairlanes, a vocal trio.[3]

In 1967, after Knight was seen performing with the Fairlanes in Nashville at a Vanderbilt University fraternity, he was offered a contract as a solo artist by the Rising Sons label.[3] His first recording, "Everlasting Love", written by label owners Buzz Cason and Mac Gayden, was a success, reaching number 14 on the US R&B chart and number 13 on the Hot 100 on 18-25 November 1967. This enduring song was an even bigger success in the UK the following year when a version by Love Affair reached number 1, preventing Knight's version from progressing further than No. 40.[4]

Knight scored two further pop hits at home, "Blessed Are The Lonely" and "Isn't It Lonely Together".[3] In 1973/1974, thanks to heavy rotation by Northern soul music admiring deejays he hit the UK Singles Chart again with the re-issue of his late 1968 recording "Love on a Mountain Top", reaching number 10 in early 1974 in the UK Singles Chart.[4] The song was also written by Cason and Gayden. The re-issued "Everlasting Love" went even higher in the UK in 1974, reaching the Top 20,[4] and Carl Carlton's version peaked at number 6 on the Hot 100 on 23-30 November 1974, seven years to the week after Knight's version peaked. His final UK chart record was "Better Get Ready For Love" which reached number 53 in May 1974.[5]

He also worked for Vanderbilt University as a chemical lab technician,[6] a chemistry teacher, and a member of the grounds crew.[7]

Knight died at home in Nashville, Tennessee, aged 77,[8][9] 13 days before the 50-year anniversary of the first week of the Hot 100 peak date of his version of "Everlasting Love".

Chart singles
Year Single Chart Positions
US Pop[10] US
R&B[11]		 UK[12] Canadian Singles Chart
1967 "Everlasting Love" 13 14 40 26
1968 "Blessed Are the Lonely" 97 - - -
"Isn't It Lonely Together" 97 - - 85
1973 "Love on a Mountain Top" - - 10 -
1974 "Everlasting Love" (reissue) - - 19 -

See also

References
  1. Rick Simmons, "The Story Behind: Robert Knight, “Everlasting Love”", Rebeat, July 4, 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2017
  2. Obituary: Robert Peebles, The Tennesseean, November 11, 2017. Retrieved 16 April 2020
  3. AllMusic biography by Jason Ankeny
  4. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 306. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  5. BMRB Chart 1970- 1976 Top 50 plus Top 10 Breakers
  6. "Carolina Beach Music from the '60s to the '80s". Books.google.com. Retrieved April 17, 2016.
  7. "Robert Knight - Free Internet Radio - Music Search Engine - DJ Playlist Generator". Myplaylist.club. Retrieved April 17, 2016.
  8. "11 Nov 2017, A15 - The Tennessean at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com.
  9. "'Everlasting Love' Singer Robert Knight Dead at 72". Tmz.com. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
  10. Whitburn, Joel (2003). Top Pop Singles 1955-2002 (1st ed.). Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 389. ISBN 0-89820-155-1.
  11. Whitburn, Joel (1996). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-1995. Record Research. p. 253. ISBN 0-89820-115-2.
  12. Betts, Graham (2004). Complete UK Hit Singles 1952-2004 (1st ed.). London: Collins. p. 430. ISBN 0-00-717931-6.
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