A year after the ordeal of his death, she fell for the Uncle of late R and B singer Aaliyah, producer of the Winans, Barry Hankerson in 1974. They had a son, Jimmy Gaston Newman III, and a daughter, Kenya, after she suffered a . A seven-time Grammy Award-winner, Knight is best known for the hits she recorded during the 1960s and 1970s. Mother: Sarah Elizabeth Woods Brother: David Knight, Merald Knight Jr. At the height of fame and wealth, the legendary singer tried marriage the 4th time in 2001when she tied the knot with Corporate consultant William McDowell. Their names are James "Jimmy" Gaston Newman (son) and Kenya Newman (daughter). He is the founder and manager of Blackground Records. You are the greatest gifts I could ever receive. placement: 'Right Rail Thumbnails', Newman was a drug addict and died shortly after abandoning the family. For the fourth time in her life she was married with this guy. (Photo by Robin Platzer/Getty Images), 2048 x 3072 px (6.83 x 10.24 in) - 300 dpi - 2 MB. James Newman married Gladys Knight in 1960. They had a prolonged custody battle for their only child. Part of Alexander Moore Partners Ltd. 7 Lesser Known Facts About Mary J. Blige The American Singer, Who are Pedro Riveras Children and Grandchildren. As an adult, he became his mothers manager. Net Worth : $28 million Nationality : American : Personal Life: Merald Woodlow Knight's daughter Gladys Knight was born in Atlanta, Georgia. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. Singer. #TBT, A post shared by Gladys Knight (@msgladysknight) on Mar 29, 2018 at 3:34pm PDT, Knight began her singing career in the 1950s when she was only 7 years old when she won The Original Amateur Hour TV contest. They had one son, Shanga Hankerson, and divorced in 1981. She was just 16 years old at the time. Gladys Knight was born Gladys Maria Knight on May 28, 1944, in Atlanta, Georgia, the United States of America. Gladys Knight has been married four times; she was married to James Newman from 1960-1973, Barry Hankerson from 1974-1979, Les Brown from 1995-1997, and has been married to current husband William McDowell since 2001. mode: 'thumbnails-rr1', Gladys Knights Family & Kids: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know, Please review our privacy policy here: https://heavy.com/privacy-policy/, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. Advertisement James is the late son of Grammy Award-winning singer Knight, famously known as the Empress of Soul. Jimmy was a very intelligent brotha and his ambitious attitude is what allowed him to not only successfully manage his iconic Mothers career after graduating from college, but also the careers of his his uncles and cousin in the Pips (of Gladys night & The Pips). Regardless of what caused his alleged heart failure, he sadly was just way too young and had much more life ahead of him. We believe that every person's story is important as it provides our community with an opportunity to feel a sense of belonging, share their hopes and dreams. The couple had two children, son James and daughter Kenya. Gladys received the Grammy Award seven times. A seven-time Grammy Award-winner, Knight is best known for the hits she recorded during the 1960s and 1970s. Gladys Knight attends SiriusXM at Super Bowl LIII Radio Row on January 31, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. Their daughter, Kenya Newman Jackson, arrived the following year. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. James Gaston Newman II was Gladys Knight's first husband and the father of her two older children. According to a different report from the Las Vegas Sun, she is the proprietor of the bakery known as Kenyas Cakes, which is located in Las Vegas. She won a small-time TV contest when she was seven, giving her family confidence to start up The Pips. You Are The Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me, Gladys Knight & The Pips (1974) "You're the Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me" also known simply as "Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me" is a song written by Jim Weatherly, and enjoyed two runs of popularity, each by an artist in a different genre. His death was a big blow to his mother. Kenya Newman is the daughter of the Legendary soul singer Gladys Knight who is known for her incredible vocals and forceful onstage presence. Gladys Knight's height is 5' 4". Knight was born in Atlanta, and she is the daughter of postal worker Merald Woodlow Knight Sr. and Sarah Elizabeth. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. Singer Gladys Knight standing arm-in-arm w. her daughter Kenya, whose holding a Canon auto-focus camera during Dionne Warwick's four-day benefit to raise money for the Warwick Foundation's fund for AIDS education and pediatric AIDS care. Gladys Knight has been through hell and back and shes turned out to be an excellent display of what strength looks like. (Photo by Robin Platzer/Getty Images) PURCHASE A LICENCE Gladys Knight attends the Clive Davis and Recording Academy Pre-GRAMMY Gala on January 27, 2018 in New York City. In her personal life, Gladys Knight has had four marriages. Gladys Knight will be singing the National Anthem before kick-off for Super Bowl LIII, between the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams; the 2019 Super Bowl is taking place at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, where the 7-time Grammy-winning American singer and songwriter was born and raised. He graduated from the University of San Diego in 1984. Newman became a drug addict and he abandoned his family when she was just 20. She is an actress and composer, known for Hollywood Homicide (2003), The Butler (2013) and Licence to Kill (1989). They separated in 1979 fought for a custody battle of her son. This was her first taste of stardom. Singer Gladys Knight has given voice to multiple R&B hits (with and without her Pips), including "Midnight Train to Georgia." . . The African-American is not just one of the rich soulful singers in the music industry in the past 60 years but she is also a powerful inspirational singer who has given her very best to the world. Knight explained that Jimmy and his spouse were the first to join the church followed by her daughter, Kenya and after observing their lifestyles, Knight became a member. Gladys Knight married four times and has three children. She is also the mother of five children. Although it was never officially confirmed, there have been several reports throughout the years, that Jimmy allegedly died of a 2-day alcohol and cocaine binge, ultimately causing him to pass away in his sleep from alleged heart failure at his Las Vegas home. Her brother named David Knight died at an early age. Jimmy left his family and turned to the use of hard drugs from which he died a few years after their divorce in 1973. The information in this article is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Gladys Knight with her son, James "Jimmy" Newman III and daughter, Kenya Newman Although it was never officially confirmed, there have been several reports throughout the years, that Jimmy allegedly died of a 2-day alcohol and cocaine binge, ultimately causing him to pass away in his sleep from alleged heart failure at his Las Vegas home. iloveoldschoolmusic.com. According to a profile in People in 1997, Kenya had two bakeries in Las Vegas: Kenyas Gourmet Bakery and Kenyas Cakes of the Stars. In 1973, she petitions for divorce. I watched their lives grow, and to see how my grandchildren were being raised and what they knew really impressed me, the entertainer said. As time went on, the entertainer tried her hands on matrimony again as she tied the knots with motivational speaker, Les Brown but just as her first two marriages, Knights marriage to Brown was short lived. Her family abandoned James, as he is a drug addict. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. Even though her mother ventured into the music industry, Kenya pursued a career in marketing but later discovered that she was passionate about baking. She was a member of the church choir throughout the latter half of the 1940s and the beginning of the 1950s. Newman and Knight were legally married for several more years. James Newman III died from heart failure in Las Vegas, reportedly in his sleep. She also resided on LaSalle for a time. James Newman (m. 19601973) ,Les Brown (m. 19951997) ,Barry Hankerson (m. 19741981) ,William McDowell (m. 2001). The beauty whet her skills as an actress with her then-husband Barry Hankerson in the movie Piped Dream, which earned her a Golden Globe nomination. Unfortunately, in 1999, Gladys Knight suffered the worst tragedy that no parent should have to face when her son passed away. 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