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(TERRY KNIGHT DIED NOV 1-2004 - PLEASE SEE THE NEWSPAGE - CONDOLENCES SECTION)
Terry Knight (source unknown)
Terrance Knapp, 9 April 1943, Flint, Michigan, USA. Knight first achieved fame as a disc jockey on Detroit's influential station CKLW. Fired for his controversial views, he formed Terry Knight And The Pack who debuted in 1966 with a sympathetic interpretation of the Yardbirds’ You're A Better Man Than I. The group then scored a US Top 50 hit with a dramatic version of (I) Who Have Nothin’, but split when later releases flopped. While his former colleagues continued as the Fabulous Pack, Knight pursued a lacklustre and unsuccessful, solo career. Never more than adequate as a vocalist, his acumen lay in business and promotion, which flourished when Mel Schacher (ex- ? And The Mysterians) joined Mark Farner and Don Brewer, (both ex-members of the Pack), in Grand Funk Railroad.
Under Knight's ruthless direction this musically pedestrian trio became one of America's biggest-selling acts during the early '70s. Their mentor later represented Bloodrock, but his empire crumbled in 1972 when both attractions entered protracted legal suits to sever their management relationships. Knight lost both cases, but re-emerged with a new label, Brown Bag, which featured Mom's Apple Pie and Wild Cherry. However, his entrepreneurial skills had now deserted him, Brown Bag was a commercial failure, and a disillusioned Knight abandoned music altogether in favour of other business interests.
The foundation of what was to become "Grand Funk Railroad" was laid in Flint, Michigan in the mid 1960's. Richard Terrance Knapp was a popular local D.J. who decided to leave radio to enter the music end of the business. After deejaying at record hops with a local band named "The Jazz Masters", which consisted of Don Brewer (drums), Al Pippins (guitar), Bob Caldwell (keyboards), and Herm Jackson (bass), Knapp lied to them that he was personal friends with Mick Jagger and Brian Jones of The Rolling Stones. Because of this, and his radio connections, the band invited him to join the group as their lead singer. To sound more "English", they renamed the band "The Pack", and Richard Knapp started using "Terry Knight" as his name. The group soon developed a large local following, and reached number 46 on the national record charts with a song called "I Who Have Nothing", released on the small "Lucky Eleven" label. Herman Jackson was drafted, and was replaced by a local kid named Mark Farner.
In 1968, Farner and Brewer decided to leave and form a new band of their own. They recruited former Question Mark and The Mysterians bass player Mel Schacher, and renamed themselves "Grand Funk Railroad", inspired by a Michigan landmark, "The Grand Trunk Railroad". Instead of being left behind,Terry Knight opted to become their manager.
After a wildly successful performance at the Atlanta Pop Festival on July 4, 1969, the band landed a recording contract with Capitol Records and immediately began making its name by performing at several large pop festivals. Their first singles reached the charts but Grand Funk soon proved its real strength in the album market. "On Time" reached number 27 in 1969, followed by the number 11, "Grand Funk" in 1970. By the summer of that year they had become a major concert attraction, and their albums routinely reached the Top 10 for the next four years.
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RICHARD TERRANCE KNAPP
Flint Michigan April 9th 1943
Hobby: Songwriting Favourite food: Fried Chicken
Favourite drink: Black Russian Music: Beatles and Rolling StonesThe group's huge success is often attributed to the public relations expertise of manager Knight. In 1970, for example, Knight reportedly paid $100,000 for a huge billboard in New York City's Times Square to promote the group's "Closer To Home", which subsequently became their first Top 10 album, reaching number 6 and spawning the FM radio-staple title track.
In June 1971, Grand Funk became only the second group (after the Beatles ) to sell out New York's Shea Stadium. Their recordings sold in greater quantity, even though many radio stations ignored their releases. 1970's "Live" Album reached number 5 and included another concert and radio favourite in Farner's 'Mean Mistreater'. The next year saw the release of "Survival" and "E Pluribus Funk", the latter most notable for its round album cover.Around the time of recording E Pluribus Funk, it was decided to replace Terry Knight as Manager. Andy Cavaliere and later, John Eastman, father of Linda McCartney, were hired to take his place. The next few years were spent in litigation over the rights to the name "Grand Funk Railroad" and song royalties. The band eventually got to keep their name, but had to pay Knight a huge settlement.
In 1973, the group shortened its name officially to "Grand Funk", and added a fourth member, former "Fabulous Pack" member, keyboard player Craig Frost. Now produced by Todd Rundgren, they finally cracked the singles market, reaching number 1 with the album title track 'We're An American Band', a celebration of the group's times on the road. In 1974, a major revision of Little Eva 's "The Loco-Motion" also reached the top (the first time in US chart history that a cover version of a song that had previously reached number 1 also attained that position). Later that year, they scored another top twenty hit with "Bad Time" (To Be In Love).
WEBMASTERs COMMENT
I am aware that this article is pretty angry, but it represents what many fans
feel about Terry. Please, also read Terrys own words about what happened.
Links below - Thank you.Discography - Singles & E.P.s
Terry Knight And The PackBetter Man Than I / Got Love
7" - Lucky 11 / Cameo ParkwayI (Who Have Nothing) / Numbers
7" - Lucky ElevenLady Jane
Love, Love, Love, Love, Love
One Monkey Don't Stop No Show / The Train
7" - Lucky ElevenThis Precious Time / Love, Love, Love, Love, Love
7" - Lucky ElevenDiscography - LPs
Terry Knight And The Pack
Terry Knight And The Pack
1966
Numbers
What's On Your Mind
Where Do YOu Go
You're A Better Man Than I
Lovin' Kind
The Shut-In
Got Love
A Change On The Way
Lady Jane
Sleep Talkin'
I've Been Told
I (Who Have Nothing)
Terry Knight - Vocals, Producer
Don Brewer - Vocals, Drums
Curt Johnson - Vocals, Guitar
Mark Farner - Vocals, Guitar
Bob Caldwell - Vocals, Organ,
Herm Jackson - Guitar
Terry Knight Comb. - Piano, Harmonica, Harpsicord
Jim Atherton - Threats
"Ralph" - Batteries
Richard Rome - String ArrTerry Knight & The Pack
Track On!
1966
Down In The Valley
Numbers
What's On Your Mind
The Shut-In
I Gor News For You
A Change On The Way
Sleep Talkin'
I Who Have Nothing
Love, Love, Love, Love, Love
Terry Knight - Producer
Jerry Tuttle - Producer
Terry Knight & The Pack
Reflections
1967
One Monkey Don't Stop No Show
Love, Love, Love, Love, Love
Come With Me
Got To Find My Baby
This Precious Time
Anybody's Apple Tree
The Train
Dimestore Debutante
Dirty Lady
Love Godess Of Sunset Strip
Forever And A Day
(I Can't Get No) SatisfactionDon White - Engineer
Joe Tarsia - Engineer
Richard Rome - Orchestra Arr
Terry Knight - Producer
Terry Knight & The Pack
Mark, Don & Terry 1966-67
1972
Satisfaction
Dimestore Debutante
The Shut In
I've Been Told
Numbers
Got Love
Lady Jane
Love Godess Of Sunset Strip
Dirty Lady
I (Who Have Nothing)
Lizabeth Peach
Forever And A Day
Bad Boy
Mister, You're A Better Man Than I
Love, Love, Love
This Precious Time
Lovin' Kind
Come With Me
A Change On The Way
One Monkey Don't Stop No Show
TERRY KNIGHT IS BREAKING THE SILENCE
Copyright 1997-2004 Jimmy K@rlsson Lexcomp Graphics Leksand Sweden