Africa Horn Now

"We don't take sides; we help you see more sides."

Africa Horn Now

William Guest, Gladys Knight And The Pips Member, Dies At The Age Of 74

By

Gladys Knight and the Pips were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996 and the Apollo Hall of Fame in 2006.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — William Guest, a member of Gladys Knight and the Pips, has died. He was 74. Guest’s sister-in-law, Dhyana Ziegler, said he died Thursday in Detroit of congestive heart failure.

UNSPECIFIED - JANUARY 01: Photo of Gladys KNIGHT & The Pips and Gladys KNIGHT and Edward PATTEN and Bubba KNIGHT and William GUEST; Posed studio group portrait L-R Edward Patten, Gladys Knight, Bubba Knight and William Guest (Photo by Gilles Petard/Redferns)
UNSPECIFIED – JANUARY 01: Posed studio group portrait L-R Edward Patten, Gladys Knight, Bubba Knight and William Guest (Photo by Gilles Petard/Redferns)

Guest performed throughout the lifespan of the Grammy-winning group from 1953 to 1989. He performed background vocals on hits such as “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” and “Midnight Train to Georgia.” “My heart is broken, but I know his legacy will live on,” said Guest’s daughter, Monique Guest, in a statement.

Gladys Knight and the Pips were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996 and the Apollo Hall of Fame in 2006.

After the group ended, Guest and another member, the late Edward Patten, formed a production company. Guest later served as CEO of Crew Records. He released his autobiography “Midnight Train From Georgia: A Pips Journey” in 2013 with Ziegler.

“I am so glad we finished the book, so his wonderful life and legacy will be celebrated throughout eternity,” Ziegler said. “I loved my brother so much.”