Robert Knight (musician) facts for kids

Robert Knight (born Robert Henry Peebles, April 24, 1940 – November 5, 2017) was an American singer. He is most famous for his 1967 song "Everlasting Love".

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Robert Peebles was born in Franklin, Tennessee, United States, in 1940. When he started his music career, he used the name Robert Knight. His first professional singing group was called the Paramounts. This group was a quintet, meaning it had five members who were all school friends.

In 1960, the Paramounts signed with Dot Records. In 1961, they released a song called "Free Me." This song became a hit on the US R&B music charts. It even sold more copies than a different version of the song by Johnny Preston.

After "Free Me," the group's next songs were not as successful. Because of this, the Paramounts broke up. They also had problems with their record contract and could not record new music for about four and a half years. During this time, Robert Knight went to Tennessee State University. He studied chemistry there and also sang with another group called the Fairlanes. The Fairlanes were a vocal trio, meaning they had three singers.

The Hit Song: Everlasting Love

In 1967, Robert Knight was singing with the Fairlanes in Nashville, Tennessee. Someone from a record company called Rising Sons saw him perform. They offered him a contract to become a solo artist.

His first song as a solo artist was "Everlasting Love". The owners of the Rising Sons label, Buzz Cason and Mac Gayden, wrote this song. It quickly became a big hit! It reached number 14 on the US R&B music chart. It also reached number 13 on the Hot 100 chart in November 1967.

"Everlasting Love" became very popular. The next year, a different band called Love Affair released their own version of the song in the UK. Their version reached number 1 on the UK charts! Robert Knight's original version reached number 40 in the UK.

Later Career and Life

Robert Knight had two more pop hits in the US: "Blessed Are the Lonely" and "Isn't It Lonely Together".

In 1973 and 1974, another one of his older songs became popular in the UK. This song was "Love on a Mountain Top", which he had recorded in late 1968. It reached number 10 on the UK Singles Chart in early 1974. This song was also written by Buzz Cason and Mac Gayden.

His song "Everlasting Love" was re-released in the UK in 1974 and reached the Top 20 again. Another singer, Carl Carlton, also released a version of "Everlasting Love" in 1974. Carl Carlton's version reached number 6 on the Hot 100 chart. Robert Knight's final song to appear on the UK chart was "Better Get Ready for Love" in May 1974.

Besides singing, Robert Knight also worked at Vanderbilt University. He was a chemical lab technician, a chemistry teacher, and helped take care of the university grounds.

Robert Knight passed away at his home in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2017. He was 77 years old.

See also

• Monument Records
• List of 1960s one-hit wonders in the United States