I’ve had the privilege to know the lovely and talented Beverley Knight for quite a few years now. She is so down to earth and brings an exciting charisma to everything she does.
From the B funk in the ’90s to The Bodyguard, to Cats, to Memphis you can’t help but have maximum love for Beverley Knight. Two weeks ago sistah girl took the roof off at The London Palladium with her rendition of Stevie Wonder’s catalogue. When I can’t fund the adjectives and words to describe how fabulous something is I just say… I can’t breathe! When Beverly sings something happens. Can’t put my finger on it but something FABULOUS happens.
For all these reasons and more, Beverley is my person of the month throughout December.
I’ve spoken with her on several different occasions and she never ceases to amaze me with her beautiful soul. I’ve wanted to make her my person of the month for some time now and seeing that she’s performing in London for a very special concert this spring, I thought this would be perfect timing!
Beverley Knight embraced the sound and spirit of classic R&B to become one of Britain’s biggest stars of the ’90s. Born Beverley Anne Smith to Jamaican parents in Wolverhampton, England, on March 22, 1973, she grew up in a church environment and sang in her church choir. Beverley was raised on gospel music until she discovered crossover legends Sam Cooke and Aretha Franklin and began writing her own original songs at age 13.
Widely labelled as one of Britain’s greatest soul singers, Knight is best known for her hit singles “Greatest Day”, “Get Up!”, “Shoulda Woulda Coulda”, “Made It Back” and “Come as You Are”.
All about Beverley!
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In 2006 Knight starred in the BBC music TV series Just the Two of Us, a role she reprised in 2007.
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After releasing a platinum-selling compilation album in 2006, Knight went on to tour the UK with a reformed Take That.
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She has also hosted four series of the BBC Radio 2 show Beverley’s Gospel Nights, which explores the origins and impact of gospel music.
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Knight is an ambassador for many charities such as Christian Aid and has travelled to areas affected by disease and poverty to help raise awareness.
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She is an active campaigner for anti-Aids organisations such as the Stop AIDS Campaign and The Terrence Higgins Trust and is also a vocal campaigner against homophobic lyrics in urban music.
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In 2009, she performed live at the fourth annual UK Black Pride event in Regent’s Park.
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Knight was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 2006 in recognition of her contribution to British music.
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In September 2005, Knight was made an honorary Doctor of Music from the University of Wolverhampton.
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After receiving a host of awards, including three MOBO Awards, Knight was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004 at the Urban Music Awards in London.
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Knight supported Prince during his residency at the O2 Arena and ended up performing at his after party. As a result of this, she was also flown to perform at his Oscars party in front of A-list stars and got a standing ovation from stars such as Quincy Jones.
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Knight sang at the London 2012 Paralympic Opening Ceremony. The performance was unanimously praised and a recorded version by Knight reached #101 on iTunes, her first charting single since “Soul Survivor” and highest since “Beautiful Night” in 2010 and 2009 respectively.
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In September 2013, Knight made her first foray into musical theatre, taking over the lead role of Rachel Marron from Heather Headley in The Bodyguard.
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In 2014, it was confirmed that Knight would take on the lead role of Felicia in the musical Memphis, opening on 23 October 2014.
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Beverly made her panto debut in 2017 at the Birmingham Hippodrome as the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella.
Beverley celebrates an incredible 25 years as a major performing and recording artist in 2019. To mark the occasion, she has announced a very special one-off concert at London’s Royal Festival Hall backed by a full symphony orchestra, taking place on Thursday, May 23rd, 2019. For this unique show, her first ever full concert with a symphony orchestra, Beverley will be performing hits from throughout her career, taking the audience on a unique journey through the songs with which she has become associated through her two and half decades in the business. She’ll be going back to the beginning, performing specially arranged versions of her biggest hits through to soul and R&B classics she has performed over the years, and taking in her highly acclaimed parallel career in the West End musical theatre scene, as well as a few surprises. #BK25
