![]() Knight’s version of that tune hails from her most recent album, 2006’s “Before Me.” As is hinted by the title, “Before Me” is a work that pays tribute to the female vocalists who helped pave the way for Knight. ![]() She further proved her versatility with a luxurious waltz through the Gershwin chestnut “The Man I Love,” which she handled like a jazz-club veteran. The vocalist later boogied her way through the Cuban soul number “Feelin’ Good (Vacilon),” found on 2004’s famed collaborative effort between American and Cuban musicians, the “Bridge to Havana” CD. She was backed by four singers, two percussionists, three keyboardists, a bassist, a guitarist and a 14-piece horn section led by an extremely good conductor. Her voice was matched exquisitely by a huge ensemble of musicians, one so big that many a fan’s mouth fell agape when the house lights first went up. She sounded like the Gladys that fans know and love from such ’60s Motown hits as “Nitty Gritty” and “Friendship Train.” She sounded exactly how we hoped she would. Plus, Knight looked absolutely radiant, flashing that trademark million-dollar smile like she had just won the lottery. She said all the right things and sang all the right songs. She was energetic, warm, charmingly funny and confident. The Motown legend – who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996, along with her former backup band, the Pips – was everything the audience could have hoped for on this night. The 62-year-old R&B and soul queen proved that unequivocally Saturday night as she showed her old-school fans a royal good time at the Paramount Theatre in Oakland. The Motown legend was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996.
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