Robert Knight (born Robert Henry Peebles;^[1] April 21, 1940^[2] – November 5, 2017) was an American singer, best known for his 1967 recording of the song "Everlasting Love".

Career

Robert Peebles was born in Franklin, Tennessee, United States, in 1940 according to family and official records,^[2] though some sources give the year 1945.^[3] As Robert Knight, he made his professional vocal debut with the Paramounts, a quintet consisting of school friends.^[3] Signed to Dot Records in 1960, they recorded "Free Me" in 1961, a US R&B hit single that outsold a rival version by Johnny Preston.

After this initial success, their subsequent releases flopped, resulting in a breakup of the group. They also broke their recording contract with Dot and were prevented from recording for 4+1⁄2 years.^[3] Knight attended Tennessee State University, where he studied chemistry and sang with the Fairlanes, a vocal trio.^[3]

In 1967, after Knight was seen performing with the Fairlanes in Nashville at a Vanderbilt University fraternity, he was offered a contract as a solo artist by the Rising Sons label.^[3] His first recording, "Everlasting Love", written by label owners Buzz Cason and Mac Gayden, was a success, reaching number 14 on the US R&B chart and number 13 on the Hot 100 on 18-25 November 1967. This enduring song was an even bigger success in the UK the following year when a version by Love Affair reached number 1, preventing Knight's version from progressing further than No. 40.^[4]

Knight scored two further pop hits at home, "Blessed Are the Lonely" and "Isn't It Lonely Together".^[3] In 1973/1974, thanks to heavy rotation by Northern soul music admiring deejays he hit the UK Singles Chart again with the re-issue of his late 1968 recording "Love on a Mountain Top", reaching number 10 in early 1974 in the UK Singles Chart.^[4] The song was also written by Cason and Gayden. The re-issued "Everlasting Love" went even higher in the UK in 1974, reaching the Top 20,^[4] and Carl Carlton's version peaked at number 6 on the Hot 100 on 23-30 November 1974, seven years to the week after Knight's version peaked. His final UK chart record was "Better Get Ready for Love" which reached number 53 in May 1974.^[5]

He also worked for Vanderbilt University as a chemical lab technician,^[6] a chemistry teacher, and a member of the grounds crew.^[7]

Knight died at home in Nashville, Tennessee, aged 77,^[8][9] 13 days before the 50-year anniversary of the first week of the Hot 100 peak date of his version of "Everlasting Love".

Discography

Studio albums

Singles