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The Black Velvets is an adult contemporary group founded in an era when music was music. An era where live musicians were used in the studios and singers sung. In 1973, the Black Velvets's founder Anthony McKnight started what has become Charleston's "Best Kept Secret." The Black Velvets originally began as a five member group in the home of Everlina McKnight. It was in this same home that Motown Legentary Bass Player and Rock & Roll Inductee James Jamerson was raised.
Evolving from the group "the Dynamic Diamonds" from Burke High School, the Black Velvets played the southern circuit performing covers to such classics as "I can't get Next To You," "In The Rain," and "Have You Seen Her." The Black Velvets has opened for the Dramatics, II the Extreme and Sara Dash of the renowned Labelles.
| Today, the Black Velvets has transcended into three-member group, leaving
only its founder, Anthony McKnight as the only original member. |
New member Robert Hall of Clover, South Carolina joined Anthony McKnight in Anthony's efforts to revitalize the Black Velvets. Anthony, along with
Robert Hall has reopened Pandora's Box by releasing their self-entitled CD- The Black Velvets. In the midst of recording the self-entitled CD,
Raymond Rhett, III of Charleston, South Caroline joined the group and is featured on background vocals on "I Love You Madly" and "Better off Sleeping Alone."
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The Black Velvets proved to regenerate the "Go;den Age" of music - an age where classics are born. The first release off the CD is a rendition of Dramatics' "I Can't get Over You." The single illustrated the Black Velvets' uncanny ability to civer classic. Often mistaken for L.J. Reynolds of the Dramatics, Anthony McKnight is heard at his best his redition of "I Can't Get Over You."
On another classic, you can hear Robert Hall's angelic voice as he takes over the lead on the Stylistics' "Peek-A-Boo." Not only have thy covered classics on their CD, they have also taken upon themselves to create some classics of their own. The inspirational gospel tune "Thank youLord" illustrates their immense writing ability as well as their strong vocal ability, The tunes "I Love You Madly" and "You Blow My Mind" will prove to send its listeners into a lover's trance. |
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| About Anthony McKnight : |
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Anthony McKnight's musical career began when he was just a young boy, living in Charleston ,S.C. Both of his parents sang and had a musical family background and started various Gospel groups in the Charleston area. They formed a family gospel group appropriately named---The McKnight Brothers. Ant is the youngest son of Felix and Everlina McKnight. Anthony's father formed a local Gospel group named The Southern Gates. He is the 1st Cousin of James Jamerson, Motown's Legendary Bassist and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee. James and Ant were raised in South Carolina and spent a lot of quality time together while growing up. |
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Ant always had an ambition to sing. Even before high school, he was the
lead vocalist of an all adult R & B band called: John Ford & the
Swinging Southern Dukes. While in high school, Ant formed a 5 man vocal
group called: The Dynamic Diamonds, and received numerous First Places
Prizes at different High School talent shows. After high school, Ant joined
the U.S. Navy and was assigned to his hometown, Charleston, S.C.
During his assignment in Charleston, he join his old high school friends and reformed the singing group and changed their names to: The Black Velvets. After his tour in the Navy, Ant formed his owned band called: FreeStyle. |
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It was during this
time that his cousin, James Jamerson, heard his band and advised them to go into
the studio and record a Demo tape. When the band members refused to make the
demo, Ant decided to leave the band and started working at one of the local
hospital.
During this time, Ant met his wife, Mary and they have been happily married
for more than 20 years.
Ant and Mary
decided to relocate to Washington,D.C. and he attended Medical School and worked
for the V.A. Medical Center. In 1983 Ant received a call from his cousin
Jamerson, inviting him to joined him in Los Angeles, California so that they
could produce and album together. Anthony was in the process of going to LA and
found out that James got sick and passed away shortly there after. Ant was
devastated after the death of his cousin and refused to sing or perform for 2
years.
After continuous persistence from his wife, Mary, Ant started to sing and perform again. He joined a local band in the DC area called: The Quebeck Band, and started recording for a local Production Studio (Triad Productions). Anthony made numerous trips to his hometown in South Carolina and reformed a 3 man vocal group named: The Black Velvets. Under Ants leadership, the group went into the studio and recorded their
self-entitled CD. As a result of the successful CD production, Ant and
his wife relocated to Pawleys Island, S.C. and opened Oceanfront Productions Recording Studio and Brown-Mack Music Publishing Company (ASCAP).
Ant has been inducted into The International Whos Who of Entrepreneurs (2000 Class) and currently serves as the Executive Director for the Motown Alumni Association of South Carolina. He's currently working on a James Jamerson Tribute CD and a Gospel Project for his wife, Mary.
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| Interview with Anthony McKnight... |
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- Could you briefly tell us about your background? Like, when you're born?
I was born in Charleston, South Carolina to on October 12, 1953 to Felix
and Everlina McKnight. I come from a large family of 9 boys and 2 girls
with me being the youngest boy of the family. Both of my parents sung Gospel
and my father later formed a family gospel group called "The McKnight
Brothers."
- What did you grow up listening to?
I listened to a variety of music to include Country & Western, Gospel
and R&B, the majority being Motown.
- When did you start singing? And at that time, who had been your biggest
inspiration in music?
I started singing at the age of 5 and at that time my biggest inspiration was my dad, my brothers and Jackie Wilson.
- Could you tell us a little bit about the Black Velvets? Like, when was
the group formed, and who were the original members?
The Black Velvets was formed in 1973 in Charleston, South Carolina and
the original members were Richard Wallace, Johnny Anderson, Richard McKnight,
Nathaniel Cook and myself, Anthony McKnight.
- Please tell us your memories about James Jamerson.
My fondest memories of James were that although we were 1st Cousins he
was more like my oldest brother. You see, James' Mother and my Mother were
Sisters, so when my auntie had to leave home to go and try to find work
in another state, my Mom took care of and raised James and his Brother
Richard in our household. My memories of James are so numerous that I could
go on and on. Whenever school would let out for the summer, I would always
go to Detroit, Michigan and stay the entire summer with James and his family.
Of course, that was during the time when Motown was in her Hey-Day and
I got to watch the Funk Brothers record live with some of the old performers
like The Temptations and The Miracles, etc.
- Your self-titled CD album was released in 1997. Could you tell us a little
bit about the album? Like, what was the road like to get there, and how
about your impressions about it?
Well, when we embarked on the project it was with the understanding that
we wanted to have nothing but original material, but I soon realized that
we needed something to catch the listener's ear.
The road to get there was indeed a difficult one. Back in 1993, our manager
at the time was a local Disc Jockey and Program Director for one of the
Radio stations here. We went into the studio and we recorded several Cover
Tunes and two original songs. Soon thereafter, the funding ran out. My
wife and I then relocated to Washington, D.C. It was there that I got a
job singing background vocals for a local recording studio called "Triad
Productions Studio." In 1998 my wife wanted to return home so she
could care for her parents, so we relocated back to Pawley's Island, South
Carolina.
- How was the response?
The response to the Cd was quite minimal at first. I sold more copies in
the Metropolitan DC and Maryland areas first, then once we started getting
Air-Play in the South Carolina region, I had to re-order.
- Can we still get the CD?
Well I do have some copies put aside, but I guess I can do a reorder and
you can write to me or send $15.00 to me at:
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Anthony McKnight
334 Ashley Avenue Apt. B
Charleston, South Carolina 29403 |
- Why did you choose the Dramatics song 'I can't Get Over You' and the
Stylistics song 'Pee-A-Boo' for covers?
When I first heard "I Can't Get Over You" back in 1974 we, the
original Black Velvets was already covering a lot of songs by the Dramatics
so I said to myself that if I was to ever do an album or a Cd, I was definitely
going to re-do that song. So when I met Ron Banks and L.J. Reynolds I told
them that I wanted to re-do their song and they gave me their Blessings
so we had the go ahead to re-recorded the songs. Robbie (Robert Hall) felt
the same way about the Stylistics' song Peek-A-Boo.
- Let's talk about your executive producer, William C. Brown.
William and I are Brothers-in-Law as I'm married to William's sister Mary.
In 1996 Mary and I were living in Maryland when Mary sent William some
copies of some of our songs. He called me on a Friday night and asked how
much it would cost to go into the studio and add some additional songs
and complete the Cd? I got the information together and sent it to him
and he in turn sent me the money by Western Union with a note attached
saying "Good Luck in the Studio." So together we started Oceanfront
Productions Ltd. William is also a Screen Play Writer. Before my Father-in-Law
died, (George Brown Sr.) wrote poetry and I handled the music division.
So we're all family.
(**NOT same as Memphis engineer/singer, William C. Brown**)
- Could you tell us something about your other projects?
I'm working on another project that includes the collaboration of two of
James Jamerson's sons James Jr. and his brother Derek. James Jr. (Jimmy)
is an accomplished Bass Player and his brother is a Keyboardist along with
my Partner Ralph Baxter.
- What really drives you or motivates you to continue to play music?
I guess when you grow up with Music in your Bloodlines you really don't
have a choice.
- What is music for you?
Music for me is Life!!!!
- Would you like to say something to your fans?
First of all, thanks for all of your support and prayers and stay tuned
because there's more to come. God Bless you and your Families!!!! |
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| Discography |
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| The Black Velvets - S/T (US-CD,Oceanfront OFR9701, 1997) |
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1 |
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Go Home Lil' Girl |
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2 |
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You Blow My Mind |
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3 |
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Gimmie The Right |
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4 |
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I Can't Get Over You |
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5 |
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Nasty |
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6 |
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You Better Off Sleepin Alone |
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7 |
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I Love You Madly |
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8 |
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You Ought'ta Know Better |
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9 |
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Peek-A-Boo |
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10 |
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Thank You (Lord) |
Exec. Producers:William C. Brown, Felix J. McKnight
Produced By:Anthony McKnight
Engineered By:Marc Collins |
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Contact to:
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