Seaside Concerts: Gladys Knight and the O'Jays!

The 31st Annual Seaside Summer Concert Series performances are held Thursday nights at 7:30 pm at Asser Levy/Seaside Park(West 5th Street & Surf Avenue) in Coney Island/Brighton Beach, across the street from the New York Aquarium.

Tonight: Gladys Night and The O'Jays!

GLADYS KNIGHT

The great ones endure, and Gladys Knight has long been one of the greatest. Very few singers over the last 50 years have matched her unassailable artistry. This seven-time Grammy winner has enjoyed #1 hits in pop, R&B and Adult Contemporary, and has triumphed in film, television and live performance.

The Georgia-born Knight began performing gospel music at age four and won, the grand prize on television's "Ted Mack's Amateur Hour" three years later. With "Gladys Knight & The Pips" she enjoyed tremendous success throughout the 60s, 70s and 80s, winning several Grammys and scoring Top 10 gold singles with hits like "Midnight Train to Georgia." She enjoyed another #1 in 1985 "That's What Friends are For."

Knight has recorded nearly 40 albums over the years and earned her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1995, followed by induction into the Rock 'N' Roll Hall of Fame. Knight also published an autobiography, "Between Each Line of Pain and Glory", and she and The Pips were presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame. In 2004, Knight received the "Lifetime Achievement Award" at the annual BET Awards ceremony.

The O'Jays!

The O'Jays are living legends. . .American treasures. The term "living legend" is often overused and abused, but with The O'Jays, well, there's little argument that the honorable tag truly applies. With their place in modern music secure, The O'Jays could have cruise-controlled to that comfy hammock on a sandy beach, umbrella-decorated drinks in hand. Why? (1) An ocean-wide body of work that spawned 24 Top Ten smashes and 59 total charted songs. (2) Incredibly energetic and dynamic live shows. (3) Mad respect for their Olympian vocals. And (4) their social and political impact on generations and nations.

But doing things slowly is not Eddie Levert, Sr., Walter Williams, Sr. and Eric Grant's modus operandi. After 40+ years making such international hits as "Back Stabbers," "For The Love Of Money," "Darlin' Darlin' Baby," "Love Train," "I Love Music," "Use Ta Be My Girl" and "Have You Had Your Love Today," The O'Jays are light years away from easing up on the gas. And like fine wine, The O'Jays just get better with time. Through the years, they were blessed to have had the late great choreographer Cholly Adkins around. Adkins taught them the importance of showmanship and how to execute their steps while still delivering their songs.

In 2004, The O'Jays were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in Sharon, Pa. In March 14, 2005, The O'Jays were inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, OH.

Performers are subject to change without notice. Call the concert hotline for updates at 718-222-0600, or check www.brooklynconcerts.com/seaside.html.