MPR’s Nikki Tundel profiles soul singer Sonny Knight, who finds himself back in the music scene after decades long absence.
Knight's retro-style R&B may have finally found its time, and at 66, the Mississippi-born singer is reclaiming the stage. Secret Stash Records, a Minneapolis-based label known for reissuing funk and soul albums is throwing its support behind Knight and his eight-piece band, the Lakers.
SPEAKER: Sonny Knight was just a teenager when he recorded his first single. But his music career never took off as predicted. Now, nearly 50 years later, he's back in the spotlight. The group Sonny Knight and the Lakers just released its debut album. Tomorrow night, the Twin Cities band will celebrate with a show at First Avenue. As Nikki Tundel reports, Knight's retro style R&B may have finally found its time.
NIKKI TUNDEL: Musician Sonny Knight just recently learned how to scream. His audio engineer insisted on it.
SONNY KNIGHT: I was doing this one song, and he said, can you scream? I said, I don't know. I'll try but [SCREAMS]. Put a little bit more oomph into it. [SCREAMS] And next thing you know, I'm screaming in everything I do now and making real ugly faces to make it happen.
NIKKI TUNDEL: For the Mississippi native, screaming required lots of practice. Singing, though, came naturally. In 1965, at the age of 17, Knight cut his first single. He later joined the Twin Cities funk band Haze. Then his music career simply came to a halt. Today, almost five decades later, Sonny Knight is reclaiming the stage.
One time, two times, three times, four times.
On this evening, the 66-year-old is rehearsing in the basement studio of Secret Stash Records. The Minneapolis-based label is known for reissuing funk and soul albums. It's now making a move into music production, starting with Sonny Knight and his eight-piece backing band, The Lakers.
SONNY KNIGHT: Sonny Knight and The Lakers. Oh, my God, they're talking about me. This is the first band I have ever been the headliner. And it's cool, very cool.
(SINGING) Ooh, baby, baby!
NIKKI TUNDEL: Knight always dreamed of making it in music. But he put his career on hold to serve in the US Army. When he returned home three years later, the new veteran had lost sight of his old aspirations.
SONNY KNIGHT: This was during the Vietnam War. Coming back, there wasn't too many heroes during that time. It was hard for me to find myself. So I ran away from a lot of things.
NIKKI TUNDEL: Knight made his escape in an 18-wheeler. He became a long-distance truck driver.
SONNY KNIGHT: I've hauled eggs. I've hauled [? swinging ?] beef. I've pretty much hauled it all.
NIKKI TUNDEL: Knight's days were spent crossing the country. His evenings were reserved for karaoke. It was the 1990s, and Japan's popular pastime was taking over American bars. Knight saw this as an opportunity to perform again.
SONNY KNIGHT: I started out with Christopher Cross "Sailing." I tried many different things, "Me and Mrs. Jones," or "Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy." I'd just be all over the chart, trying to see what I could and couldn't do.
NIKKI TUNDEL: Soon, bargoers were tracking Knight's trucking schedule.
SONNY KNIGHT: People will be looking forward to me. When are you going to be in town again? I want to come and hear you sing. That's how that worked.
[MUSIC PLAYING] Baby, baby, baby
You don't know me
NIKKI TUNDEL: Knight has since retired from the road and the karaoke circuit. He's back in the studio. And he just released his first full-length album, I'm Still Here. For someone with such a big singing voice, Knight is remarkably soft-spoken. He's the kind of guy who tears up when singing sad songs. And he cringes at the very thought of self-promotion.
SONNY KNIGHT: It feels weird, like I'm blowing my own horn. Hey, I'm this, that, and the other. And I don't ever think like that. It's like, I'm getting a big head.
[MUSIC PLAYING] I want your loving
I want your hugs and kisses too
This is my bonus in life. This is my bonus. If I should leave this world tomorrow, I've had some fun. Now that this is here, I don't want to lose it. I want to give all I can.
NIKKI TUNDEL: As far as Sonny Knight's concerned, he's finally where he's supposed to be. Nikki Tundel, Minnesota Public Radio News, Minneapolis.
SPEAKER: Get a great session video of Sonny Knight online and some photos, too, at mprnewsq.org. Check it out.
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